Carcano M-38??

[Aragorn243]

A year ago, Carcano's were everywhere. I wasn't looking for one then. Now that I am looking for one, I can't find any. Seems to happen a lot. Those I have seen the price is sky high from what they were and I don't know if this is a true picture of their worth or just a few guys gouging. I'm still looking. I go to gun shows and check the local flea markets and gun shops and auctions.

I have a cavalry model that I've shot privi out of with no success. Cases look fine but I have yet to figure out where the bullets go once they leave the barrel. The bore looks great and the rifling is crisp. I suspect it is my use of the sights incorrectly. I need to hold the front pin all the way at the bottom of the rear V and I have not yet tried that. It's probably making me shoot way high.

[Midmichigun]

Salt Flats,
I agree on stock making. I have been doing that for my Gew88's and Mauser 1871's and also my Beaumonts. All it takes is 1 to start the replication process. While probably NOT cost effective, it is entertaining and rewarding.

[Salt Flat]

Salt Flats,
I agree on stock making. I have been doing that for my Gew88's and Mauser 1871's and also my Beaumonts. All it takes is 1 to start the replication process. While probably NOT cost effective, it is entertaining and rewarding.

Midmichigun, I would like to see some pictures if you get a chance to post! Salt flat

[westkraut]

With respect to Carcano 6.5x52mm Privi ammunition I recently fired two rifles to which I had just added scopes. In both cases the actions tightened up after firing and most of the brass casings looked normal except for multiple approx 1" long longitudinal scrapes marks along the sides of the cases. I had been told by the seller that headspace was fine on both rifles but now I wonder if the scrapes are due to excessive head space or chambers that are larger in diameter than they should be. I'll dig the brass out of storage and get some pics but until I get some headspace gauges for the Carcanos, they too will be in storage. Anyone above have any experience with such markings and know why one get longitudinal marks? kpl

[Aragorn243]

Sounds like you have some pitting, rust or maybe even dirt in the chamber that is causing the scrapes when you eject the spent casings. The casings probably are expanding and tightening up around these areas.

[vintage hunter]

The scrape marks on the cases probably got there while being fed into the chamber. I tried some new PRVI rounds in a couple of mine and the scrape marks were present when the rounds were ejected w/o being fired. Look inside the action up next to the breech face for fine brass shavings, they may be hard to see until you've ran a dozen or so through.
About headspace gages for the 6.5 Carcano, they will be made to saami/cip specs but the rifles were'nt. Don't know how accurate the gages will be.

[westkraut]

Thanks Aragirn243 and Vuntage Hunter for the suggestions on possible interior chamber scraping....'will check for brass shavings/grit and also on rounds fed and ejected to see if the scrapes show up without firing and will send in findings with pics.....thanks agian for the helpful suggestions.

[Patrick Chadwick]

In both cases the actions tightened up after firing

I don't get that. Please explain.

until I get some headspace gauges for the Carcanos, they too will be in storage

As Vintage Hunter has gently hinted, buying SAAMI or CIP gauges is probably ACWOTAM for rifles not built to those standards. Measure the head clearance (described often enough, so please search the forum) on both a new, unfired case and a fired case. That will give you a very good idea of how much stretch is taking place in the body of the case, and will also show that neck-sized reloads are going to be a much better fit. From my experience with Norma cases (weak/undersized rims tearing in the resizing die), I suggest you stick with PRVI. Regard the first firing as a fire-forming exercise and then use neck-sizing only. If you have not got or cannot find a Carcano neck-sized, then simply back off the sizing die about 1/2 turn for resizing.

And clean the chamber thoroughly with a bronze (or brass) brush. Gauze is better, if you can find it*. One or two scratches can be caused by roughness on the feed ramp. Scratches all round indicate a dirty or corroded chamber.

*Bronze gauze is sold as filter material. I obtained mine from a model engineering supply company.

[westkraut]

I don't get that. Please explain.



As Vintage Hunter has gently hinted, buying SAAMI or CIP gauges is probably ACWOTAM for rifles not built to those standards. Measure the head clearance (described often enough, so please search the forum) on both a new, unfired case and a fired case. That will give you a very good idea of how much stretch is taking place in the body of the case, and will also show that neck-sized reloads are going to be a much better fit. From my experience with Norma cases (weak/undersized rims tearing in the resizing die), I suggest you stick with PRVI. Regard the first firing as a fire-forming exercise and then use neck-sizing only. If you have not got or cannot find a Carcano neck-sized, then simply back off the sizing die about 1/2 turn for resizing.

And clean the chamber thoroughly with a bronze (or brass) brush. Gauze is better, if you can find it*. One or two scratches can be caused by roughness on the feed ramp. Scratches all round indicate a dirty or corroded chamber.

*Bronze gauze is sold as filter material. I obtained mine from a model engineering supply company.

Thanks for the additional info. The actions "tightened up" meaning they were stiff and harder to open after firing a round, not that they required struggle but did take more effort to open and clear the spent round. As for the scraping on the casings there were some minot scrapes on unfired rounds after feeding the rounds into the chamber and closing the action fully, but those fired had scrapes (longitudinal and about 3/4-1' in length at 4-6 locations around the casing, no sign of bulging or movement of the primers at all
I have since scrubbed the chambers with a bronze brush and various cleaners and can see no protrusions or lumps/ridges in the chamber wall to explain the scratches. I'll head back to the range and see what marks appear now after what I think/hope was a thorough cleaning.......pics will appear after that. Thanks agian for the info and suggestions.

[westkraut]

Further to the puzzling results from firing two of my now scoped Carcano sporters I did thorough cleaning of the chambers and throat of the barrels and did find some gooey material but no brass shavings, just a few signs of rust in the chambers that cleaned up well with solvent cleaner and a bronze chamber brush. Back at the range the actions were still tighter to open after firing but no more longitudinal scrapes were evident on the spent casings ......However, now there were abrasion bands (as can be seen in the pic) around each of the casings just below the neck and a quarter inch above the base of each casing. The bands are about 3/16" wide near the neck and 1/4" wide near the base ....(not good news I suspect). All neck areas showed blackening from blowby and the case lengths of the fired cartridges ranged from 2.084 to 2.091 inches (an average of 0.007" increase in length), while the unfired casings (bullets pulled) were 2.060 to 2.064" in length. None of the primers were bulged or protuded outward or deformed in any way. In the area of where the lower abrasion bands were formed the casing diameter had increased from 0.443" to about 0.448 or o.449" (obvious swelling). The abrasion bands and swelling explain why the actions were stiffer/tighter to open but I am wondering now if these rifles are still safe to use. So now I throw myself upon the advice of people far more experienced with Carcano 6.5x52mm rifles and ask if this looks like two rifles with excessive headspace? and too risky to fire? Any advice would be greatly appreciated......karl