Quote Originally Posted by Calif-Steve View Post
"They saw extensive use in WWI and in WWII" you sure about that? They were rear guard guns: drivers, cooks, etc., guns not intended to be used. Not intended for front line units or troops at all. Not sure they saw any WWII use, just not sure, mind you. Handload and very light handloads at that. Good luck with this one.
Yes I'm sure. They saw extensive use in both wars. The Italianicon front was pretty flexible in that front lines were over run on many occasions and these rifles were used by the rear eschelon troops they were issued to. They were credited with the killing of an Austiran General and the shooting down of a blimp. In WWII they were used by the Ethiopian troops in Italian service. Quite a bit of history on them if you look. There are write ups about them in several gun magazines denoting their use and history. They used full standard 6.5 carcano ammo as issued during their entire Italian service and in present day Italy and Germanyicon have been proof tested to these standards and passed. No one really recommends that however and hand loads with cast bullets are the standard today. They converted 500,000 of them along with a number of carbines which were issued to cavalry units.