6.5 identification

pothier33

pothier33

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Looking for help.

Got this from my dad, used to be an old past away uncles. Has 6.5mm written on top of barrel but it's the only markings ( other than a 17 under barrel). Figured it was a carcano but a 6.5x52 carcano round doesn't fit. It jams early and won't let the bolt close.

Any ideas?

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/leepothierier33/2014-01/34585610-D65D-4662-A150-2BA7F6E1E199_zps3hr2sopc.jpg

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/leepothierier33/2014-01/0A0B3DF1-80A9-4298-A5A4-942B3A9E1E36_zpsowhagjab.jpg

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/leepothierier33/2014-01/E1FF93BD-2C93-434A-990F-57B7943626D8_zpstu6sx1bf.jpg
 
As identified above, she is a Cooey-Carcano in 6.5x54 MS. You may see another number right near the "17" on the bottom of the receiver, this will give you the month and year that the receiver (and barrel for that matter) were made. Unfortunately, the manufacturer's markings on the barrel were removed during the conversion process by Cooey.

I am currently fixing one that I recently got a few months ago from a good friend and she is a lovely little rifle. I have some trigger, front sight, and butt plate work to finalize but she is coming along nicely.
 
jbmauser said:
6.5x52 should chamber. It would on the Cooey Carcano I had any way. I wouldn't recommend firing it though.
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I don't think a 6.5x52 Carcano round with a .268 bullet would fit as 54MS uses a 264 bullet. I think the Prvi ammo may chamber as it is said they use 264 bullets but as JB mentioned, do not use it in the Cooey.
 
pothier33 said:
It wouldn't chamber, stopped about 3-4 mm I'd guess. Looking at ammo specs on Wikipedia, the x52 is fatter and base than the x54
Click to expand...
I think Nabs nailed it with the .268 projectiles loaded in some 6.5x52 ammo. The cases are nearly identical in diameter and one can make 6.5x52 from 6.5x54 and vice versa from what I've read so it makes sense the bullet dia was what was holding up the show.

Mine would chamber 6.5x52 Norma ammo but I can't remember the bullet dia or grain of that loading.

Really a moot point though as 6.5x52 is the wrong ammo for your rifle.

As far as value goes they usually sell pretty cheap. Accuracy was ok out of mine. I had a set of Remington iron's installed but never scoped it.
 
As for value, it all depends on the buyer.

When these rifles were made, apparently the common hunting round in North America was 6.5x54 MS and that is likely why these rifles had a new barrel put on in that calibre. The barrel, by the way, is threaded and screwed into the base of the original barrel. You will see a set screw in the bottom which keeps the barrel in alignment and prevents counter rotating. The popular myth is that the barrel is held in place only by this screw but the theory has been proven wrong.

The 6.5x54 MS is difficult to find today, I think you can only find Dominion ammo today but I don't know of any commercial ammo that is affordable. As far as I have seen, the only route is to hand load. Luckily, components are available for a good price.

That being said, it all depends on what the buyer is willing to pay with these in mind. A Cooey collector may be interested or a dedicated Canadian rifle collector may also chime in and wish to purchase the rifle. I have seen values ranging at gunshows and internet websites from $100 to $250 depending on condition, missing parts...etc.
 
pothier33 said:
It wouldn't chamber, stopped about 3-4 mm I'd guess. Looking at ammo specs on Wikipedia, the x52 is fatter and base than the x54
Click to expand...

The rifle uses an "en bloc" clip that is pushed down into the magazine with six cartridges in it as a unit. The bolt strips off the cartridges, one by one, and feeds them into the chamber of the rifle. After loading the last round, the clip falls out the bottom of the magazine through the hole in the bottom of the magazine.

Are you trying to put the cartridge directly into the chamber or using the clip and loading from the magazine? Some rifles will not load directly into the chamber, as the extractor pushes the cartridge forward and then the extractor has to then slip over the rim. The Carcano is not quite as picky at this but it is possible.
.
 
Nabs said:
As for value, it all depends on the buyer.

When these rifles were made, apparently the common hunting round in North America was 6.5x54 MS and that is likely why these rifles had a new barrel put on in that calibre. The barrel, by the way, is threaded and screwed into the base of the original barrel. You will see a set screw in the bottom which keeps the barrel in alignment and prevents counter rotating. The popular myth is that the barrel is held in place only by this screw but the theory has been proven wrong.

The 6.5x54 MS is difficult to find today, I think you can only find Dominion ammo today but I don't know of any commercial ammo that is affordable. As far as I have seen, the only route is to hand load. Luckily, components are available for a good price.

That being said, it all depends on what the buyer is willing to pay with these in mind. A Cooey collector may be interested or a dedicated Canadian rifle collector may also chime in and wish to purchase the rifle. I have seen values ranging at gunshows and internet websites from $100 to $250 depending on condition, missing parts...etc.
Click to expand...

that's fine, so i'll keep it and see if she's a shooter. how difficult is the ammo to find and where do you source yours from?
 
I am currently in the process of handloading my own. I *think* I have seen Norma ammo in 6.5x54MS but it is usually very expensive as it is tailored to hunters.

The other source I have seen is Dominion made 6.5x54MS though it tends to be a difficult find at the gunshows I have gone to. I believe the Dominion brass is reloadable as well.
 
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