6.5 Carcano shooters

chiefr · February 24, 2014, 09:28 AM

I have been reloading both 6.5 and 7.35 Carcanos for many years. Always used .268 and .298 bullets respectively and get great performance out of these old rifles.

Last range trip, and for the first time I decided to try some 6.5 Prvi Partisan 139gr FMJBT factory ammo though my 91. At 50 yards using a rest, I fired an 8 inch group. I switched to my reloads and fired a 1.5 inch group.

After the range trip, I pulled the bullet from the factory round and it miked exactly .264. Problem solved.

I know someone will say their rifle will shoot good with 264 bullets and I agree, some will. The original rifle was designed to shoot .268 diameter bullets.

tahunua001 · February 24, 2014, 09:34 AM

from what I've heard only hornady actually uses the .268 bullets nowadays but I have never taken a set of calipers to some to check. considering that most of their obsolete brass comes from PRVI, I would be inclined to think that other components may also come from them.

chiefr · February 24, 2014, 10:12 AM

You are probably right. The .268 & .298 bullets I use in reloading are all mfg by Hornady. My last range session was the first time I ever used factory ammo in a Carcano. Years ago, I used surp ammo in clips which gave good groups, but Carcano surp disappeared many years ago.

Wanted to add Prvi brass is great stuff. IMHO it is better than domestic.

**Mike Irwin** · February 24, 2014, 10:38 AM

Have you ever slugged your bore?

I've seen Carcanos that have bores as loose as .273, or damned near 7mm.

amd6547 · February 24, 2014, 11:00 AM

The Carcano cavalry carbine I used to own would shoot 8" groups at 100yds using the PRVI ammo.

chiefr · February 24, 2014, 01:41 PM

Mike posted:

Have you ever slugged your bore?

I've seen Carcanos that have bores as loose as .273, or damned near

I usually slug bores. The Carcano in particular has a nominal .268 mint bore.
Main reason why I have kept this one. When I hear people tell me how inaccurate Carcanos are, I put mine up against their 03s and Garands and the skeptics have a sudden change in attitude. I am surprised how many people do not realize they are not a true 6.5, .264.

Over many years I have owned my share of Carcanos, I too have seen much larger bores. Carcanos are still one of the few surp rifles you can pick up for under a couple hundred bucks. Too bad the surp ammo supply is no longer with us.

**Mike Irwin** · February 24, 2014, 02:44 PM

I've only ever seen one Carcano that wouldn't shoot, no matter what was done to it, but that was because the rifling had been pretty badly chewed up by corrosive priming.

I've never owned one, but the ones I've shot in the past certainly haven't been lacking in accuracy, as long as the bullets and bore are compatible.

Romeo 33 Delta · February 26, 2014, 03:24 PM

I shoot the following 6.5 and 7.35 Carcanos:

M1891 Infantry Rifle, M38 Short Rifle, M91/38 TS Carbine, M91/28 Moscshetto, M1941 Infantry Rifle.

M38 Short Rifle, M91/38 TS Carbine, M91/38 Moschetto.

Some of the 6.5s shoot accurately with the Hornady .264" RNSP while others need the .268" RNSP (which I resize to .2665", BTW). I pulled a 6.5 Mil Surp and came up with .266"-.267" as I recall ... hence I resize my Hornadys as I've found them oversized for my Italians. Yours may be different.

The 7.35s are all fed .298" bullets from Buffalo Arms or pulled MilSurp ... a quantity of which I was able to purchase some years back.

I tell folks, if your bore looks decent enough to be a shooter after cleaning it, slug your bore or just try some 6.5 with Privi .264" bullets and if it shoots poorly ... then investigate the .268" bullet ... BUT FOLLOW HORNADY'S RECOMMENDED RELOADING DATA CAREFULLY!!!!!

February 24, 2014, 09:28 AM	#1
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	6.5 Carcano shooters I have been reloading both 6.5 and 7.35 Carcanos for many years. Always used .268 and .298 bullets respectively and get great performance out of these old rifles. Last range trip, and for the first time I decided to try some 6.5 Prvi Partisan 139gr FMJBT factory ammo though my 91. At 50 yards using a rest, I fired an 8 inch group. I switched to my reloads and fired a 1.5 inch group. After the range trip, I pulled the bullet from the factory round and it miked exactly .264. Problem solved. I know someone will say their rifle will shoot good with 264 bullets and I agree, some will. The original rifle was designed to shoot .268 diameter bullets.

February 24, 2014, 09:34 AM	#2
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	from what I've heard only hornady actually uses the .268 bullets nowadays but I have never taken a set of calipers to some to check. considering that most of their obsolete brass comes from PRVI, I would be inclined to think that other components may also come from them. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

February 24, 2014, 10:38 AM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,391	Have you ever slugged your bore? I've seen Carcanos that have bores as loose as .273, or damned near 7mm. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 24, 2014, 11:00 AM	#5
amd6547 Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Posts: 2,315	The Carcano cavalry carbine I used to own would shoot 8" groups at 100yds using the PRVI ammo. __________________ The past is gone...the future may never happen. Be Here Now.

February 24, 2014, 02:44 PM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,391	I've only ever seen one Carcano that wouldn't shoot, no matter what was done to it, but that was because the rifling had been pretty badly chewed up by corrosive priming. I've never owned one, but the ones I've shot in the past certainly haven't been lacking in accuracy, as long as the bullets and bore are compatible. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 24, 2014, 10:12 AM	#3
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	You are probably right. The .268 & .298 bullets I use in reloading are all mfg by Hornady. My last range session was the first time I ever used factory ammo in a Carcano. Years ago, I used surp ammo in clips which gave good groups, but Carcano surp disappeared many years ago. Wanted to add Prvi brass is great stuff. IMHO it is better than domestic.

February 24, 2014, 01:41 PM	#6
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	Mike posted: Have you ever slugged your bore? I've seen Carcanos that have bores as loose as .273, or damned near I usually slug bores. The Carcano in particular has a nominal .268 mint bore. Main reason why I have kept this one. When I hear people tell me how inaccurate Carcanos are, I put mine up against their 03s and Garands and the skeptics have a sudden change in attitude. I am surprised how many people do not realize they are not a true 6.5, .264. Over many years I have owned my share of Carcanos, I too have seen much larger bores. Carcanos are still one of the few surp rifles you can pick up for under a couple hundred bucks. Too bad the surp ammo supply is no longer with us.

February 26, 2014, 03:24 PM	#8
Romeo 33 Delta Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2009 Posts: 315	I shoot the following 6.5 and 7.35 Carcanos: M1891 Infantry Rifle, M38 Short Rifle, M91/38 TS Carbine, M91/28 Moscshetto, M1941 Infantry Rifle. M38 Short Rifle, M91/38 TS Carbine, M91/38 Moschetto. Some of the 6.5s shoot accurately with the Hornady .264" RNSP while others need the .268" RNSP (which I resize to .2665", BTW). I pulled a 6.5 Mil Surp and came up with .266"-.267" as I recall ... hence I resize my Hornadys as I've found them oversized for my Italians. Yours may be different. The 7.35s are all fed .298" bullets from Buffalo Arms or pulled MilSurp ... a quantity of which I was able to purchase some years back. I tell folks, if your bore looks decent enough to be a shooter after cleaning it, slug your bore or just try some 6.5 with Privi .264" bullets and if it shoots poorly ... then investigate the .268" bullet ... BUT FOLLOW HORNADY'S RECOMMENDED RELOADING DATA CAREFULLY!!!!!