Opinions on fixing up an 8mm Carcano

[Aragorn243]

Stopped in a gun shop I haven't been in since the pandemic shutdown. Asked about military and they bring out a cut down 8mm Carcano. Initial thoughts were swapping out the stock with one I have but I did a bit of research and this isn't a German conversion, it's a post war Italian conversion for Egypt. Has a big S on the receiver ring so confirmed. Bore looks good, exterior metal barrel and receiver are OK but the magazine well is stripped like a lot of Egyptian stuff. So, would this be a worthwhile investment to try to fix up. They will take $125 cash for it. If this was a German conversion I'd snap it up but not sure on the post war example. Kind of threw cold water on the whole thing.

I have a stock I believe will fit it plus all the missing metal and a replacement magazine well. All on an imported and shortened rifle that the chamber has a weld in it. I'd have to drill out the stock bolts, not sure how hard that will be but insetting the larger rings on the ends might be an issue.

Just looking for some feedback. Worthwhile project or not. I understand these things kick like a mule.

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[Aragorn243]

Leaning towards not doing it. The Carcano I have has a different sight so I'd have to find a handguard. Figure my better option remains to simply clear the chamber of the weld. It isn't welded shut, just has a spot weld that keeps a round from chambering.

[Eaglelord17]

If it has any weld on the chamber I would not play with it. That gun is worth scrap metal in my opinion.

The 8mm conversions require a special mannlicher clip to work, and the fact there is weld on it indicates to me someone heated this thing up, which with the pressures involved with 8x57 I wouldn't be willing to risk anything with those pressures.

[Daan Kemp]

If the chamber has a weld it has been relegated to display only. Check that it is indeed weld and not gunk.

[Aragorn243]

It's not the 8mm with a weld, it's the 6.5 I already have. It's also just an eighth inch spot weld to prevent a shell from clambering, done from the inside. This hung on the wall of a bar for decades, owner probably did it just to reduce the chance of anyone messing with it. Thought it was solder as that's what it looks like but it's pretty hard and won't break loose.

[mmppres]

I would have to see that to make sure its not a weld. Other one might be a good buy just to strip for parts