Vetterli 6.5 Carcano

[Aragorn243]

Can a new tip be welded onto the firing pin like I've read recommended for other types? Looks like nearly a half inch was cut off.

And I discovered a curiosity about my bolt. It has resonance like a tuning fork. When I pulled the handle off, it started ringing and kept doing it for over a minute.

[vintage hunter]

I have all ideas the firing pin can be fixed by adding on a new section but I'd like to see a photo of it if you don't mind.

[Aragorn243]

The first three photos are not my rifle but one I found on the net. They show what the sight and front band that I'm missing are supposed to look like.







These next photos are of my firing pin. It looks to have been cut off with a small cutting wheel and is in my estimation a quarter inch to 3/8th's inch too short now.

[Aragorn243]

Hey, I have one also.... that is probably 100% correct (no sling and I don't know about the cleaning rod) and complete. If you need photos, let me know. Otherwise I don't want to JUMP YOUR THREAD.
And I agree, I would like to see photos of yours!!

If you could take a photo with the bolt closed on a cartridge, that would be helpful. I don't know how you wouldn't be able to see it looking at mine but it could be stretched or something. The bore is one of the best milsurp bores I have so it wasn't shot much or if it was, it was well maintained.

On a side note, I was reading this morning that both Italy and Germany have proof tested these rifles with 20% over cartridges and they passed. Obviously word of mouth with no evidence to support it.

[Midmichigun]

Aragorn,
I will look into taking a photo. No problem. Look for photos over the weekend.

I was STRONGLY cautioned against firing my rifle. The comments were based on the soldering job of the 6.5mm barrel liner into the original bore and 100 years of corrosion. It was also mentioned that the MASSIVE bolt isn't as strong as "we think".

I believe the clipping of the firing pin, is based on the above feelings on the safety of the rifle. I have often heard of folks clipping (many just weld the bolt face) FP's to render a rifle useless.

On occasion I have looked for bayonets. They seem to be hard to find, and rather expensive.

I do have 20 odd rounds of Carcano ammo and have debated on shooting mine.

[Aragorn243]

My bayonet just arrived today. It cost me slightly more than the rifle. They had been coming up on ebay but were going for too much in my opinion. I found mine on a antique dealer's site, made him an offer and got it today. It is rather odd looking sitting sideways on the rifle.

The bolt looks plenty strong, it's the thin walled receiver I'm more concerned with. I've read just about everything I can find on them and general consensus is they are fine to shoot with reduced handloads. The outside finish on mine is worn but the bore looks like it was never fired. Interior is rust free as well, plenty of cosmoline left in it.

There is a you-tube video of a guy shooting one, rather humorous in a manner of speaking but he seems nuts at the same time. He safely fired 6 rounds of full fledged surplus ammo through his with no ill effects. I don't feel that daring but reduced loads would be something fun to do.

[Calif-Steve]

Would not shoot this thing. Old blackpowder rifle and not strong at all. A nice keeper, but not a nice shooter.

[gew8805]

The bolt looks plenty strong..............

Looks can be deceiving. Have you checked out the locking lugs?



There are none, it relies on only the bolt handle if I recall correctly. Okay for black powder, original caliber pressures, but weak for a modern cartridge. And yes, the 6.5 Carcano is a relatively high power modern cartridge. All of the above being said, I have been tempted but only with downloads.

Another problem that many experienced shooters worry about is the lined barrels. Personally, that worries me far less than the strength of the bolt. The barrel liner is an Italian development that has been used by others, Finland comes to mind, not to mention civilian shooters all over the world. The work was well done and I have never seen any examples where corrosion between the liner and the barrel could cause problems. But, on a large scale of production as done to convert these guns, mistakes can happen and they were not considered a heavy use solution to the problem of a war-time arms shortage, that's why very few if any show wear to their bores, they were on issue to rear echelon troops and only rarely fired, almost never in anger.

[Aragorn243]

Locking lugs pass a visual inspection. I have not applied any liquid to check for hairline cracks. The lugs are on the bolt handle, the bolt itself has its own large lug that completely surrounds it and prevents it from going through the handle.

I'm really not planning to fire this with full loads so no worries there. From what I've read which by now is nearly every article and disucssion on the web, most of these bores are in pretty bad shape. They saw extensive use in WWI and in WWII in Ethiopia using full military loads and weren't maintained properly. They are most definately a war expedient but were not intended to kill the shooter.

Failures have occurred, not full catastrophic failures but failures none the less. What is the big unknown is while safe when developed, how much stretching, compression, weakening, occurred with each shot fired and how many shots were fired through it.

[Calif-Steve]

"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.