Beretta 1934 and Carcano

[Deaf Smith]

Guys,

I ran into a 6.5mm Carcano, the one with the integral spike bayonet and 17.7 inch barrel. $185. Is that ok?

And a WW2 1934 .380, matching serial numbers, but with what looks like a aftermarket magazine. They want $250.

So are they good prices?

And where to I find decent priced 6.5mm ammo? I used to have 6.5 Carcano dies but I got rid of them years ago! So if I reload I'll need slugs to (I think .288 diameter bullets, right?

Thanks.

Deaf

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[Patrick Chadwick]

I used to have 6.5 Carcano dies but I got rid of them years ago!

Big mistake! Get the Lee dies - they are perfectly OK for resizing ammo fired in your rifle. The RCBS dies cost more than the typical price I pay for a rifle.

So if I reload I'll need slugs to (I think .288 diameter bullets, right?

OMG no 0.288" would be oversized for a 7mm chambering!

Sorry for shrieking, but you are probably thinking of the Hornady 0.268" bullets. Which have also caused a fair amount of forum correspondence. The correct (nominal) diameter would be 0.264". You had better sieve through this forum and the reloading forum for info on reloading for the Carcano. To shoot regularly with a Carcano you need to be either rich or a competent reloader. Start learning now!


Patrick

[Deaf Smith]

Yes I ment .268! I reload alot (4 presses, two of them progressive) but yes those Carano dies I should not of got rid of.

Thanks,

Deaf

[Patrick Chadwick]

Never get rid of exotic tooling - you never know when you might need it! (This principle has been the ruin of many cellars and garages)

[Deaf Smith]

One more question.

The rear sight has a very deep 'V" sight.

Now just where does one place the front sight in the 'V" to shoot?

The one I have coming has the adjustable rear sight but like I said, the 'V' is wide and deep!

Thanks,

Deaf

[Patrick Chadwick]

Now just where does one place the front sight in the 'V" to shoot?

IF your rifle is the Moschetto M91 carbine, then the backsight leaf was scaled from 600 to 1300 meters! Rather ambitious for a shorty, and especially unrealistic for cavalry use.

To hit the black at 100 yards you need to flip the backsight leaf right over to the front, and use the fixed V, which was zeroed to something like 300 meters - still optimistic enough.

Then hold the foresight blade so deep in the V that it almost disappears. The shots should be well centered horizontally, but judging "How deep" is a matter of experience with that particular rifle. If your eyesight is like mine, you will, at first, achieve a vertical string of several inches height. Do not despair! Practise! For a first 100 yd trial, I recommend that you tack a second target black below the normal target, and aim at that. The shots will probably land in the upper black.

[Deaf Smith]

Thanks!

I plan to try out both my carbine and the 1934 .380 (yes I got both on lay-away, different stores) and with a bit of patience and looking for ammo (Hornady ammo for brass and slugs) it should be interesting. I already have a Lee turrent press set up for 30 carbine, .380, 9mm, .44 magnum, .357 magnum, and 10mm. Dillions for .45 ACP and .38 special and Lyman turrent for .223 and .308 (among others.)

Thanks again.

Deaf

[Deaf Smith]

Got the rifle AND found a Beretta 1934 Army issue made in 1941. Got them both.

The 1934 .380 military pistol shot perfect! Every shot dead on at 7 yards using factory as well as reloaded FMJ ammo (Bullseye power does well with 95gr FMJs.)

Found a half box of Norma 6.5 cheap, with the other 1/2 box filled with empties.

Fired at 25 yards with the front sight at the bottom of the 'V' and bullseye at the top of the 'V'. Shot a bit high but then I forgot to use the 300 meter battle sight (still using the 600 meter sight.) The sights go up to 1500 meters (hahahaha sure.)

Group was about 2 inches but then that wide 'V' is not that good an idea.

Also ran into some Texan dies for 6.5 Carcano that were missing the decaper. Got a .243 decaper to work and, for just $10 bucks, including tax, my reloading set works fine.

Now the action on the Carcano is rough. Rather hard to chamber the first rounds. I suspect the extractor needs being taken out and the whole bolt body degreased and lubed. But that will be for another day.

Total cost.... $200 for the rifle and $268 for the pistol (tax included.)

I have to admit, at lease for the pistol, if I had the choice of the British Enfield .380 (.38 S&W) or the Beretta, I'd pick the Beretta hands down. I don't think much of the .380 or .38 S&W for military combat but still that little Beretta was easy to hit with.

Deaf

[jmoore]

Rather hard to chamber the first rounds. I suspect the extractor needs being taken out and the whole bolt body degreased and lubed.

That's likely due to the Norma cases! It's a known drama with that ammo. Case head and extractor groove are not correctly dimensioned.
Find some Prvi Partisan or Hornady ammo to try. Cases are far better in either instance.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Fired at 25 yards with the front sight at the bottom of the 'V' and bullseye at the top of the 'V'. Shot a bit high but then I forgot to use the 300 meter battle sight (still using the 600 meter sight.) The sights go up to 1500 meters (hahahaha sure.) Group was about 2 inches but then that wide 'V' is not that good an idea.

The deeper you hold the blade in the V, the more accurately it will be centered on the horizontal axis. The vertical axis remains a problem.