Guns & Outdoors Forum

I finally was able to source some ammo, clips, dies and components for the spaghetti shooter!

But, as I started looking through my load books, found that only the Hornady has any load data for the 6.5 Carcano. Can anyone recommend a load book that has more info? The Lee and Lyman ones I have don’t even mention the caliber from what I can see.

By the way, after buying 2 boxes of PPU ammo, a couple clips, Lee dies, and some Steinel bullets… I’m pretty sure I spent more on ammo/ reloading stuff than I did on the rifle

Per 15th edition of Cartridges of the World:

6.5x52mm Italian (Mannlicher-Carcano)

140 grain SP / IMR4895 33 grains / 2,250fps - Source & Comments: "Maximum for Carcano rifle"

140 grain SP / IMR 3031 34 grains / 2,320fps - Source & Comments: "N/A"

156 grain SP / IMR 4064 37 grains / 2,280fps - Source & Comments: "N/A"

156 grain SP / IMR 4350 35 grains / 2,340 fps - Source & Comments: "N/A"

160 grain SP / IMR 4350 35 grains / 2,320 fps - Source & Comments: "N/A"

139 grain SP / 2,580 fps / Source & Comments - "Norma factory load"

156 grain SP / 2,430 fps / Source & Comments - "Norma factory load"

162 grain Ball / 2,296 fps / Source & Comments - "Military load"

Saw 2 boxes of 6.5 carcano factory ammo in a shop in laramie Wyoming yesterday.

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 1:57 pm By the way, after buying 2 boxes of PPU ammo, a couple clips, Lee dies, and some Steinel bullets… I’m pretty sure I spent more on ammo/ reloading stuff than I did on the rifle

sakodude wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 8:18 pm Saw 2 boxes of 6.5 carcano factory ammo in a shop in laramie Wyoming yesterday.

Whether it's ammo on the shelf in a gun store, or the tools and components on the reloading bench in your man cave, is there ANY other appropriate location to store 6.5x52 supplies besides "Back, and to the left"?

My plan is to JFK a deer with it this year

Btw, here are some of the components:

Those copper bullets are cool looking.
Link?

JFK a deer.
lmao

Zee wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:53 am Those copper bullets are cool looking.
Link?

They are brass solids: https://www.steinelammo.com/product/267 ... 5-carcano/

Zee wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:53 am Those copper bullets are cool looking.
Link?

They are brass solids: https://www.steinelammo.com/product/267 ... 5-carcano/

Are they 6.5 cal as in fit a 6.5 Swede or some additional metrics involved? Not familiar with the Carcano.

And the cast link?

Zee wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 2:26 am And the cast link?

https://www.steinelammo.com/product-cat ... s/bullets/

Zee wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 2:26 am Are they 6.5 cal as in fit a 6.5 Swede or some additional metrics involved? Not familiar with the Carcano.

The “6.5mm” for the Carcano is different from pretty much all the other 6.5s out there. Which is one of the reasons most people consider the Carcano to be inaccurate- because it’s normally shooting undersized bullets if you use the “wrong” 6.5 bullets.

If memory is correct the Hornady 6.5 bullets for the Carcano are a .267" diameter compared to the normal .264" diameter used by probably every other 6.5 cartridge. I do not know if Hornady still produces that bullet though.

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:05 pm

Zee wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 2:26 am Are they 6.5 cal as in fit a 6.5 Swede or some additional metrics involved? Not familiar with the Carcano.

The “6.5mm” for the Carcano is different from pretty much all the other 6.5s out there. Which is one of the reasons most people consider the Carcano to be inaccurate- because it’s normally shooting undersized bullets if you use the “wrong” 6.5 bullets.

Poop.

Reloading used to be complicated, as 6.5 Carcano is not the same as 6.5 Sweedish. I think Carcano bullets are slightly larger than the World's 6.5. Purpose built 6.5 Carcano bullets may be obtainable but weren't a few years ago, Of course lead bullets can make the bore diameter, but who wants to shoot lead bullets.

Hornaday occasionally makes the 267

Finally was able to get the Carcano out to the range!
Had the two PPU loadings available. A 139gr FMJ and a 123gr soft point.

Neither of them did well. Not hitting point of aim or making anything close to a group.
Both of these were at 50 yards. Yikes.

Time to start a couple of hand loads.

To my understanding, the Carcano was considered extremely inaccurate. That's one of the reasons that there is so much controversy surrounding the Kennedy assassination. Many feel that the Carcano wasn't capable of making the shot.

My 7.35 with military ammo looks more like the first target at 50 yards, your group is just a little better.
My 3 shot group was 5 shots though.

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:51 am My plan is to JFK a deer with it this year

...

So you're taking Zee with you?




You know, for the grassy knoll shot... somebody has to hit the deer

Bullsi, I feel your pain, years ago the LGS had a beautiful 6.5 Arisaka 38 sporter with a birdseye maple Mannlicher stock. I found a box of factory ammo and with much excitement I headed to the range. I was impressed with the mild recoil but at 25 yards, but it hit 5" high. I ejected the case without looking at it, closed the bolt and fired another round, this one hit low. Confused, I opened the bolt and examined the case, there was no neck left. Back at the LGS, I found somebody had re-chambered the rifle to 6.5-257 Roberts, a common modification for this rifle after WWII. After some research, I found load data and bought components and dies. I did a load work up, took it to the range and got a 5" group at 25 yards. Broken-hearted that this beautiful rifle wouldn't shoot, I gave it to my brother. I had paid $75 dollars for the rifle, $30 for factory ammo, $125 for the dies, and I don't remember how much for the bullets. He had an ER Shaw barrel installed for $200, installed a Timney trigger with a side safety for another $100 and has a beautiful unique rifle that shoots MOA or better.

It was an interesting experiment but that's it!

I did not mic the bullets on the S&B factory rounds, but I have read reports that they use the smaller “6.5” bullets. Once this whole moving thing is settled, I’ll load up the Steinel slugs and see if that gives better groupings.

If not, then it will be time to decide if it’s time to sell the gun or bubba it into some kind of unholy abomination. Like… can this be rebarreled to a straight wall cartridge? Maybe a pistol round? Dunno.. but I’m sure I can make it pay for not shooting well.

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 2:46 pm I did not mic the bullets on the S&B factory rounds, but I have read reports that they use the smaller “6.5” bullets. Once this whole moving thing is settled, I’ll load up the Steinel slugs and see if that gives better groupings.

If not, then it will be time to decide if it’s time to sell the gun or bubba it into some kind of unholy abomination. Like… can this be rebarreled to a straight wall cartridge? Maybe a pistol round? Dunno.. but I’m sure I can make it pay for not shooting well.

If we need custom sized slugs, I know a guy