Carcano question

[powmia56]

I have a Carcano 6.5mm manufactured in 1938. It is a real dog. You can't close the action on a round without forcing it. The bore appears very clean but I don't know about the chamber. I have spent hours cleaning it. Any ideas that people could give me would be helpful. I would like to do whatever needs to be done myself. I have been learning some basic (and not so basic) gunsmithing working on my M-14 and don't really care if I accidentally ruin this gun. I think that it is pretty much ruined now, so if I save it that is a bonus, if I don't I'm no worse off than I was.

Information

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[Claven2]

The carcano doesn't single-load very well AT ALL. Nothing's wrong with your chamber in all liklihood. It's just that you're "snapping over" the extractor on the casing head when you close the bolt.

When you feed from a clip, it's controlled round feed and will chamber MUCH easier.

Give that a try. If it doesn;t work, get a smith to headspace check the rifle for you.

[ww2gunlover]

i have a 6.5 carcano M 91/24 carbine and it will only feed the first 2 rounds then it jams the reamaining 4 does anyone no why????????? also the preaviouse owner attepeted to sporterize it and did an alfull job and i would like to get a new ww2 stock for it does anyone no any good websites that would a sell one and one last thing does anyone know anything about identifying it

[BCLOGGER]

I have a Carcano 91/40, which appears unissued. All matching #'s and no sanding of the wood or anything. It operates so stiffly that no amount of oil or grease will smooth it out. This is the only Carcano I've ever had, is it normal for them to be so stiff?

[Merle]

I have a Carcano 91/40, which appears unissued. All matching #'s and no sanding of the wood or anything. It operates so stiffly that no amount of oil or grease will smooth it out. This is the only Carcano I've ever had, is it normal for them to be so stiff?

I have a M38 in 6,5mm and have handled a variety of others.
None of them were stiff, so I would have to say something is wrong.
In "surplusrifle.com" I recall they have an exploded view and / or takedown instructions - if you don't already have them.

Hoe this helps.

[Merle]

i have a 6.5 carcano M 91/24 carbine and it will only feed the first 2 rounds then it jams the reamaining 4 does anyone no why????????? also the preaviouse owner attepeted to sporterize it and did an alfull job and i would like to get a new ww2 stock for it does anyone no any good websites that would a sell one and one last thing does anyone know anything about identifying it

At "gunboards.com" they have an Italian forum - perhaps they can help you.

[Badger]

As a somewhat associated point of disucssion about Carcano rifles and wiith thanks to Andy, there's an interesting article in the Technical Articles for Milsurp Collectors and Re-loaders(click here)

"Myth Busted" - Proof Testing an Eaton Carcano Rifle (click here)

Regards,
Badger

[Patrick Chadwick]

For BCLOGGER, who has the following problem:
"I have a Carcano 91/40, which appears unissued. All matching #'s and no sanding of the wood or anything. It operates so stiffly that no amount of oil or grease will smooth it out."

The cause may be in the extractor lug. This is a little piston-like device about 1/4" diameter that sits below the bolt and is pressed up by the trigger spring. To sort it out you will have to dismantle the rifle and CLEAN everything. In order to save an enormously long posting I recommend you acquire "Military Rifle Disassembly and Reassembly" by Mowbray & Puleo, ISBN 1-931464-32-4 and go slowly.

You will have to remove the trigger assembly, which is held in by a pin that is a push fit. Before dismantling, note which way round the pin is inserted AND how the bolt catch lever is fitted. Otherwise you might be a bit puzzled when you try to reassemble it!

You will find that there is a small coil spring inside a boss that acts as the trigger spring. Not only does it push the trigger bar down, it also pushes the extractor up! Very ingenious, but it means you cannot alter the pressure on the extractor without altering the trigger pressure. At least, I haven't worked out how yet, and if anyone knows the answer I would be delighted to see it.

The extractor piston is reduced to a blade at the top, and pushes up into the groove on the bottom of the bolt. If this area has become clogged with dirt and gummed grease, then the bolt motion will be very stiff.

With the trigger assembly and extractor removed, try running the bolt in the action body. If you find it now runs freely, then that confirmrs that extractor resistance is the source of the problem. If it still runs stiffly, even without the extractor, then you have to investigate as with any piece of machinery to find dirt/hard fragment/etc. That is normal mechanical maintenance, not gunsmithing

Clean off any and all dirt and fossilized grease, regrease and reassemble.

It will then work as well as the ingenious extractor mechanism permits!
I would rbe interested to know if that is the answer to your problem. Feedback helps to solve future problems for others!


Patrick

[Patrick Chadwick]

PS
There is a solution to the trigger/extractor double-spring problem, but I will not describe it here as it could be dangerous if misapplied.

Patrick

[Jim K]

The feeding may be due to someone messing with the follower and/or follower spring. Assuming the clips are good, the feeding in those rifles is usually very reliable.

Jim