Bullet mold for 6.5 caliber; primarily for 6.5 Italian

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I am looking to use cast bullets for 6.5 carcano loads. I am looking for molds and there isn't alot available. I see a selection of vintage molds like from Ideal, and also newer Lee .270 molds. But I am not sure what exactly I should be looking for. One with gas checks (like newer ones) or sans-gas check will be fine? Should I find a decent vintage mold, or can I use the modern .270 size but find a sizer that sizes to the exact diameter I need, like say .264 or .268?

Also not a requirement, but some compatibilty with the Creedmoor caliber would be nice but not required.

 

[Shooterbob]

Did you check Noe bullet molds . They have some 6.5 molds I prefer gas check for rifle. What are you going to use them for? They have a nice fn that would be a nice hunting bullet

 

[AJC1]

The carcano seems overbore commonly. I would slug the bore and get a mold very close. If you powder coat you may be able to go just undersized as pc grows bullets by .002 or more depending on how heavy you coat. Hornaday released larger bullets due to the overbore being so common. I also would get a mold with at least one gas check design. Noe let's you order both in the same mold.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

If you powder coat

I dont even have means to lubricate rifle bullets yet. Powder coat is beyond my ability.

 

[Slamfire]

I would say slug your barrel first before buying a mold. Military barrel tolerances got larger as "Get it out the Door" became more important than "Make it Right"

 

[AJC1]

I dont even have means to lubricate rifle bullets yet. Powder coat is beyond my ability.

Pc is cheaper and faster than lube. You can get full up for the price of one lubrasizer die. If your casting you have the ability and then some...

 

[mstreddy]

If you're getting into casting and haven't gotten into the lubing yet, I'd say give Powder Coating a try. It's relatively cheap and very easy. Check out the castboolits site and there are some very helpful guides and folks. You can buy a sampler pack of powder for not very much money, some airsoft BBs, a cheap toaster oven, add a free plastic (#5) container, and you're good to go. They call it shake and bake and it works fairly well.

Smoke over at CastBoolits sells powder at decent prices and offers the sample packs - 4 1/4 # packs.

 

[Bob Meyer]

Lyman 268645, 150 grain. Presumably made with the Carcano in mind.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Lyman 268645, 150 grain. Presumably made with the Carcano in mind.

Alright I'll try to look for that. Will it work for 6.5 Creedmor as well? in case I ever get into that, doubt it'd be any time soon though.

 

[AJC1]

Alright I'll try to look for that. Will it work for 6.5 Creedmor as well? in case I ever get into that, doubt it'd be any time soon though.

I would think the excessive sizing to get it back down to modern 6.5 sizes won't do your accuracy any good.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

to modern 6.5 sizes won't do your accuracy any good.

Meh, who needs a 6.5 creedmoor anyway? It's just a ripoff of the Italian dimension.
I'm joking, of course. But I don't get the hostility of the .308 vs 6.5 creed debate. Like, the reason I stick to .308 is because I have alot of military rifles and thats just kinda the caliber I have the most loading equipment for. More accuracy? Well we have to work up loads anyway when we make one. I don't see the difference at that point anymore between the two.

 

[AJC1]

Meh, who needs a 6.5 creedmoor anyway? It's just a ripoff of the Italian dimension.
I'm joking, of course. But I don't get the hostility of the .308 vs 6.5 creed debate. Like, the reason I stick to .308 is because I have alot of military rifles and thats just kinda the caliber I have the most loading equipment for. More accuracy? Well we have to work up loads anyway when we make one. I don't see the difference at that point anymore between the two.

When compared with bullets of simular sectional density the only thing a Creedmoor has to offer is recoil reduction.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

the only thing a Creedmoor has to offer is recoil reduction.

If you're shooting factory ammo, then I can see why one would want a creedmoor. If you want absolute longest accuracy possible, then that too.
But for all practical ranges, and especially if you reload, there isn't much of a advantage; just use whichever you prefer. There's no "better one"

As to the carcanos, wait till you see mine.