Carcano Ammo Help

[pcaru1]

I picked these rounds up recently. I know they are 6.5 Carcano but that's it. They appear to have some sticky residue on them. Almost like linseed oil when it is dry. The box they came from is clean with no saturation. What would be the best way to clean them so I can shoot them? Is it possibly neck sealer that oozed out? Also a couple bullets seem to be loose, just slightly. Is this a concern? Any other info would be appreciated.

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Don't worry - quite possibly none of them will fire anyway! I had 30 rounds of SMI from that vintage - all duds. The powder had gone clumpy, and the bullet bases were starting to corrode. If the bullets are loose, it's a waste of time even chambering the cartridges after 75 years!

And that's the point - they are very, very old. Any complete, unopened packs a probably worth more as collector's items than as ammo.
As for the rest, I suggest you pull the bullets and dump the powder. The ignition characterics will be non-existent or highly erratic.
The cases may also show internal corrosion and the brass may have become brittle.
The Berdan primers are apparently some non-standard size that is quite impossible to find, not having been made for decades.

Keep the bullets for reloading. Clean them by rubbing with a cloth moistened with acetone. And, of course, the clips - which are very expensive if you have to buy them.

[pcaru1]

Can the primed cases be used if I pull the bullets and dump the powder and use new powder? Or should I just forget about it.

Is there a safety factor to worry about if I try to fire them or will I just be disappointed if they go click and no boom?

[jmoore]

I think the grease was intentional. The 7,35 rounds I encounter have the grease on the bullets if the package was previously unopened.




The primer and powder condition may be a completely separate issue. It depends more on storage conditions, I think. I'm with Patrick Chadwick, here. Pull the bullets if you want to shoot them and put them in new cases with new powder.

[browningautorifle]

I can only go from experience here, with 6mm Navy Lee ammo for example. The primers were mostly punk and the powder erratic if it lit. The bullets are probably the only salvage here like the others have said. And the clips are gold...forget the powder and primers.

[Bruce McAskill]

I would try shooting them. As most have said they will most likely go click or click-bang. Then again I have had some that were stored well and fired properly. If they don't fire then you can always pull the bullets and use them for reloading. I think the residue on the rounds is a type of wax preservative to prevent corrosion.

[pcaru1]

I'll probably try to shoot them. I did pull a bullet and dumped the powder. Looks like Cordite rods that were cut into tiny pieces.They were not clumped together. Lit it off and it burned quiet well. Struck the primer and it it did go off. I thank everyone for their input.

[browningautorifle]

Let us know...

[pcaru1]

Just a pic of the "guts"

[Bruce McAskill]

That is the standard powder in the 6.5 Carcano.