Rebarreling an m38 carcano

Big man546 · November 7, 2015, 11:26 AM

I got an old m38 carcano rifle looks in good shape, but i am thinking about rebarreling to shoot 357 maximum loads with 35 caliber rifle bullets as a sub gun. Then i could run any 38 caliber case though! From 38 special to the 357 maximum! I could redo the mag well to except 357 maximum magazines. Any ideas or has anybody tried?

Scorch · November 7, 2015, 03:41 PM

About 30 years ago, I rebarreled a Carcano to 35 Remington. Worked perfect with the original magazine and clips. But 35 Remington is a rimless cartridge, 357 Maximum is not. If you overcome the issue of feeding a rimmed case, you will probably have trouble getting it to feed well with 38 Special or 357 Mag, most bolt action rifles do not guide the cartridges into the chamber. If it were me, I would chamber it for something more available that matches current rim size, like 7.62X39 or 5.5X39, or 6.8 SPC.

Gunplummer · November 7, 2015, 06:15 PM

Yes, I have to agree. A long time ago I turned one over to 7-30 Waters, a rimmed case. If I remember correctly, it became a 3 round rifle because of the feeding problems I had to overcome. It was just a project gun, but I had a whole lot of hours in it. Actually, it was a Type "I" Carcano, but there was still a lot of work involved. If it is just a project gun, it could be interesting.

Big man546 · November 7, 2015, 08:54 PM

I was thinking of using a desert eagle 357 mag for feeding. I have a lathe and mill. Have done other stuff. I did a small ring mauser in 7.62x39 that feeds from ak mags its integrally supressed. Good shooter i pick up guns for cheap and make something interesting with them.

Gunplummer · November 8, 2015, 11:28 AM

Nothing wrong with that if you have a little equipment and a little curiosity.

Gunplummer · November 8, 2015, 11:31 AM

Nothing wrong with that if you have a little equipment and a little curiosity. I still have an Arisaka that uses Ruger Mini 30 magazines to feed the 7.62x39. Maybe we should start a thread "Weird stuff I have made or seen".

Mobuck · November 8, 2015, 08:51 PM

On the same level as using $100 bills as fire starter.

T. O'Heir · November 9, 2015, 03:20 PM

"...357 Maximum magazines..." Out of what? The Maximum is a rimmed revolver cartridge.
"...an old M38 Carcano rifle..." What chambering? You really want to turn a $350ish milsurp into a $100 toy? It's parts are worth more than that.

Big man546 · November 9, 2015, 05:01 PM

I believe it is a calvary model m38 with folding bayonet. I think it is 6.5 carcano got it for under 100 for this kind of project. It looks like a childs rifle it is so short! Not much for collecting but do love to tinker. I am sure i can find a magazine that is long enough and could make fit. Again i am thinking about something to be suppressed in the long run with a larger bullet! Being bolt action should not hear much but a click! Maybe i could go with a larger case but the rim of the 357 line is very close to the carcano case rim. Was going to go out and shoot this weekend but have not found ammo locally and dont want to order some just to try it out. But good nees a gun show is around the corner!!!

Big man546 · November 10, 2015, 01:00 PM

After looking over the rifle again last night i am thinking i might rebarrel to 458 socom might be less work on mag

James K · November 10, 2015, 08:54 PM

Check that small rifle closely. There is a tiny Carcano carbine with a folding bayonet that was made as a youth carbine, firing scaled down blanks. The barrel is only about 14.4 inches. Those are very highly desirable collectors' items and, of course, should not be altered.

Jim

Scorch · November 11, 2015, 03:06 AM

I think you might have trouble fitting 458 SOCOM into the Carcano magazine.

snowman748 · November 11, 2015, 10:28 AM

I think you would be better off trying 50 Beowulf instead of 458 socom...

The Beowulf case head is based on the 7.62x39 so it's around ".447-.10" according to saami and the only info i could find on the 6.5x52 Carcano lists the case head at ".451" were as the Socom case head is ".473" so you'd probably have to modify the bolt face for Socom...

Case length for Carcano is like "3.009" with bullet well both Beowulf "2.125 with bullet" and Socom "2.015" are really short so you might experience feeding issues unless you cut the floor plate and fill in the mag well to compensate.

Case width at the base (the widest point) for the Carcano is (.447") this is important because both the Beowulf (.535") and Socom (.538") are wider so the mag well might an to be modified to accept them.

My opinion the Beowulf meets all your needs (big bullet in a small package) ...you're going to need to make modifications to the magazine well and feed ramp so in all honestly do you really want to have to modify the bolt face as well?

Big man546 · November 11, 2015, 11:03 AM

Not worring about collectability but is marked 6.5 carcano and as far as the rounds not fitting that is just reworking or making a new housing! The pressures are close enough and would be great at suppressing should be able to get it done for under 300 minus rounds.

November 7, 2015, 11:26 AM	#1
Big man546 Member Join Date: October 22, 2015 Posts: 30	Rebarreling an m38 carcano I got an old m38 carcano rifle looks in good shape, but i am thinking about rebarreling to shoot 357 maximum loads with 35 caliber rifle bullets as a sub gun. Then i could run any 38 caliber case though! From 38 special to the 357 maximum! I could redo the mag well to except 357 maximum magazines. Any ideas or has anybody tried?

November 7, 2015, 03:41 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	About 30 years ago, I rebarreled a Carcano to 35 Remington. Worked perfect with the original magazine and clips. But 35 Remington is a rimless cartridge, 357 Maximum is not. If you overcome the issue of feeding a rimmed case, you will probably have trouble getting it to feed well with 38 Special or 357 Mag, most bolt action rifles do not guide the cartridges into the chamber. If it were me, I would chamber it for something more available that matches current rim size, like 7.62X39 or 5.5X39, or 6.8 SPC. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 11, 2015, 03:06 AM	#12
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I think you might have trouble fitting 458 SOCOM into the Carcano magazine. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 7, 2015, 06:15 PM	#3
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Yes, I have to agree. A long time ago I turned one over to 7-30 Waters, a rimmed case. If I remember correctly, it became a 3 round rifle because of the feeding problems I had to overcome. It was just a project gun, but I had a whole lot of hours in it. Actually, it was a Type "I" Carcano, but there was still a lot of work involved. If it is just a project gun, it could be interesting.

November 7, 2015, 08:54 PM	#4
Big man546 Member Join Date: October 22, 2015 Posts: 30	I was thinking of using a desert eagle 357 mag for feeding. I have a lathe and mill. Have done other stuff. I did a small ring mauser in 7.62x39 that feeds from ak mags its integrally supressed. Good shooter i pick up guns for cheap and make something interesting with them.

November 8, 2015, 11:28 AM	#5
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Nothing wrong with that if you have a little equipment and a little curiosity.

November 8, 2015, 11:31 AM	#6
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Nothing wrong with that if you have a little equipment and a little curiosity. I still have an Arisaka that uses Ruger Mini 30 magazines to feed the 7.62x39. Maybe we should start a thread "Weird stuff I have made or seen".

November 8, 2015, 08:51 PM	#7
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	On the same level as using $100 bills as fire starter.

November 9, 2015, 03:20 PM	#8
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...357 Maximum magazines..." Out of what? The Maximum is a rimmed revolver cartridge. "...an old M38 Carcano rifle..." What chambering? You really want to turn a $350ish milsurp into a $100 toy? It's parts are worth more than that.

November 9, 2015, 05:01 PM	#9
Big man546 Member Join Date: October 22, 2015 Posts: 30	I believe it is a calvary model m38 with folding bayonet. I think it is 6.5 carcano got it for under 100 for this kind of project. It looks like a childs rifle it is so short! Not much for collecting but do love to tinker. I am sure i can find a magazine that is long enough and could make fit. Again i am thinking about something to be suppressed in the long run with a larger bullet! Being bolt action should not hear much but a click! Maybe i could go with a larger case but the rim of the 357 line is very close to the carcano case rim. Was going to go out and shoot this weekend but have not found ammo locally and dont want to order some just to try it out. But good nees a gun show is around the corner!!!

November 10, 2015, 01:00 PM	#10
Big man546 Member Join Date: October 22, 2015 Posts: 30	After looking over the rifle again last night i am thinking i might rebarrel to 458 socom might be less work on mag

November 10, 2015, 08:54 PM	#11
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Check that small rifle closely. There is a tiny Carcano carbine with a folding bayonet that was made as a youth carbine, firing scaled down blanks. The barrel is only about 14.4 inches. Those are very highly desirable collectors' items and, of course, should not be altered. Jim

November 11, 2015, 10:28 AM	#13
snowman748 Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2015 Location: Abilene, Tx Posts: 124	I think you would be better off trying 50 Beowulf instead of 458 socom... The Beowulf case head is based on the 7.62x39 so it's around ".447-.10" according to saami and the only info i could find on the 6.5x52 Carcano lists the case head at ".451" were as the Socom case head is ".473" so you'd probably have to modify the bolt face for Socom... Case length for Carcano is like "3.009" with bullet well both Beowulf "2.125 with bullet" and Socom "2.015" are really short so you might experience feeding issues unless you cut the floor plate and fill in the mag well to compensate. Case width at the base (the widest point) for the Carcano is (.447") this is important because both the Beowulf (.535") and Socom (.538") are wider so the mag well might an to be modified to accept them. My opinion the Beowulf meets all your needs (big bullet in a small package) ...you're going to need to make modifications to the magazine well and feed ramp so in all honestly do you really want to have to modify the bolt face as well?

November 11, 2015, 11:03 AM	#14
Big man546 Member Join Date: October 22, 2015 Posts: 30	Not worring about collectability but is marked 6.5 carcano and as far as the rounds not fitting that is just reworking or making a new housing! The pressures are close enough and would be great at suppressing should be able to get it done for under 300 minus rounds.