I own and shoot the following Carcanos:
M-1891 Infantry Rifle 6.5 X 52
M-1938 Short Rifle 6.5 X 52, 7.35 X 51
M-1891/38 TS Carbine 6.5 X 52, 7.35 X 51 and 7.92 X 57JS
M-1891/38 Moschetto 6.5 X 52, 7.35 X 51
M-1941 Infantry Rifle 6.5 X 52 (probably what you have?)
They are excellent shooters and not difficult to reload for. If they can pass a "safety check" by a qualified gun smith, I would have ABSOLUTELY NO RESERVATIONS in shooting them!
I agree with the opinions that Carcanos and Arisakas got a bad rap because they were "old-timey" looking and foreign too boot! The Carcano has had the added rap that French rifles get ... you know the "only dropped once" drivel and "are not accurate". Well, when you push a .264" bullet down the barrel that has a .2675" groove diameter ... OF COURSE it won't be accurate. Then too, the M-1891 Infantry rifle shortened to the M-1891/28 Carbine had the faster part of the gain twist rifling cut away ... again, OF COURSE accuracy is diminished!
In short, Italian, French, Japanese rifles are great shooters with the right bullets and you are participating in history! In my case, the Carcano got me into MilSurp collecting and reloading. My Dad sent back 2 never issued M-1891/38 TS Carbines in 6.5. He kept one and gave the other to his brother. I have them both, with issue slings and bayonets with smooth steel scabbards.
There are some "tricks" to shooting them. The right bullet is one. Some of my 6.5s shoot well with a .264", a couple need that .268". In both instances I use the Hornady 160gr RNSP ... flat base and long parallel sides (just what a carcano wants to see). The correct powder and primers are also important. Just google "reloading the 6.5 Carcano" or "reloading the 7.35 Carcano" ... lots of information out there. Also, the Italians use a slightly different sight picture then we do. Instead of the "pumpkin on the post" that we're taught, they bury the front sight blade into the bottom of the rear sight notch. If you do that and aim at the "waist" on a man-shaped target at 100-200 meters ... you'll hit mid-chest.
YOU MUST USE CLIPS!!! DO NOT drop a round in the chamber and slam the both home. You are likely to bend or break the extractor. If you don't have clips, do not worry. The Carcano has the easiest to remove bolt of any rifle I own. Just pull it to the rear, pull the trigger and pull it out of the receiver. To reinsert, start the bolt into the receiver, when it stops, pull the trigger and run it closed. I had a M-1891 that would NOT feed from a clip no matter what I tried, but it was a hell of a shooter for a rifle built in the 1890s. Until I replaced the bolt, I'd shoot it by removing the bolt, hooking a cartridge onto the bolt under the extractor and reinserting it. Slow fire, yes. The up side was that 50 rounds lasted longer and the rifle stayed cooler longer ... for more rounds without mirage from a hot barrel.
Hey ... just get ready for this coming shooting season and take her to the range!