Carcano M 91/38 6.5mm Lead Loads
daryldiane
Posted - 04/07/2007 : 4:45:33 PM
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Went to the zero range (35yrds) today to try some lead loads. Look a bit more promising. Fed well from the brass clips, no pressure signs. Some lead flakes on cleaning patches. 19 grns AA5744 with .267 145 grn gas check. Will try 20grns next time. 18 was starting load in Swedish 6.5.
Lower two shots taken with a fine sight, fore sight just showing in the V, others with a level sight at 6 O’clock. Not sure what happened to the one on the left, looks like it went through at a slant?
http://old.gunboards.com/uploaded/daryldiane/200747164426_Carcano Zero Lead.JPG small.JPG
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mag
Posted - 04/07/2007 : 5:03:22 PM
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Cast bullets tend to have problems with the Carcano's deep rifling. The rifling tears up the bullet, and it does not ride the bore straight. That is what caused the sideways hole in your target. There are also a few more on your target that are starting to tilt. By the time they get to a target at 100 yards they will be all over the place as the tilt will get worse as the distance increases. Also more velocity will compound the problem. mag
daryldiane
Posted - 04/07/2007 : 5:25:41 PM
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Thanks Mag. Do you think more lube on the bullet will help? Should I use a lower load?
I have a stash of pre war Cupro Nickel cartridges from which I am pulling the heads. still haven't found a good load. Am using Vit N160.
mag
Posted - 04/07/2007 : 8:02:36 PM
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More lub will not make the rifling any shallower, amd your rifle looks to have deep enough rifling to be tearing up your bullet. Lower velocity will be better than what you are getting now, but I do not think you will ever get really good accuracy with cast bullets in that rifle. Of course " good accuracy " is different to different people. You should have better luck with the jacketed bullets. I have no loads for Vit N160. I would start at 36.05 of I-4350 [ slow burning powder ]with that bullet [ about 160 grain ] , that will give you about 2100 fps . The slower powder will let the bullet "ride" the rifling and keep straighter in the bore. mag
Scotty
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 06:21:10 AM
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Maybe your bullets are undersized, I've had very good luck with .269" lead bullets....at 100 yards.The target on the far left was the best i could shoot with iron sights...
Scotty,
http://old.gunboards.com/uploaded/scotty/20074861644_DSC02248 40.JPG
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http://old.gunboards.com/uploaded/scotty/2007486172_DSC00729 30.JPG
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Leadhead
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 1:25:37 PM
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I shoot all lead in my carcano's and find a .270 dia cast 170 gr bullet
to be very deadly out to 200yds on a 10" steel plate. Load is 15grs of 2400.
Denny
NebrHogger
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 1:33:52 PM
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That load makes sense as my best 8X50R load also uses 2400 powder. SW
DMala
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 7:14:37 PM
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Scotty, those are nice groups! Can you provide details on the type of alloy and lube used? Did you get any lead fouling?
airdale
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 8:01:13 PM
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For all you Carcano shooters out there who want to roll their own cast bullets but don't want to buy an expensive mould here is a link to a low cost mould made by Lee that works good in the Carcano and V V 70/87/15's. It drops out a .268-.269 165-170 gr bullet depending on the alloy used.
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000066.5SWED
Also Lee will make a custom sizing die kit in any bullet dia you want that fits in any standard reloading press for $25 plus shipping. I had them make one in .266 and .268 dia. and very pleased with them.
The alloy I use in the above mould is 9 lbs. wheel weights mixed with 1 lb. 50/50 (lead/tin) solder. This is the receipe from the Lyman cast manual for their #2 alloy. Lead solder is hard to find in hardware stores now but I get mine at the Hobby Lobby craft store, it's located in the stained glass section and comes in 1 lb. rolls and cost $4-$5 per roll.
I use standard Hornady 6.5 gas checks and lube the bullets with Lee liquid alox. I just put the bullets in a plastic butter container and apply the alox and tumble the container. I have had no leading with this setup but I keep my velocities below 1500 FPS.
Leadhead
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 9:00:48 PM
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Yea airdale, thats the bullet I use and it works great.
Good in 6.5 jap too.
Denny
daryldiane
Posted - 04/09/2007 : 05:11:31 AM
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Great info guys. Will have to get that mould. In the meantime I'm pulling heads from the old ammo and will give them another go
Scotty
Posted - 04/09/2007 : 09:36:56 AM
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Originally posted by DMala
Scotty, those are nice groups! Can you provide details on the type of alloy and lube used? Did you get any lead fouling?
Video reply...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piHvZofzfnU
[email protected]
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 11:36:41 PM
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If interested I have components for sale:
I have 600 6.5mm 160 grain .268 diameter bullets that I purchased and no longer need for sale for $.18 each.
I also have 14 boxes of Prvi Partisan 140 grain loaded ammo for sale that I will sell for $8.50 a box of 20.
I have 91 loaded rounds (Prvi once fired brass) with 31 grains of BLC2 and 120 grain spire point .264 speer bullets I will sell for $35
I have 17 rounds loaded with 160 grain .268 diameter bullets and 28 grains of BLC2 in once fired Prvi brass I will sell for $7.00
Bob V
Posted - 04/17/2007 : 1:43:05 PM
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Mag,
This is the first I have ever heard of deep rifling causing a problem with cast bullets. Most consider it an asset. Can you tell us how you arrived at your conclusion? Also how would deep rifling tip a bullet? It seems that if the bullet were large enough to begin with it would not be able to tip.