Carcano shooting
- Thread starter Claven2
- Start date
try a different powder, mine key holed also until I switched to Unique and shooting at 11-1200 fps, produced good hits.
I am making bullets from a noe 270-163FN mold sized to .269 and powder coated or moly lubed. haven't been out to test the last batch i made.
rather than alox lube, I powder coated some.
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I've got one coming and I'm debating if I should just buy Prvi Ammo or if I should buy the brass and reload with a variety of 6.5mm bullets I have on hand and see what works best.
The Prvi ammo is comparable in price to reloading with virgin components.
The Prvi ammo is comparable in price to reloading with virgin components.
Try the privi stuff. It's good brass once fired and your particular rifle might shoot ok with it. Some do, some don't.
not pushing them fast enough for gas checks. powder coating was going to take care of that part. at 1100fps, I don't think leading will be much of an issue even using the alox.
Internet wisdom says yes, but I don't know from first hand knowledge.
With regard to the bullet size, are undersized bullets actually the problem?
For example, I recall reading that Fred Huntington, the founder of RCBS, believed slightly undersized bullets shot best.
And, I recently read in the British Gun Press that the 308 Barnes TTSX actually measures 306.
For example, I recall reading that Fred Huntington, the founder of RCBS, believed slightly undersized bullets shot best.
And, I recently read in the British Gun Press that the 308 Barnes TTSX actually measures 306.
Bullet size is a factor but so is bullet design. The original bullet was only .266, but was designed to flare a couple thou at the base when shot to reduce gas cutting.
The Hornaday bullet is .267 it's whole length, but with a hard solid base, which is a different approach to making a bullet than the Italians used.
Privi makes a .268 spire point that is popular for these, but it's got a short contact surface to avoid overpressure.
Then there are the .264 bullets that shoot ok in some guns, but shoot poorly in most. Largely this is because people are shooting boat tails or solid base bullets that aren't obturating and are suffering from a lot of gas cutting. Plenty of a .264 bullet still grips the rifling, but with a less than perfect crown, gas cutting can make a bullet tumble or wobble as it leaves the muzzle, reducing accuracy.
Some other bullets, I think the norma bullet did this back in the day, had a .268 driving band near the base of the bullet that was otherwise smaller in diameter, .264 or less.
Anything over .256 will grip some of the rifling.
More than one way to skin a cat, I guess.
The Hornaday bullet is .267 it's whole length, but with a hard solid base, which is a different approach to making a bullet than the Italians used.
Privi makes a .268 spire point that is popular for these, but it's got a short contact surface to avoid overpressure.
Then there are the .264 bullets that shoot ok in some guns, but shoot poorly in most. Largely this is because people are shooting boat tails or solid base bullets that aren't obturating and are suffering from a lot of gas cutting. Plenty of a .264 bullet still grips the rifling, but with a less than perfect crown, gas cutting can make a bullet tumble or wobble as it leaves the muzzle, reducing accuracy.
Some other bullets, I think the norma bullet did this back in the day, had a .268 driving band near the base of the bullet that was otherwise smaller in diameter, .264 or less.
Anything over .256 will grip some of the rifling.
More than one way to skin a cat, I guess.
I should mention, it's often asked why nobody makes a copy of the military bullet. The simple answer is there doesn't seem to be enough market for an ipen-based fmj in this caliber. The holy grail is a hunting bullet with the fmj profile that will engage the rifling to .268" when fired.
In my view, the best way would be if nosler made an open based partition in .266" with a long round nose soft point.
I wouldn't hold my breath though.
In my view, the best way would be if nosler made an open based partition in .266" with a long round nose soft point.
I wouldn't hold my breath though.
Eaglelord17
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- Sault Ste. Marie
This sums it up well. The other thing is most Carcanos have progressive rifling, which is a whole other factor to consider in there too.
Carcanos can shoot exceptionally well, there was a couple world shooting competitions back in the early 1900s won by people using Carcanos with good ammo. Generally speaking they as mentioned had a long .266 bullet with a open based skirt which would open up, driven by a very fast powder to help engrave that skirt on to the rifling (got a little bit slower the later the ammo, but early on was exceptionally fast).
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
The original powder (ballistite) was discontinued in the early 1900s. Many relined Carcanos (Tubata) had to be done due to how erosive the original powder was. They then went to solenite.
Personally I had good results with some surplus pulled Carcano bullets and 3031. Haven’t played around with reloading that caliber for years though due to running out off surplus bullets.
Personally I had good results with some surplus pulled Carcano bullets and 3031. Haven’t played around with reloading that caliber for years though due to running out off surplus bullets.
I'm not advocating it, but the load listed in the Textbook of Small Arms 1909 and what I can find out about Nobel's Ballistite almost looks like Blue Dot. Perhaps the Gain Twist was to keep pressures down?
Be interesting what Quickload says about 30 grain of Blue Dot or 30 grains of RL7 (another double base powder).8
Be interesting what Quickload says about 30 grain of Blue Dot or 30 grains of RL7 (another double base powder).8
