I found an interesting paraphrased translation from a ww1 era Italian manual in another forum back in 2020 that explains a little about how these rifles were aimed.
So in other words, at 200m, using the battle sight in a fixed shooting jig, the gun was expected to perform a little over 2 moa and hit within 7 inches of point if aim. Presumably it would be bang on at 300m and about 3moa. All with the 160gn service ammunition.
This would have been with the earlier adjustable sights with a deep rear v-notch, as the manual predated the m38 guns.
For those that don't know. The 38 series rifles with fixed sights have a shallower rear sight notch similar to a Mauser sight picture. They were also sighted to 300m (the 6.5mm guns - the 7.35 versions were 200m).
The different depth rear sights with identical front sight assemblies lends credence to the Italian not burying the front post in the bottom of the V, otherwise m91s and m38s would shoot to vastly different points of impact, there is a 4mm difference in the sight notch depths.
I remain of the view that the service ammo with its heavier bullets shot lower than modern PPU ammo, and that Italians were taught to aim low close in, where accuracy is less important, and to shoot to point of aim between 200m and 300m. Hitting within 7 inches at 200m+ would have worked just fine in combat, noting they had iron sights only.
I do wish I had a stash of service ammo to do a bench test between ppu ammo and service ball. Perhaps one day I'll find some original stuff to test at 100m and 200m.
