Need help with 6.5mm X ?? rifle - Carcano?

AdrianM

AdrianM

Regular
Rating - 100%
38   0   0
I was given a 6.5mm rifle by a friend. It appears to be a carcano. But I'm not sure if it's a 6.5mm X 52 carcano or 6.5 X 54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer. It's sporterized and the rear sight has been modified. I can't find any stampings on the rifle anywhere other than 6.5mm on the top of the barrel near the breech. It has double set triggers; if that is a distinguishing feature.

I was given a box of ammo with it; Dominion mannlicher-schoenauer 6.5X54 mm but there is one norma 6.5X52 cartridge in the box. Will gently loading it with a 54mm cartridge to see if it fits safely tell me if it's a 54 or 52? Will a 54mm rifle safely fire 52mm ammo?

Lastly, has anyone easily mounted a scope on one of these? I've done some research and it doesn't seem like anyone makes a mount that works well with the stripper clip loaded in the top.

Thanks, any and all information is appreciated.
 
Don't load or shoot the rifle until you know for sure what it is chambered for.

If you can post a picture or three it should be identified quickly.
 
Sounds like one of the old 6.5x54mm sporters Eatons sold years ago. They were rechambered Carcano 6.5x52mm rifles. They were sold with double set triggers. I don't think the 6.5 Mannlicher round will chamber in a 6.5x52mm Carcano. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO FIRE A 6.5X52MM IN A 6.5X54MM BARREL. The case being 2mm shorter will expand rapidly to fill the longer chamber and split, giving you a face full of gas and brass particles at the very least.
Basically the gun is worth about $50, to someone who wants one. Personally I would hang it on the wall or part it out and get a 6.5 Swede if you want a usable 6.5 rifle.
 
Thanks! I took a few minutes to look through some old threads and found an identical rifle and it would appear that it is indeed a Cooey/Eaton's Carcano.

I wasn't planning on firing it until I knew for sure I had the right ammunition and to be honest I'm not sure if I will ever fire it.

I plan on cleaning it up and refinishing the stock (it's been done before so it's not like I'm ruining the original antique appeal) and leaving it in the gun locker for a conversation piece and to stump friends.
 
I had a gunsmith check my carcano just like yours with the set trigger and it was 6.5x54 with a gain twist barrel. I still didn't fire it though, these rifles make me nervous. The best way is to find yourself a COMPETENT gunsmith and have him look it over. Quality control and heat treating on these rifles are questionable, at least on mine.
 
The last one of those I saw, went for $20. The fellow that owned it had lost the clips and hadn't bothered to save any of the 5 boxes of brass I had found for him. Not the brightest bulb on the ceiling.

His rifle had a cracked wrist and a bit of external surface rust but nothing serious. The internals were all in perfect condition. I have no idea where that rifle went. I asked him about when I read this thread and he told me he threw it in the lake. Hmmmmmmmmmmm?
 
Scope mounting on a Carcano can be accomplished by installing a side mount. This leaves the scope offset quite a bit, but it does work. I had a Carcano with a side mounted Weaver K2.5. It shot 1.5" groups with mild handloads.
 
Carcano actions are much stronger than most folks believe. They can be loaded to take into account the FULL potential of the Greek 6.5MS casing: the original Italian Carcano ammo was considerably more powerful.

BTW, almost ALL of the difference between the MS and MC rounds is in the length of the neck. I have fired MS rounds in a Carcano and it can be done but it NOT to be recommended.

There was a thread on here some time back on a test-to-destruction of one of these rifles. What it stood up to was plain amazing.

The amo is about te power of a .30-30 but it is a MUCH better game cartridge. That long, long bullet penetrates very deeply, even with a soft-point slug, and anchors he game right where it is. With FMJ ammo, the round has been used on elephant with success, although this is not recommended (nor legal any longer!).

Don't sell the old girl short: she just might be a real Cinderella for you!
.
 
Yeah, every yank page immediately starts talking about the infamous Oswald rifle. I've even seen replicas. One dude waited 25 years to find the exact scope.

I'm not scared of this gun, it seems tight and robust. I'm going to clean it up for sure and maybe I'll fire it someday. For now I'm just hanging on to it. It appears to have the gain-twist barrel that's been cut down and I've heard that can reduce accuracy.

I have seen the side mount scope bases on them. I had a model 94 winchester .32 special like that once. Didn't like it. I was thinking about a scout style mount on the block of steel where the rear is and a scope with lots of eye relief. We'll see.
 
So disappointed...

I started cleaning up this rifle this morning and after running some powder solvent and a clean patch through the bore a couple times I took a peek and at the muzzle end I saw something odd. I turned the rifle around and looked in the muzzle end and about two inches from the muzzle there is a distinct dark line curved opposite the rifling that runs from one rifling groove to another. Looks like a crack! What a shame.

This rifle probably isn't worth fixing, but just out of curiosity; can things like that be fixed? How is it done?

I guess this one will just become a decoration if I ever build a camp.
 
AdrianM said:
I started cleaning up this rifle this morning and after running some powder solvent and a clean patch through the bore a couple times I took a peek and at the muzzle end I saw something odd. I turned the rifle around and looked in the muzzle end and about two inches from the muzzle there is a distinct dark line curved opposite the rifling that runs from one rifling groove to another. Looks like a crack! What a shame.

This rifle probably isn't worth fixing, but just out of curiosity; can things like that be fixed? How is it done?

I guess this one will just become a decoration if I ever build a camp.
Click to expand...

It could be several things:

- the barrel could be "ringed" from having been fired while the barrel was obstructed. You will usually detect a bulge on the outer surface of the barrel, and the ring is usually around the entire circumfrance of the barrel; or
- it could be corrosion; or
- it could be cleaning rod damage; or
- a "crack"? Difficult to imagine how.

I doubt that it's a safety issue, but could affect accuracy. You could try to lap it out, or counterbore the barrel just past it.
 
thanks Andy. I read your torture test of this action. Cool stuff.

What you're talking about (lapping or counterboring) is gunsmith work I assume. Costly stuff? I have no gunsmithing skills but am not afraid to learn. Can the average joe with some common sense do that sort of thing with the right tools?

There is no bulge and the mark is only from one rifling groove to another. I have a bronze brush coming for it so I'll run it through a couple times and inspect it again.
 
The gain twist barrels were shortened from the breech end, so that accuracy would not be affected. That is why the C-C barrel is threaded back into the breech stump of the barrel. If bubba took a M91 and chopped the barrel, there would be an problem.
 
Forgive me tiriaq, I understand what you're saying, but I don't see how that applies to this situation.

We're talking about a flaw in the bore.
 
AdrianM said:
Forgive me tiriaq, I understand what you're saying, but I don't see how that applies to this situation.

We're talking about a flaw in the bore.
Click to expand...

I believe he is referring to the loss of accuracy with the shortened barrels. That may stem from the age old wives tale that longer barrels are more accurate. As for the flaw, just add it to the list of things to look into when you bring it to the 'smith. I'm sure trained eyes can tell you more than others can decipher online. A friend of mine got hosed badly on one, the poor fool thought he was buying a Mosin :( he payed $250 for it with a couple clips and a single round of 6.5 Carcano. The rear sight was held on with a cracked band and could be shifted around with light pressure, overall condition was fair at best. I had to break the news to him that he bought a $50 Carcano sporter
 
Two of my rifles have a "ring" in their bore, one still shoots quite well while the other I have yet to test. I wouldn't be worried providing there isn't a huge bulge around the barrel roughly where the ring is.

As far as your rifle goes, I am agree with previous posters on not shooting it until you know exactly what she is chambered for. Pictures posted on CGN here might help you but a trip to the gun smith to ask them to check the caliber out wouldn't be a bad idea either.
 
AdrianM said:
.....It appears to have the gain-twist barrel that's been cut down and I've heard that can reduce accuracy.....
Click to expand...

That is why I mentionned that the barrels were shortened from the breech end, to avoid problems.

Pretty hard to say what the blemish is in your bore. Might or might not affect shooting.

The C-C rifles were set up for the 6.5x54MS cartridge. But a close inspection would be worthwhile.

These rifles can be rebarrelled to 7.62x39. Unscrew the barrel, leaving the stump in the receiver. Turn and thread a .303 barrel, and do some minor reaming to finish the chamber. The 7.62x39 rounds will fit the clips.

Being of riper years, I can remember Kleins in Chicago advertising those rifles, complete with scope.
 
Nabs: There is no bulge in the barrel whatsoever.

ahh...sorry tiriaq, I'm with you now!

I'm sorta attached to this rifle already just cause of it's history/infamy. I think I'd like to keep it as original as possible. It's pretty clean and everything seems to be there. I don't have a lot of coin to modify it anyway.

I'm still amazed that they don't have any stamping for model, make or serial number. I assume there is no way to tell exactly what year it was made or anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom