Well, the board is either fixed, or it's going to run terribly. Cross your fingers and hope for the best. I'm at my technical limit right now.
Cast Bullets for Carcano
Cast Bullets for Carcano
I wanted to try some cast bullets in my Carcano rifles. I've never reloaded cast rifle bullets, but I thought I'd give it a try. I have these bullets:
http://gardnerscache.com/6_5mm_170_fp_g_c.html
My problem is I can't find any cast load data for a 160gr pill like this one. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Thanks!
http://gardnerscache.com/6_5mm_170_fp_g_c.html
My problem is I can't find any cast load data for a 160gr pill like this one. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Thanks!
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Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
I would also appreciate some reloading data for these bullets. Butch
Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
Not using cast bullets, using Hornady (see pic). Using PPU brass and 29.5 gr of Hodgdon BL-C(2). My rifle will keyhole with .264 bullets, so I had to go with the .267 from Graf’s . Results were good. 
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Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
First questions , what rifle are you using , what is the bore size - land and groove ? Carcanos have deep rifling that tends to tear up cast bullet , many have gain twist which also tears up bullets , some have .268 + deep groove that do not work well with an undersize cast bullet . Also be very careful using the .267 jacketed bullets as they are made wrong and will cause bad pressure problems in some rifles , depending on the bore size , barrel length and gain twist .
Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
What type of powder are you going to use?
For that (cast) bullet weight 30 grains of IMR 4350 is a nice accurate load.
Also had some success with IMR 4895. 28.2 grains did ok.
FYI, I never took these loads out further than 100 yards for accuracy.
They grouped well at the 50 yards.
I have since sold my Carcano. I got rid of all of my "Bubba's" so to speak.
But my load data remains.
For that (cast) bullet weight 30 grains of IMR 4350 is a nice accurate load.
Also had some success with IMR 4895. 28.2 grains did ok.
FYI, I never took these loads out further than 100 yards for accuracy.
They grouped well at the 50 yards.
I have since sold my Carcano. I got rid of all of my "Bubba's" so to speak.
But my load data remains.
What is the definition of PROCRASTINATION?
"I'll tell you tomorrow"
"I'll tell you tomorrow"
- Kevinofborg
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Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
What do you mean "they are made wrong"? I just picked up a couple of boxes of the ones pictured above.slowbob2 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:02 amFirst questions , what rifle are you using , what is the bore size - land and groove ? Carcanos have deep rifling that tends to tear up cast bullet , many have gain twist which also tears up bullets , some have .268 + deep groove that do not work well with an undersize cast bullet . Also be very careful using the .267 jacketed bullets as they are made wrong and will cause bad pressure problems in some rifles , depending on the bore size , barrel length and gain twist .
Thanks,
Kevin
kevinofborg
TX
TX
Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
The guy at Hornady did not understand that Carcano's had different land and groove sizes , nor did he understand that all militaries used "bore riding " [ smaller than groove ] bullets . He kept tearing up jackets do to over sized bullets and the gain twist rifling . He kept making the jacket thicker and tougher , the opposite of what needed to be done . Then he had to specialize his load , and that still only works in some rifles . If your rifle has a tight land ,very deep rifling , or the overall smaller bore found on M-41 rifles , you can have very high pressure problems . Swelled cases , blown primers and so on . In short what happens is the thick oversized jacket has very high bore friction , the deep land try and engrave the jacket , more friction , then the bullet hits the different twist rate rifling and drags some more . All of this together can really raise pressures . We did some tests that shot the core out but left the jacket in the bore .
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Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
Thanks for mentioning that M-41's tend to have smaller bores. I think mine is that way as compared to my other Carcanos. Mine was made in 1943 for reference purposes. I just thought they wore out their rifling reamers and stopped caring by then.
Best Regards,
Mark
Best Regards,
Mark
Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
Sorry, I missed this when you posted. Thank you for the information!Ozzman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2018 10:27 amWhat type of powder are you going to use?
For that (cast) bullet weight 30 grains of IMR 4350 is a nice accurate load.
Also had some success with IMR 4895. 28.2 grains did ok.
FYI, I never took these loads out further than 100 yards for accuracy.
They grouped well at the 50 yards.
I have since sold my Carcano. I got rid of all of my "Bubba's" so to speak.
But my load data remains.
Re: Cast Bullets for Carcano
For a short distance (100 yds or less) plinking round I use 2400 powder, 16 grains. No recoil and low workage of the brass.
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