I recently bought two Carcano rifles from a local pawn shop. I believe they are both 6.5 Carcano. The short rifle has the serial no. on the left side just behind the sight, FNA Brescia w/a crown and the letters RB on the top just behind the sight and the date 1936 XIV on the right side It has a folding bayonet and a flip up on the butt plate which I assume was for a cleaning rod. The rifle is about 98% blue w/ a pristine bore. It has been bubbarized though. The bolt has been polished and the stock sanded so that the cartouche is gone. The longer rifle seems to be untouched w/ 98% blue and an undamaged stock except for a scratch just in front of the cartouche. The serial number is on the left side. There is a rectangle just behind the sight w/ a crown, FAT and the number 42. On the right side is an oval w/ what appears to be a crown over a shield. One other thing, the rifle sling can be attached on both the side and bottom. Does anyone know what model Carcanos these are. Are they 6.5 Carcano? The bore on this rifle looks new as if it were unfired. I have heard that Carcanos were not reliable rifles but they look solid and I do intend to shoot them. Sorry about the pictures. They are the best my camera will do. Any information, suggestions or comments are welcome.
Two Carcanos
- Thread starter Doucme2
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NCsmitty
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The little bit that I know is the 6.5x52 cartridge uses a .268" bullet and not the usual .264" that most 6.5's use.
The 6.5 Carcano also uses gain twist rifling. (starts as a slow twist and ends at a faster twist)
Here's a bit of information on different models.
http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/models.html
Your rifles appear to be in decent shape.
NCsmitty
The 6.5 Carcano also uses gain twist rifling. (starts as a slow twist and ends at a faster twist)
Here's a bit of information on different models.
http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/models.html
Your rifles appear to be in decent shape.
NCsmitty
KodiakBeer
member
Carcanos are not bad rifles. There is a whole mythology built up around them because of the JFK shooting. The tinfoil hat crowd wants to believe that a marksman couldn't make a head shot at 65 yards with a Carcano, therefore the shooting was done by somebody other than Oswald. It's just not true. The Carcano is capable of the same accuracy as any bolt rifle of the period.
A elderly native friend of mine used a Carcano as a seal gun for 30 years. That's a tough shot - you have to hit a target half the size of a softball (the top of a seals head) and he killed hundreds of seals with that stock iron-sighted rifle.
A elderly native friend of mine used a Carcano as a seal gun for 30 years. That's a tough shot - you have to hit a target half the size of a softball (the top of a seals head) and he killed hundreds of seals with that stock iron-sighted rifle.
Carl N. Brown
Member
The only 7.35mm Carcanos were the Model 1938 rifle with a 21 inch barrel. And most Model 1938 rifles are found in 6.5mm.
Those long rifle and short carbine are 99.9% sure originally 6.5mm.
I have a Model 1938 in 6.5mm and it is pretty accurate for a WWII surplus rifle.
A lot of the negativity about them is the fact that, like the Mosin Nagant, they were originally designed in 1891, and by 1898 the Mauser became everyone's ideal bolt action (Mauser 98, Springfield 1903, Enfield P14 and M1917, Winchester 70, etc). Part of it may have been the fact the early imports included some poorly maintained specimens, plus the fact that the ammo was not a US factory production item in the 1950s.
Those long rifle and short carbine are 99.9% sure originally 6.5mm.
I have a Model 1938 in 6.5mm and it is pretty accurate for a WWII surplus rifle.
A lot of the negativity about them is the fact that, like the Mosin Nagant, they were originally designed in 1891, and by 1898 the Mauser became everyone's ideal bolt action (Mauser 98, Springfield 1903, Enfield P14 and M1917, Winchester 70, etc). Part of it may have been the fact the early imports included some poorly maintained specimens, plus the fact that the ammo was not a US factory production item in the 1950s.
Carl N. Brown
Member
Mine came with the bolt polished (as did my Mosin Nagant by the way). Bolt polished in the white seems to be standard for a lot of military bolt guns.
I've been searching the internet for ammo and have decided reloading is the answer for these two. Hornady makes the correct 268 bullet and Norma the brass. Initial costs will probably run around two hundred (more than both rifles cost) but I should have more than enough. Just have to remember to police the brass. Thanks for the comments.
Captcurt
Member
The Carcano was my first high power rifle. This was back in the mid 60's. I paid $20 for it and it wasn't worth $10. At that time Norma loaded a 156 gr. RN match bullet and it was the only commercial ammo available. It was about 3 times the price of a box of 30-06. It put a 6.5 hole thru a deer with no expansion whatsoever.
The two that you have would make a nice start to a military collection.
The two that you have would make a nice start to a military collection.
Aim Surplus has Privi Partisan 6.5 Carcano @ $13.00 a box of 20 and it is reloadable.
Frankly this is as good as it gets for shootable Carcano ammo anymore.
Anybody tells you a Carcano is incapable of making the JFK shots has never fired one.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog.aspx?groupid=35
Frankly this is as good as it gets for shootable Carcano ammo anymore.
Anybody tells you a Carcano is incapable of making the JFK shots has never fired one.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog.aspx?groupid=35
amd6547
Member
The PRVI 6.5 Carcano does not use the correct diameter bullet, but the brass is good for reloading...buy some and shoot it up. You will need some Carcano en-bloc clips.
My Carcano Cavalry carbine is one of the slickest operating bolt guns I have ever fired.
My Carcano Cavalry carbine is one of the slickest operating bolt guns I have ever fired.
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