A while back I bought a Carcano 91/38 that was a real beater. Spray painted stock, rusted metal, broken sprints, etc. After fixing it up everything looks and acts the way it should while the rifle is empty. When a round is loaded in though the action becomes very stiff and the bolt is hard to rotate. Could it possibly be the ammo? I read somewhere that the round should go up to the casing if you put it in the end of the barrel. It does not do that on the Carcano. It does with my Mosin Nagant. Other then the stiffness it seems to chamber the round just fine. I was using PPU 6.5x52 Carcano. The barrel has 6.5 stamped on it and traditionally the 91/38's where chambered in this. I have not shot the rifle yet. If not the ammo what else could it be? Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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Carcano 91/38 Extremely Stiff Action
- Thread starter Ghalahad
- Start date
I would check for rust or even paint in the chamber.
And no, the bullet should not go into the muzzle end clear up to the case neck. The bullet is the same diameter as the groove diameter of the rifle, the bore diameter (rifling lands) are smaller and will not let the bullet go into the muzzle end.
And no, the bullet should not go into the muzzle end clear up to the case neck. The bullet is the same diameter as the groove diameter of the rifle, the bore diameter (rifling lands) are smaller and will not let the bullet go into the muzzle end.
mapsjanhere
New member
If the chamber is clean, get a go gauge and a finishing reamer and reset the head space. Luckily dealing with a short chamber is a lot easier than a too long one.
Remington74
New member
I found that they made some for Japan in WWII in caliber Jap 6.5x50. Is there anything to indicate that this may be one of them? Do you know if the previous owner ever shot it or has it's past been lost to history? Maybe time for a chamber cast.
mapsjanhere
New member
The 6.5 Japanese is much more tapered than the 6.5 Carcano, that would be quite a swage job to get a Carcano into a Jap chamber.
Start by checking the chamber like Scorch says. Then check the head space. The bolt being hard to rotate indicates a head space issue. Keeping in mind that the 6.5 x 52 uses CIP(European) specs. Pacific Tool and Gauge sells proper headspace gauges at $70 for the set of 3.
Rent 'em here for $8 for 7 days(Does Not Include Shipping Time.).
https://4drentals.com/product/6-5-x-52-carcano/
"...round should go up to the casing..." Not that far. The cartridge test is a field expedient test too. It's not conclusive.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Japanese Carcano is here. http://www.nambuworld.com/typeipix.htm
The Arisaka's case rim is bigger than the Carcano by 16 thou. The Carcano's case body is bigger than the Arisaka's by 3 thou. Different shoulder angles too.
Cartridge drawings are here at the bottom.
http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm
Rent 'em here for $8 for 7 days(Does Not Include Shipping Time.).
https://4drentals.com/product/6-5-x-52-carcano/
"...round should go up to the casing..." Not that far. The cartridge test is a field expedient test too. It's not conclusive.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Japanese Carcano is here. http://www.nambuworld.com/typeipix.htm
The Arisaka's case rim is bigger than the Carcano by 16 thou. The Carcano's case body is bigger than the Arisaka's by 3 thou. Different shoulder angles too.
Cartridge drawings are here at the bottom.
http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm