Picked up a Carcano recently.

doomguy1993

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So this is my first big post here. I picked up a carcano a couple days ago http://imgur.com/a/5wEup that is in excellent shape. (still greasy.) I paid a little high ($536 with tax) but that was before I saw any carcanos for sale online. (Just my luck.) Here is my other rifles as well if anyone is interested http://imgur.com/a/1GLh7 (sorry for potato quality) I hope to collect lots of ww2 rifles, so any great advice for a newbie? Any comments are welcome, ;)
 
You have a 91/41 which was the standard rifle used in WW2. It was made by Armaguerra Cremona which produced about 250,000 between 42-44.

Don't bother getting the PRVI ammo for it if you want to be accurate, these rifles are actually .268, not .264 like other 6.5s. You will get frustrated like everyone else that bought a Carcano, got the PRVI ammo, shot it, didn't hit anything, called it a piece of crap rifle, and finally sold it on the EE. The rifle only works well with the same type of bullet it was made for.

Once I started handloading .268s made only by Hornady (and damn $$$) I got some very good accuracy in my Carcanos.

The proper bullet has so much surface area (long with no boat tail) that the rifling really gives it a good spin in the barrel, and thus it has a flat trajectory, excellent accuracy at shorter ranges, and unbelievable penetration. Too much penetration actually. The bullet does not tumble and cause damage the way bullets should. But rather goes clean through creating neat wounds and less cavitation. British doctors would comment on these Italian "non lethal" rifle wounds in North Africa. And in 1963 Dallas, Texas the bullet went through two people and lots of bone - and emerged intact. The magic bullet is not magical at all.
 
That is very high for a M41 (normally I would say 350-400$ tops), however if you like it, look at it as a lesson, and a keeper (I was burned several times before I knew what I was looking at).

I have a M91 that I personally really like (I actually consider it one of the best thought out bolt action rifles). As mentioned you really need to reload to get full potential of these rifles. If you do reload make sure you understand how case lube works. Because of the thin rim it is very easy to get a case stuck in the dies unless you use your lube properly.

My advice for your collection is figure out what you want first, think on it for a bit, look and watch the prices or ask if you are unsure, and finally purchase when you are ready. If I had done this I would have a much better collection at the moment than what I currently have.
 
Yeah, sadly right now I can't get into handloading. I still live at home and my folks aren't comfortable with me handloading. Once I move out (which should be soon, I graduate my welding course in April) I can save up for a reloading setup. For now I'm gonna have to buy whatever factory ammo I can. Any suggestions? I'm looking for the best bang for my buck.
 
Yeah I paid high for it. I looked around alittle online and all I could find was Cavalry Carbine on http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/ for $325 at the time. :/ It's going to be a pain to clean it (When I make time :p) but I don't regret the purchase. As for my collection here is what I want (in no particular order, although I am thinking of an Enfield or M39 next because I can find ammo in my area.) Arisaka Type 99 (and/or) Type 38, SVT 40, M1 Garand, M1 carbine, Finnish M39, K31, Mas 36, Steyr Mannlicher M95/34, AG-42b, Lee Enfield No.4 Mk1. and maybe a Swedish Mauser and Springfield M1903A3. (also a model 12 shotgun, because I would like one/need it for hunting.) Any big ones I'm missing? I'm trying to have a wide variety without getting every rifle. (For example I don't think I need a Russian Mosin when I would have a Finnish one.)
 
they are fun guns. i bought a carbine in 6.5 from Century Arms back in the day. it was in nice condition except the stock have metal in the stock from
a bombardment. But it worked fine. There was so much metal in the stock that I always wondered if someone was carrying it?
 
The only ammo that is really available is either Norma ammo which will likely run you 50$ a box, or PPU which will run you about 27-29$ a box. This is if you can find either for sale.

In terms of what your collection will be, you need to decide is it all of the nations around that time period or only the main contenders of WWII? Do you want specific action types or based on models? Sometimes there is a massive difference between models even if they have the same action.

Personally if I was doing a WWII collection I would pick one rifle from each of the major powers, then acquire that. From there I could specialize as I see fit.
 
im in the process of rebarreling an already sportered one to 7.62x39. going to post a step by step with pictures when done


That would be great as I am thinking of doing the same as ammo and bullets for the original chambering are a hassle to find and are not cheap.
 
You have a 91/41 which was the standard rifle used in WW2. It was made by Armaguerra Cremona which produced about 250,000 between 42-44.

Don't bother getting the PRVI ammo for it if you want to be accurate, these rifles are actually .268, not .264 like other 6.5s. You will get frustrated like everyone else that bought a Carcano, got the PRVI ammo, shot it, didn't hit anything, called it a piece of crap rifle, and finally sold it on the EE. The rifle only works well with the same type of bullet it was made for.

Once I started handloading .268s made only by Hornady (and damn $$$) I got some very good accuracy in my Carcanos.

The proper bullet has so much surface area (long with no boat tail) that the rifling really gives it a good spin in the barrel, and thus it has a flat trajectory, excellent accuracy at shorter ranges, and unbelievable penetration. Too much penetration actually. The bullet does not tumble and cause damage the way bullets should. But rather goes clean through creating neat wounds and less cavitation. British doctors would comment on these Italian "non lethal" rifle wounds in North Africa. And in 1963 Dallas, Texas the bullet went through two people and lots of bone - and emerged intact. The magic bullet is not magical at all.


I read that the reason the very common M91/41 rifles are in like new condition is because they were made so late in the game during WW2 that a large majority were never issued and when sold off post WW2 as surplus, dealers were finding that most crates of them they bought seemed to have come direct from the arsenal storage as they all seemed new or very little used.

Unlike the other Carcano M91's or the much more popular with troops, the small and light carbines, all of which saw lots of handling and use.

I think Hornady has stopped making the low sales volume .268 Carcano bullets too now, which is a pity too as I have not seen any for sale for a few years now.
 
I thought so, It's just the hole in the bayonet is too high up and does not align with the barrel as shown by my first picture (as best as I could get it.) :/ Well I will leave it for now, but for it to actually fit I would have to cut about a 1/4" off so the hole on the bayonet aligns with the barrel.
 
I thought so, It's just the hole in the bayonet is too high up and does not align with the barrel as shown by my first picture (as best as I could get it.) :/ Well I will leave it for now, but for it to actually fit I would have to cut about a 1/4" off so the hole on the bayonet aligns with the barrel.

Before you cut anything make sure the slot in the back of the bayonet fits over the boss on the rifle, these bayonets should fit without altering either the bayonet or rifle.
 
Yup the slot fits nice and snug, but the loop is still does not align with the barrel. I turned the bayonet to fit it on the barrel and the loop fits snug on the barrel. Weird, maybe I got a lemon?
 
That is weird, what is the measurement from the base (bottom) of the muzzle ring to the handle? My M91 Carcano bayonet comes out to .733". It does fit my M91 no problem.

From your photos it definitely looks to be a M91 Carcano bayonet (the rounded ball at the end of the cross guard tip is pretty distinctive). Let me know what the measurement is, it will help determine if your bayonet is off or your rifle is (or if it is some other sort of bayonet).
 
This is how my M41 looks with the bayonet on it:

IMG_6420_zpstl0ajpwq.jpg
 
Your barrel band almost looks loose on the top, that is likely your problem. Try putting some paper shims on the bottom between the barrel and the stock at the muzzle and it will likely fit properly.
 
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