M91 “Calvary” Carbine for my son

[KneverKnew]

The correct shell holder is RCBS # 9 , Norma cases are on the small side . PPU has bad quality control so they can vary . The PPU .268 bullets are closer to .267 and they do not have the problems caused by Hornady's bad .268 bullet design . So any normal powder for that type round will be fine with the PPU bullets . Carcano bore sizes did change over the years . The early rifles had grooves about .270 + , then about .268 , with late made M-41's having bores as small as .266 ish . The military bullet is right at .266 dia and was made to be a bore rider like the rest at that time . The main thing to look for is the total bore area - land and groove and the combination of both . That and gain twist or not will be a major factor on what bullet to use . That is what Emery did not understand and why he kept breaking rifles . I wrote an article a long time ago when the Hornady .268 first came out [after test firing about 400 in many different rifles , bore sizes and loads ] that told what was wrong with the bullet design and why it causes problems in some rifles .

Thanks. Now I know not to order the Hornady bullets.

[bob q]

If you are afraid of knocking a sight extension off the blade just make it taller with a weld . Then file the weld to the shape you want and the zero you need . The .267 Privi 123 rn bullet would do just fine on 50 yard deer . You could load it to the 123 grain 7.62x39 mm level , size and velocity would be the same . The rn bullet would hit hard at 50 yards .

[Ovidio]

I didn’t want to tamper a priceless (for me) rifle. But it is a good tip

[tiriaq]

I didn't want to alter the original front sight of my 91/41, so I just made a higher front sight and saved the original. Easier to do when the front sight is a separate part.

[KneverKnew]

Contessa, an Italian very high end producer of scope mounts, just released a new scope mount for all Carcanos. Great piece of engineering, but outrageously expensive. Slightly offset, it allows also big diameter optics.
But I totally agree that at your distance, irons are king.
Let us know when you try again, if the aiming as suggested helps. I also once took a short piece of welding wire (don't remember the thickness, but it was probably around 1 mm) and glued it to the front sight. That really helped!
But the fact that the front sigh is not protected means that you'll knock it off very quickly, just by putting the rifle in a bag or in the safe.
You just have to calculate how much higher you need to be to come down those 31 inches at 50 yards, and put the "extension" in place.

Glad to know there is at least AN option out there for a scope. But for this little carbine I can’t bring myself to it. Plus I am the sort who doesn’t want to mess up a correct rifle. Plus, I want my boy to know how to use those irons properly like I did, before using scopes. At my age scopes help a lot. But I used to be darned good with irons. Peeps especially.

What glue did you use for the front sight? I have been pondering what I can put on the front. Gluing is fine but want it to be removable. I have JB Weld but that be a bit much.

[bob q]

JB weld is also fine . It will come off with heat . I have done that to many rifles I wanted to shoot in matches , but not alter . Plus I have a whole drawer full of sights and blades if needed .

[Ovidio]

Glad to know there is at least AN option out there for a scope. But for this little carbine I can’t bring myself to it. Plus I am the sort who doesn’t want to mess up a correct rifle. Plus, I want my boy to know how to use those irons properly like I did, before using scopes. At my age scopes help a lot. But I used to be darned good with irons. Peeps especially.

What glue did you use for the front sight? I have been pondering what I can put on the front. Gluing is fine but want it to be removable. I have JB Weld but that be a bit much.

I used “Superattack”. Common so called super glue. Gets hard and can be removed easily from hard surfaces. No residues