Hey Bruce, You were wrong! I don't know if I'll ever be able to believe anything else you tell me. You got it exactly right on the 1st round; it was a "DEAD PRIMER", just as you PREDICTED. I held the Carcano around the corner of the shed, with the corner post protecting me from any mishap, aiming the muzzle into the side of a dirt bank. I pulled the trigger, and, CLICK, just as you PREDICTED. I held that firing position for 45 seconds...no boom, just as you PREDICTED for the 1st round. I ejected that dud, and covered it with a chunk of firewood. Then I chambered a 2nd round, assumed the safety position again, and pulled the trigger. Here is where you got it all wrong. It didn't take 3 seconds for the 2nd round to discharge, it took 2 seconds, then BOOM. Your prediction was off by a full second. Yes, it was a "HANG FIRE", just as you predicted for the 2nd round, but your times are way off and need to be fine-tuned a bit. I know you'll work on that for the future. Your warning about my old ammo arrived at my PC about 10 minutes after I left home to go to the farm for test firing. I very much appreciate the warning, but, having learned how to use firearms during the early 1960's, and having experienced my fair share of hang-fire paper shotgun shells and dud .22 caliber shells, I was lucky enough to survive today's test-fire mishaps. It's clear that you are an experienced gunner, and I thank you for your help.
PS: Just kidding about not believing you in the future. Ha Ha.
Your Pal,
ShootLow77