RIFLE/HISTORY: Carcano Moschetti 38 TS in 8 x 57 IS

[Alexander Eichener]

Sorry for the following telegram style; maybe still of use:

* Things to look out for when buying a Carcano in 8 x 57 IS *

- Is the barrel o.k. ? Rifling and muzzle crowning.

- Use a small spotlight to check the chamber carefully. Mine had
a *mint* barrel interior, but the last portion of the chamber had
pitting and heavy tool marks, resulting in difficult extraction.
You will *not* spot these just by looking through the barrel from
either side, hence the spotlight recommendation.

- Many chambers are oversize. You must not only use a GO and NO-GO,
but also a FIELD (chamber width !) gauge.

- How much steel has the half-moon cut still left at the receiver
ring bottom to support the lower locking lug ? This sometimes
varies.

- Check very carefully for micro-cracks at receiver locking recesses
and at bolt lugs. Gasoline /lighter fluid may help (shows otherwise
invisible cracks when it evaporates).

- Will the bolt face accept a 8 x 57 case bottom ?

- It is charger clip catch hook modified for 8 x 57 Carcano clips (which
are very rare), or can it accept the higher ordinary 6,5 clips ?
Try to insert a filled 6,5 x 52 Carcano charger clip and see
whether it protudes so far as to impede closing of the bolt.

- Are there cracks in the stock ? Places to look out for are:
the two cross-bolt recoil screws,
the rear receiver end.

Good luck,
--
Alexander Eichener
c...@ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Do not use aeic...@ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de anymore (mail is forwarded).
The old VM address (c...@vm.urz.uni-heidelberg.de) is no longer valid !