[therewolf]

Yes, the infamous "Lee Harvey Oswald " gun.

Apparently, Mannlicher-Carcano is somewhat of a misnomer

for this dubious Italian carbine.

Mine was built in 1908, and has matching serial #s.

My acquisition of the rifle was a comedy of errors from

the get-go. First it sat in my LGS's safe for a few months,

then I took it home, but other projects loomed large.

When I finally got around to procuring ammo, about six

months later, I realized, after it made the trip out to

the range with me, that it wouldn't load ammo without

an en-bloc clip. A couple more months passed, while I

dealt with more pressing matters, at which point I

procured some clips with the assistance of Matt from

Milsurp dott comm. (TYVM)

Finally, with ammo, clips(yes, CLIPS), and rifle in hand, I

went to the range, and actually shot the rifle.

Now, a word about the ammo. The projectile is shaped

somewhat like the probe on a thermocouple, which protrudes

from the cartridge about an inch. This made fast loading

extremely impractical. Am I the only one who finds cycling ammo

through this rifle to be a problematic proposition?

Last but not least, the clip ejection port, now, maybe there's a good

reason, of which I'm unaware, to introduce soil into a loading mechanism,

so I'm keeping an open mind on this, but

Mussolini's troops actually marched into battle with this gun? Really?

[303tom]

Actually the 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano is the round, for which the Carcano 1891 rifle was built for, O yes the rifle was built for the round, but that`s the Italians for ya............

[c3shooter]

(Giggle) On a Q&A board I serve on, one questioner wanted to know why the Italians marked rifles for fat soldiers (Fabrico Armi, Terni FAT)

As if the rifle was not complicated enough, IIRC, those had gain twist rifling. Starts off at one rate of twist, and increases as you go up the barrel.

[jpattersonnh]

It was known by allied troops as the rifle that never killed anyone.

[Mauser_man]

I have one. Bought it on a whim. My 11 year old daughter LOVES that rifle. I like the en bloc clip. I have taken several deer with it. Great little rifle. Too bad they don't get more respect...The Rodney dangerfield of rifles!

[therewolf]

I've found mine uninspiring to shoot, although it

is an interesting conversation starter.

Someday I may try making some brass

from used 30.06 rounds...

[donthav1]

i just sold mine a couple months ago, it was a sportered one i bought it from a friend who needed cash. i only shot it a couple times, had no real attachment or interest in it so i got rid of it.

it came with some modern soft point ammo & some surplus stuff. yeah i agree the surplus looks a bit......cartoonish may be the word i'm looking for?

i apparently hadn't cleaned mine good enough before my first outing with it, because the clip didn't fall out the bottom. it got stuck in there & i couldn't get it out till i got home