M91 Carcano won't fire.

Hot_Lead · June 24, 2012, 05:21 PM

A few weeks ago, I picked up an old Italian Carcano Long Rifle in 6.5x52mm made in 1900.

A few hours ago, I took it and a few other new milsurps to the range. They all shot great until I picked up the Carcano. I loaded the mannlicher clip and put in the rifle chambered the first round (Prvi Partizan 123 Grain Soft Point), pulled the trigger..... and nothing. I unloaded the round and discovered the primer was hit, so I figured it may have been the round, not the gun; However, it did the same thing to the next two rounds, so I was certain it was the bolt/firing-pin.

Anyone else have a similar problem? Is it something I can repair, or should I take it to a gunsmith?

Thanks.

Goatwhiskers · June 24, 2012, 06:16 PM

Disassemble the bolt for cleaning if you can, if not flush the heck out of it and re-lube. Almost guaranteed that it's clotted up with old lube and grease, possibly dating back to when the rifle was put in service. Goat

Webleymkv · June 24, 2012, 07:00 PM

Another thing you might try is replacing the striker spring. Many of these old milsurps have been handled by people who are less than knowledgeable about firearms and it may have hung on someones wall for decades with the striker cocked. Wolff sells replacement striker springs for Carcanos and several other milsurps.

http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?...s&cID=2&mID=85

raftman · June 24, 2012, 07:02 PM

I have had the same issue with a Yugo Mauser I bought from a guy who insisted he detail-stripped the rifle and cleaned out it thoroughly. Guess what meant was everything except the bolt, upon taking apart the bolt, found it was completely full of cosmolene, once all cleaned out, it worked beautifully.

Hot_Lead · June 25, 2012, 10:35 PM

I took the bolt apart and cleaned it out some.

It was a little bit dirty, but it wasn't full of cosmoline or anything like that. Most of it came from the firing pin and the spring.

June 24, 2012, 05:21 PM	#1
Hot_Lead Junior Member Join Date: May 12, 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 5	M91 Carcano won't fire. A few weeks ago, I picked up an old Italian Carcano Long Rifle in 6.5x52mm made in 1900. A few hours ago, I took it and a few other new milsurps to the range. They all shot great until I picked up the Carcano. I loaded the mannlicher clip and put in the rifle chambered the first round (Prvi Partizan 123 Grain Soft Point), pulled the trigger..... and nothing. I unloaded the round and discovered the primer was hit, so I figured it may have been the round, not the gun; However, it did the same thing to the next two rounds, so I was certain it was the bolt/firing-pin. Anyone else have a similar problem? Is it something I can repair, or should I take it to a gunsmith? Thanks.

June 24, 2012, 07:02 PM	#4
raftman Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,890	I have had the same issue with a Yugo Mauser I bought from a guy who insisted he detail-stripped the rifle and cleaned out it thoroughly. Guess what meant was everything except the bolt, upon taking apart the bolt, found it was completely full of cosmolene, once all cleaned out, it worked beautifully. __________________ "My momma, she done told me, there's heart and then there's hate If one of 'em's inside of you, the other one, it aint."

June 24, 2012, 06:16 PM	#2
Goatwhiskers Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2009 Location: Batchelor, La. Posts: 579	Disassemble the bolt for cleaning if you can, if not flush the heck out of it and re-lube. Almost guaranteed that it's clotted up with old lube and grease, possibly dating back to when the rifle was put in service. Goat

June 24, 2012, 07:00 PM	#3
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	Another thing you might try is replacing the striker spring. Many of these old milsurps have been handled by people who are less than knowledgeable about firearms and it may have hung on someones wall for decades with the striker cocked. Wolff sells replacement striker springs for Carcanos and several other milsurps. http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?...s&cID=2&mID=85

June 25, 2012, 10:35 PM	#5
Hot_Lead Junior Member Join Date: May 12, 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 5	I took the bolt apart and cleaned it out some. It was a little bit dirty, but it wasn't full of cosmoline or anything like that. Most of it came from the firing pin and the spring.