The Side Mounted Scope on the 6.5 mm Carcano

[Bob Prudhomme]

Here is an interesting perspective of a 6.5 mm Carcano rifle (model unknown but the bolt and receiver is identical on all Carcanos) with a side mounted scope:



It is hard to tell if this is the same scope and scope mount as was used on the alleged assassination rifle.

Observe that the bolt handle, when ejecting an empty cartridge, must be rotated, by lifting the handle, until the base of the handle is standing vertically, before the bolt can be pulled back.

Doesn't appear to be a great deal of room between the scope and the bolt handle, does there? Can you see this as a fast operating rifle with this obvious handicap?

As I said, I do not know if this setup is an accurate replication of the real assassination rifle but, it does give one food for thought.



Correction: This rifle is either a 7.35x51mm M38 Carcano short rifle or a 6.5x52mm M91/38 short rifle (LHO's alleged rifle). The giveaway is the fixed rear sight with the "V" notch. These were the only two Carcanos that had fixed rear sights and not adjustable rear sights. The two short rifles are indistinguishable from outward appearances and, aside from calibre, differ only in that the M38 rear sight is set up to hit a target at 300 metres while the M91/38 is set up to be accurate at a more modest 200 metres.

Now, look again at this photo and try to imagine using the rear sight and fore sight with your forehead pressed against the telescopic sight.