Carcano Question

[father-of-five]

I bought a brass Carcano clip yesterday and it came with 5 rounds of 6.5 ammo (The shinier round to the right is a hornady round I added to keep the others from falling out of the clip). One of the cartridges is significantly shorter than the others. I am assuming that the bullet was pushed slightly into the brass. The bullet is not loose. Is the shorter cartridge still OK to shoot? The 5 cartridges are a bit tarnished, but they do not appear to be military surplus, as they are lead tipped/soft points (I am assuming that Italian milsurp ammo is FMJ).

[762xIan]

I am assuming that the bullet was pushed slightly into the brass. The bullet is not loose. Is the shorter cartridge still OK to shoot?

That condition is called setback, and can lead to to a high pressure situation when fired.

Personally I would not use the short round.

[streaker69]

Since it's a Carcano round, I'd say that short one is the "Magic Bullet".

[Thomas Paine]

according to Mr. Richard Lee-

minimum overall length:

120gr = 2.835"
140gr = 2.900"
160gr = 2.935"

[nfafan]

Don't shoot 40's vintage mil-surp Carcano ammo, just too risky. Loose bullets, bad powder, primers - all have been documented from the Ital WWII ammo.

Privi makes fine 6.5mm boxer brass "plinking" ammo, but finding the missile bullets for reloading the brass will be the issue.

[father-of-five]

according to Mr. Richard Lee-

minimum overall length:

120gr = 2.835"
140gr = 2.900"
160gr = 2.935"

That's interesting. I don't recall other cartridges and calibers that have a discinct size difference based on cartridge weight (at least with the calibers I already have).

Was Italian milsurp ammo FMJ or soft point? They're tarnished, but they have lead soft points.

I will probably play it safe and assume that it was a casualty of setback.

[762xIan]

I don't recall other cartridges and calibers that have a discinct size difference based on cartridge weight

It isn't the cartridge weight he is refering to, it is projectile weight.

Different projectiles have different weights and lengths, and that will affect what is considered normal for the over-all-length of the finished cartridge.

Reloading books will give you a maximum cartridge length, then list an appropriate over-all-length (OAL) for the projectile you are putting in it.

Thomas Paine pointed out several minimum OAL's for various projectile types for the round. So while the bullet is seated deeper than the other 4, if we knew the projectile weight and type we could measure the cartridge OAL to determine if it is still in spec. to meet the minimum OAL to be safe.

Hope that makes sense.

[father-of-five]

Since it's a Carcano round, I'd say that short one is the "Magic Bullet".

I wish that "Magic bullet" would magically make some more for me, as this will be the gun where my ammo costs will surpass the rifle cost in the shortest amount of time! (It was still a great deal!)

[father-of-five]

It isn't the cartridge weight he is refering to, it is projectile weight.

Different projectiles have different weights and lengths, and that will affect what is considered normal for the over-all-length of the finished cartridge.

Reloading books will give you a maximum cartridge length, then list an appropriate over-all-length (OAL) for the projectile you are putting in it.

Thomas Paine pointed out several minimum OAL's for various projectile types for the round. So while the bullet is seated deeper than the other 4, if we knew the projectile weight and type we could measure the cartridge OAL to determine if it is still in spec. to meet the minimum OAL to be safe.

Hope that makes sense.

It does, thank you. I did a little on-line pic hunting and found some pics with different bullet lengths. I'll have to do a little measuring over the next few days to see.

[Pukindog]

When these rifles were imported into the country years ago some of the FMJ's were pulled and the cases were loaded with soft points. The original charge was used.
BTW, the last cartridge on the right looks like a 7.35 Carcano. Maybe the lighting?

Jeff