Looking for Carcanos

I have over 80 Carcanos and have never seen a .264 groove bore . Just how would you "tinker" with one to shrink it ? Wash it in hot water ? The early rifles had grooves as deep as .270 , they did tighten them up to close to .266 by the M-41 . The problem with the big Hornady bullet is to the groove size but the land , and the fact the bullet is made wrong . Way too thick a jacket . With a tight land the gain twist guns will have trouble engraving the bullet jacket as it goes down the bore and the twist changes . Way to much drag and the pressure goes up . With the tight groove .266 rifles with tight lands also , there is just not enough hole to push a bullet that has such a thick jacket that will not deform enough . They can be found with bore hole combinations that can work with the .268 bullet , or not . Hornady sells a good .264 160 round nose for the 6.5mm's and a .300 128 for the 7.35mm's . 6.5mm cases can be used for both . Also there is nothing wrong with a 8mm one [ in good shape and put together correctly other that the recoil ] as the Carcano action is a large ring with just as good as steel as the K-98k and two large front locking lugs .

They were rebarreled in Italy at some point, by a company selling them. I'll have to check for the name of that company, but here in Italy the problem is very well known and dreaded.

---------- Post added at 01:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 PM ----------

I found the info. It was a company called Piscetta. They rebarreled with .264, 6 grooves barrels.
Just be aware that the danger is real.
They keep popping up here.
So, no hot water needed, standard procedure!

I have several rebarreled Carcanos in several different calibers .I do not try and shoot Carcano military [or mil spec ] ammo in them . They are not Military Carcanos any more , they are now different . Just like any military rifle rebarreled to a different caliber .

The problem is, apparently, that these rifles don't have particular markings. It's a job of the early seventies if I remember well, not properly done. There have been a few accidents here with these rifles.

A rebarrel should be easy to see since all the original military markings were on the barrel . A barrel with out them should stand out . I could see where it would be a problem as I would not want to fire original .266 dia long round nose military bullets in a .264 barrel .

Many people don't really know their way around a milsurp rifle, so they end up with something like this and get hurt or damage the rifle. Especially because the Carcanos were quite popular rifles for hunters after the war, so they have been bought by hunters more than by collectors.
I will make some further research about markings, because I guess there has been some foul play around these rifles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob q

I have over 80 Carcanos and have never seen a .264 groove bore . Just how would you "tinker" with one to shrink it ? Wash it in hot water ? The early rifles had grooves as deep as .270 , they did tighten them up to close to .266 by the M-41 . The problem with the big Hornady bullet is to the groove size but the land , and the fact the bullet is made wrong . Way too thick a jacket . With a tight land the gain twist guns will have trouble engraving the bullet jacket as it goes down the bore and the twist changes . Way to much drag and the pressure goes up . With the tight groove .266 rifles with tight lands also , there is just not enough hole to push a bullet that has such a thick jacket that will not deform enough . They can be found with bore hole combinations that can work with the .268 bullet , or not . Hornady sells a good .264 160 round nose for the 6.5mm's and a .300 128 for the 7.35mm's . 6.5mm cases can be used for both . Also there is nothing wrong with a 8mm one [ in good shape and put together correctly other that the recoil ] as the Carcano action is a large ring with just as good as steel as the K-98k and two large front locking lugs .

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Perhaps wash it with hot water and put it in the dryer.....I did that to one of the wifes sweaters....that was a very dangerous mistake.....and she really went into an over pressure condition.

I have had great luck with Hornady's bullets....I only have two rifles...well carbines really, so not the depth you have....but they really like them. No signs on anything going wrong...no over pressure signs, but I do load all my old guns on the soft side....so I don't know....267 fits my two like they got made for it....and they shoot it just amazing.

One of mine has a mis matched bolt....rifle bolt, the other is correct. I do really like the carcano and enjoy shooting it....not sure if it is the odd duck nature of the rifle, the bad rep the gun has in general or what....I also really like my French firearms as well.....I go for the underdog I guess.

I think I have a few pics of them out there....do you have any photos of your that you can share.....I love seeing them.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...psc14a49ab.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...psa0891b4d.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ps9965099b.jpg

---------- Post added at 08:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 AM ----------

Forgot the bolt pic

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...psae8b5031.jpg

Between rain this weekend did a little more shootin....with the Hornady 267 it really came alive....I wish I would have saved the "before" target but it was horrid.....think one on paper if I was lucky....with the reloads I am very happy.....had to use some kentucky windage as the site is....well what it is.

When I get home tonight I will take some photos.

Hey guys, I was in my gunshop on a weekly run and they just so happened to have two carcanos for sale some fella brought in one was a 38 and the other a M41. The 38 was chopped and they were both selling for 150 bucks I picked the M41 because it was in mint condition despite a bore that is pitted with dirt in it. Needs a recrown as well rust ate her up. I could post if you are interested. It looked like they had been in a basement or something just moist air on them till they came into the shop.

I would love to see them.....give them a try with the correct sized bullets. They really are good little rifles that I think get a bad rap. Yea they are a little "clunky" but they are on par with other rifles of that era and I think you will find it will shoot as well as like one in shape.