I've been reloading for the 7.35 Carcano carbine for over 20 years

[8mmman]

I've been reloading for the 7.35 Carcano carbine for over 20 years shooting both Hornady .300 Dia. bullets and swaging down .308/310Dia. jacketed bullets though a Lee die to .300. In doing so I've used most ever kind of powder for IMR 7383 (very slow) to Ball C / 4895 ( OK but just so so) and to date found a few powders that worked but nothing the came close to replication of the original Italian loads till now.............



Recently I traded into a jug of Accurate 2520 and I have to say this stuff comes very close to the original loading with both 125/ 128 grain bullets. Shoots great, has the typical flash of the Italian loads, sounds just like it the original loading too. Even has the same point of aim.



I would suggest you try some. I think you would be very surprised at the results. My new go to powder for the 7.35..

 

[fpgt72]

I am pretty involved in doing 6.5...enjoy it quite a bit. Never came across a good 30 Cal version...but would like to.

 

[mstreddy]

I am pretty involved in doing 6.5...

I picked up a 6.5 Carcano not too long ago.
Would you mind sharing your loads?
I'd like to also load cast in it.

 

[fpgt72]

I really don't like to give out loads, think we are all adults, but you know the drift.

I don't cast for it, Bullet I have found that works in all of mine is the Hornady 160....Carcano (in 6.5) never came with a pointy bullet, Hornady is the bottle nose and long shoulder, I kid you not you will go from minute of basketball to minute of softball just changing from Partizan to the hornady bullet.

As to loading I am generally in the mid 20's with powders like Varget, 4195....the "usual" stuff you think of when you think of "old gun powders".....right now I have a full box loaded of imr 4095 loaded at 22-ish. It should enough promice in one of the rifles to warrant a full workup.

One thing I will say however is you know Carcano is not that strong of an action, don't hot load it. These loads have been good for me out to 150 yards....have not pushed it past that.

Another advantage of the powder puff loads is that fixed 300 yard sight is pretty on with reduced loads at 100.....makes the rifle a joy to shoot.

I have not gone back to it in a while....have a squirrel moment and am now doing 45-70 Trapdoor loads.

Oh and I do single load when testing....you know the clips are a bit of a once and done item, not really worth the fiddle when shooting so slow, recording numbers and all that jazz.

If you know of a good source of GOOD 6.5 carcano clips that are NEW I am all ears. I have tried to shoot these at CMP a time or two and the clips are just wore out.