Norma 6.5 Carcano ammo question

[Carl N. Brown]

Some 6.5 Carcano rounds for my rifle.
Italian military SMI factory 952 date (1952)
"Big Buck" gunshow ammo vendor
My reload 140 gr .264" Speer in Norma 6.5 Carcano case for .264" bullets
My handload Graf 160 gr .268" bullet in Graf case for .268" bullets

Italian Military SMI 952 clip and case head.
"Big Buck" replica of case head
Norma commercial case head w. Win primer
Graf case head w. CCI primer

 

[Remington1911]

Some 6.5 Carcano rounds for my rifle.View attachment 1063870
Italian military SMI factory 952 date (1952)
"Big Buck" gunshow ammo vendor
My reload 140 gr .264" Speer in Norma 6.5 Carcano case for .264" bullets
My handload Graf 160 gr .268" bullet in Graf case for .268" bullets
View attachment 1063876
Italian Military SMI 952 clip and case head.
"Big Buck" replica of case head
Norma commercial case head w. Win primer
Graf case head w. CCI primer

Do you like the steel or the brass/bronze/gold colored clips better. The steel seems to just not want to hold them tight and does not really want to bend, the brass you can work with just a little bit and get it holding them tight again.

 

[wiscoaster]

Do you like the steel or the brass/bronze/gold colored clips better. The steel seems to just not want to hold them tight and does not really want to bend, the brass you can work with just a little bit and get it holding them tight again.

I agree.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I have two of the brass-colored clips and four or five of the blued steel clips.
The brass clips appear and feel to be more quality made.
They all seem to work ok. The steel ones do feel flimsy compared to the brass.

 

[Mars5l]

Well as an update Steinel has listed .266 bore solid brass rounds for sale. I bought 2 boxes to try. $100 for 2 boxes, hopefully it's not a mistake

 

[wiscoaster]

Well as an update Steinel has listed .266 bore solid brass rounds for sale. I bought 2 boxes to try. $100 for 2 boxes, hopefully it's not a mistake

Current inventory? I wonder if it's part of the order I finally cancelled after waiting 15 months. Finally ran out of patience for their excuses. I have yet to verify if the check they sent was credited to my bank account or if it bounced. I'd appreciate you posting if and when you actually receive your order.

 

[Mars5l]

My order is placed. Guess we'll see when it ships

 

[wiscoaster]

I'm betting you're getting what was ready as a partial from my cancelled order. I critiqued them for not shipping a partial order and got no response. Probably a business decision to sacrifice customer satisfaction for cost of doing business. Not a wise business decision, IMO.

 

[Mars5l]

It arrived. Looks like they used Norma brass

 

[wiscoaster]

Ah, OK, thanks for the update. PPU is $14 a box more and doesn't have the round-nose bullet so it looks like you got yourself a pretty decent deal there. Happy shooting!!

 

[Mars5l]

I just hope they are sized better so mine don't key hole at 25 yards

 

[Remington1911]

I finally got around to loading up the PPU 268 bullets:


Just 10 rounds as soon as the ground returns solid down at my range I will be giving them a try.

To maintain the same jump as the hornady round nose these are a bit long, still fit in the magazine, but the knurl is just showing. I generally single load the carcano and have a little adapter to help save the rifle...but not sure. New bullet does require new recipe. I started these with the same jump at the hornady (more heavy bullet) and with a loading using the same powder that is to give ball park same FPS numbers.

We will see.

Testing will be done in the old dog rifle, really the one that shoots the best but looks the worst....funny how that always works out.

Sorry for reloading stuff in the normal rifle part, but I think it fits in here, if not I am sure someone will let me know.

 

[Catpop]

I finally got around to loading up the PPU 268 bullets:
View attachment 1075367
I like those .268 bullets

 

[Mars5l]

Fire 2/3s of a box today out-of my calvary carbine. I forgot clips so I had 2 hand feed the round into the bolt. No more key-holing, shot it at 50 yards which was 25 more than previous before. Horrible groups but more so due to the sights. I had to aim about 18" under the target to hit it. This is a 17" target too. But much better than my first time

 

[Remington1911]

Fire 2/3s of a box today out-of my calvary carbine. I forgot clips so I had 2 hand feed the round into the bolt. No more key-holing, shot it at 50 yards which was 25 more than previous before. Horrible groups but more so due to the sights. I had to aim about 18" under the target to hit it. This is a 17" target too. But much better than my first time View attachment 1075896

They have a fixed 300m sight IIRC, so that is something that takes getting use to. I have a tennis ball under my target that I can lock onto.

 

[Catpop]

REMINGTON 1911
What powder are you using with your new 0.268 bullets? Curious because this is my next quest.

 

[Remington1911]

REMINGTON 1911
What powder are you using with your new 0.268 bullets? Curious because this is my next quest.

IMR 4895, I don't remember the weight off the top of my head, at work now....if you want I can look that up later, but keep in mind I have not shot these yet.

 

[wiscoaster]

.... I had to aim about 18" under the target to hit it. ...

My Carcanos only have about two inches rise at 100 yds. Are you using the Italian sight picture?

 

[Remington1911]

If I am understanding your picture correctly, you draw better then I. Yes. I generally think of it as dotting the i.

I think I read somewhere that they had 300m fixed sights.

 

[wiscoaster]

...I think I read somewhere that they had 300m fixed sights.

The Model 38's have fixed rear sights at 200 meters. The Model 91's have adjustable sights, with the "battle sight" fixed at 300 meters. You flip the adjustable sight all the way forward to expose the battle sight.

View attachment 1075953

 

[Carl N. Brown]

It arrived. Looks like they used Norma cases.

When Federal was selling 6.5mm Carcano ammo as American Eagle 6.5X52 Carcano they used Norma cases too. With 139gr FMJBT bullet.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I dug out my record target I used with open sights on my Carcano testing various reloads. The range was 50 meters (I had thought it was 50 yards).

Eight groups between Jul 1993 and Oct 2003.
Last three groups I inverted the target so they are upside down.
I put a shotgun scope on mine, adapting a side mount originally for a Savage 340 rifle, and started shooting it in black powder matches using a weighed charge of 38gr Triple7 and 140gr .264 bullets.

I have shot worse, sometimes better, five shots at 100yds.
Course of rifle fire for black powder match is benchrest 5 rds @ 100yd bullseye target, then offhand at five each, 100m pigs, 150m turkeys, 200m rams. Counting foulers and sighters that's 25 rounds per match, 7 matches for 175 rds per full season.

 

[Catpop]

IMR 4895, I don't remember the weight off the top of my head, at work now....if you want I can look that up later, but keep in mind I have not shot these yet.

H4895 is my favorite Garand powder. A little in short supply around here right now. Both I and H are great powders. Jmho
Yes I’d love to know your load.