6.5 Carcano Bullets???

[Mr_Flintstone]

What kind of bullets are you guys using for 6.5 Carcano? I have a Cavalry Carbine, and I'm having trouble finding bullets. The .264" bullets aren't so accurate, and the PPU .267" bullets are the wrong profile. They are a little better but not great. Most cast bullets that are available are .264-.265", and I think they would lead pretty bad. My barrel slugs at .268". The couple of bullets I did find that are of the correct diameter are 170+ grains, and not suggested for carbines.

 

[gwpercle]

I would take a visit to NOE's web site www.noebulletmolds.com
Go to the store and click on moulds .264 - 6.5 mm

Look at the following moulds , the first number will be the diameter of the bullet when cast of wheel-weight alloy , my NOE moulds drop at the diameter that is listed ... not hit or miss or just close.

Your bore measures .268" so + .001"= .269 " look at the following :
The second number listed is the bullet weight when cast of wheel weight alloy .

# 269-163-RN (round nose)

# 270-136-FN (flat nose)
# 270-147-FN
# 270-151-RN
# 270-165-FN

My advice is to get a mould that drops a .270" bullet and size it down to .269"
But if you prefer the # 269-163-RN just running it through the .269" sizer for lube or shooting as cast and tumble lubed would also work .

The beauty of having a bullet mould is you can make all the bullets you want , whenever you want just for the cost of wheel weights and the Government can't stop you !

Gary

 

[AJC1]

I stumbled on a bullet while doing research for a project. Hornady makes an oversized 160 grain bullet expressly made for your application. Might be worth a look.

 

[troy fairweather]

Slug your bore.

 

[Misplacedtexan]

Slug your bore.

He did.
My barrel slugs at .268"

 

[AJC1]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...gaEJegQIHBAA&usg=AOvVaw0-TEahdKTITVETLUQhAWyJ

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I would take a visit to NOE's web site www.noebulletmolds.com
Go to the store and click on moulds .264 - 6.5 mm

Look at the following moulds , the first number will be the diameter of the bullet when cast of wheel-weight alloy , my NOE moulds drop at the diameter that is listed ... not hit or miss or just close.

Your bore measures .268" so + .001"= .269 " look at the following :
The second number listed is the bullet weight when cast of wheel weight alloy .

# 269-163-RN (round nose)

# 270-136-FN (flat nose)
# 270-147-FN
# 270-151-RN
# 270-165-FN

My advice is to get a mould that drops a .270" bullet and size it down to .269"
But if you prefer the # 269-163-RN just running it through the .269" sizer for lube or shooting as cast and tumble lubed would also work .

The beauty of having a bullet mould is you can make all the bullets you want , whenever you want just for the cost of wheel weights and the Government can't stop you !

Gary

I don’t currently cast, but it looks as though I may have to start. The number of ready-made bullets available for the Carcano are virtually nonexistent.

I stumbled on a bullet while doing research for a project. Hornady makes an oversized 160 grain bullet expressly made for your application. Might be worth a look.

I have seen those advertised, but always out of stock. I’ve read that Hornady discontinued it, but that may just be hearsay because Hornady spends all its time making the more popular calibers.

Steinel makes some, but they are usually out of stock too. I’m on the email list if they ever do another run, but it may be a while.

I’ve read that some people have good luck with flat open base .264 bullets, but I’ve not had much luck finding those either.

 

[AJC1]

I don’t currently cast, but it looks as though I may have to start. The number of ready-made bullets available for the Carcano are virtually nonexistent.



I have seen those advertised, but always out of stock. I’ve read that Hornady discontinued it, but that may just be hearsay because Hornady spends all its time making the more popular calibers.

Steinel makes some, but they are usually out of stock too. I’m on the email list if they ever do another run, but it may be a while.

I’ve read that some people have good luck with flat open base .264 bullets, but I’ve not had much luck finding those either.

I don't have a 6.5 mold or I would do you a small batch for Christmas or a decent run for cost. Currently I'm not even sure if my dad had a mould for 6.5 sweed or he bought some. Pc makes uprising easy without the out of round issues beageling can. Depending on your desire you may find some unlubed bullets you can pc and size yourself....

 

[Catpop]

Search - “Mars51 for 6.5 Carcano winter 2022.”
Great thread on subject. I followed it and gained valuable info when on same quest.

.268 used to be made by Hornady, but haven’t seen any of late.
Boolit may be your best bet. Today’s .264 bullet just rattles down barrel with very poor accuracy.
Kinda like .308 just rattles down barrel of 7.63x54R. It needs .311-.312
Good luck

 

[gwpercle]

I don’t currently cast, but it looks as though I may have to start. The number of ready-made bullets available for the Carcano are virtually nonexistent.



I have seen those advertised, but always out of stock. I’ve read that Hornady discontinued it, but that may just be hearsay because Hornady spends all its time making the more popular calibers.

Steinel makes some, but they are usually out of stock too. I’m on the email list if they ever do another run, but it may be a while.

I’ve read that some people have good luck with flat open base .264 bullets, but I’ve not had much luck finding those either.

Buy a box of bullets ... and reload 100 rounds of ammo .
Buy a bullet mould and reload all the ammo you wish for the rest of your life .

Bullet moulds don't eat no hay ... hang onto it for the day that comes when you can no longer purchase bullets . You think that can't happen ... right .
I have bullet moulds for every firarm I own ... I have never known a bullet shortage .

Gary

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Buy a box of bullets ... and reload 100 rounds of ammo .
Buy a bullet mould and reload all the ammo you wish for the rest of your life .

Bullet moulds don't eat no hay ... hang onto it for the day that comes when you can no longer purchase bullets . You think that can't happen ... right .
I have bullet moulds for every firarm I own ... I have never known a bullet shortage .

Gary

We just had a time in the recent past when you couldn’t buy bullets. Fortunately that situation has pretty much righted itself.

 

[mstreddy]

Gardner's Cache has 170 gr FP that they list for use in Carcanos. I have some, tried them, but have to dial in my load. I don't have a carbine though.
I do have a couple of molds for 6.5, but haven't cast any yet. Maybe a project for the next few weeks. If I do, I'll let you know and can send you some.

PM me your address and I'll send you some of the Gardner's so you can try them out.

 

[Bcwitt]

You might be able to swage a 277 bullet. If successful, you would have a huge selection.

 

[Catpop]

Gardner's Cache has 170 gr FP that they list for use in Carcanos. I have some, tried them, but have to dial in my load. I don't have a carbine though.
I do have a couple of molds for 6.5, but haven't cast any yet. Maybe a project for the next few weeks. If I do, I'll let you know and can send you some.

PM me your address and I'll send you some of the Gardner's so you can try them out.

Thanks for info on Gardners! I just may be ordering some for my 6.5 Carcano
Thanks again!

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Gardner's Cache has 170 gr FP that they list for use in Carcanos. I have some, tried them, but have to dial in my load. I don't have a carbine though.
I do have a couple of molds for 6.5, but haven't cast any yet. Maybe a project for the next few weeks. If I do, I'll let you know and can send you some.

PM me your address and I'll send you some of the Gardner's so you can try them out.

I saw those bullets at Gardners Cache, but most recommendations are for about 150 grains or less. I’ve decided that casting is probably the way to go. What kind of mold do you have?

You might be able to swage a 277 bullet. If successful, you would have a huge selection.

I thought about that, but I’m really having difficulty finding those in cast, and I think the jacketed would be too hard to size.

 

[Bcwitt]

I saw those bullets at Gardners Cache, but most recommendations are for about 150 grains or less. I’ve decided that casting is probably the way to go. What kind of mold do you have?




I thought about that, but I’m really having difficulty finding those in cast, and I think the jacketed would be too hard to size.

I suspect you could get a specialty swaging die made. Its only 0.010

 

[AJC1]

I suspect you could get a specialty swaging die made. Its only 0.010

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/sho...264cal-bushings/264cal-268-body-bushing-b268/

 

[Bcwitt]

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/sho...264cal-bushings/264cal-268-body-bushing-b268/

Sweet!! There you go OP!

 

[Bcwitt]

Or just rebarrel to 762x39. Problem solved.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/sho...264cal-bushings/264cal-268-body-bushing-b268/

So, you’re saying that I could use the NOE push through dies to size down .277” 150 gr jacketed bullets to the appropriate .268”? That would be perfect. I’ll give them a look.

I had strongly considered doing this with cast bullets, but they just aren’t obtainable right now, and if I were going to cast, I might as well have cast them in the appropriate diameter to start with.

 

[AJC1]

So, you’re saying that I could use the NOE push through dies to size down .277” 150 gr jacketed bullets to the appropriate .268”? That would be perfect. I’ll give them a look.

I had strongly considered doing this with cast bullets, but they just aren’t obtainable right now, and if I were going to cast, I might as well have cast them in the appropriate diameter to start with.

I was only providing that no special order was needed to size what you need. I will offer that it's a good product I prefer these over the Lee because they function much more smoothly.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I’ve been reading up on the above posts, and according to several die manufacturers, they only suggest sizing jacketed bullets about .006” or less. Apparently the jacket comes loose from the lead after that point. One site said that by .010” the bullets would become unusable.

After searching some more, Montana Bullet Works has a cast 150 grain bullet similar to what I want but in .277”. They are closed for Thanksgiving right now, and not taking orders, but when they reopen, I think I’ll order some bullets and a sizing die to make some Carcano-appropriate bullets. From what I’ve read, there should be no problem in sizing that diameter cast down to .268”. If they work, that’ll keep me going until Steinel gets caught up or I finally start casting.

 

[AJC1]

I’ve been reading up on the above posts, and according to several die manufacturers, they only suggest sizing jacketed bullets about .006” or less. Apparently the jacket comes loose from the lead after that point. One site said that by .010” the bullets would become unusable.

After searching some more, Montana Bullet Works has a cast 150 grain bullet similar to what I want but in .277”. They are closed for Thanksgiving right now, and not taking orders, but when they reopen, I think I’ll order some bullets and a sizing die to make some Carcano-appropriate bullets. From what I’ve read, there should be no problem in sizing that diameter cast down to .268”. If they work, that’ll keep me going until Steinel gets caught up or I finally start casting.

Consider what your doing to the grease groves and how that will effect your velocity and leading. Growing a small bullet with a coating would be easier to deal with than making a big bullet smaller.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Consider what your doing to the grease groves and how that will effect your velocity and leading. Growing a small bullet with a coating would be easier to deal with than making a big bullet smaller.

So, let’s say I buy a .266” diameter cast bullet and remove the lube with some mineral spirits, powder coat, and run through a .269 or .270” sizing die. Would that do it?

 

[AJC1]

So, let’s say I buy a .266” diameter cast bullet and remove the lube with some mineral spirits, powder coat, and run through a .269 or .270” sizing die. Would that do it?

A very conservative coating of Eastwood Ford blue is .002. I can see .004 being very easy to do, but I don't know what that would look like. If your only trying to grow .002 or .003 you will have zero issues guaranteed. I don't have experience with coatings thicker than that so I won't speak on it..