Reply #69: Most of the problems with the Carcano stemmed primarily from logistics

[Euromutt]

One major problem with the Carcano Modello 1891 was that state arsenals had inconsistent standards of ammunition production, while at the same time tending to allow rounds from different lots to be loaded into one clip. As a result, it was practically impossible for any Italian soldier to sight in his rifle correctly, because ammunition performance could vary wildly from one round to the next.

Another issue was that the Italian army tried to switch from 6.5x52mm to 7.35x51mm in 1938, after experiences in the campaigns in Libya and Abyssinia led the Italian war ministry to decide the 6.5mm round's performance was inadequate (which had somehow escaped them during Italy's two and half years of involvement in World War I :eyes: ), only to find when World War II broke out that they couldn't produce enough weapons and ammunition in the new caliber to keep up. Accordingly, in 1940, the Italian armed forces reverted to the 6.5mm round (of which they had large stocks), but retained the designations for the modified models introduced in 1938 (Modello 91/38) even though they were now chambered for a different round. From that point onwards, as an Italian soldier, it was possible to find yourself issued an M91/38 chambered in 7.35mm but be issued 6.5mm ammunition.

For someone like Oswald these were not practical considerations because he wasn't forced to rely on the Italian army's ordnance corps to supply him with ammunition, and thus did not run the risk of getting ammunition with inconsistent performance, or simply in the wrong caliber.