7.35mm Carcano Ammo

[mdrim13]

Hey Everyone,

I bought and restored a Model 38 Short Carcano about 6 months ago. It was in the 7.35mm. I have been looking for some reasonable ammo for quite some time. I was at the local gunshop today and a guy came in selling a bunch of old shotgun shell boxes. Included in the boxes was an original box of 7.35mm Italian Military ammo. I know this stuff used to be all over but it seems like lately its hard to find. Is this stuff worth anything? I payed $10 for the box of ammo and a Mauser 98k floorplate. I wont sell it as it will look great in my gun cabinet next to my Carcano but I was just curious. Its in the brown/tan box with the fabric pull tab in reasonable condition. Its dated 1939 and all 18 rounds are there. Any ideas? Ill post pictures tomorrow when I get a chance. Thanks.

mdrim13

[jmoore]

Seems like a very good price to me! The clips alone are worth that.

---------- Post added at 12:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 AM ----------

I believe I have an old thread titled "7.35 Carcano Commentary" or something similar that dates back a while.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Over here, 15 euros for the clips. An unopened pre-1945 box should be worth 20 plus for collectors.

Patrick

[smellie]

AMMO is easy enough to make.

6,5 Carcano brass is available from Trade-Ex in Canada, Graf's in the USA. Everybody makes dies for the 6.5 and the 7.35, even Lee Precision. Hornady makes the .300-128 bullets in a spire-point soft-nose version which looks quite like the military slug.

Easiest conversion in the world: open out the mouths, load and go.

Barnes (COTW-6) gives military MV with the 128 as 2485 and suggests 40 of 4895 to dupe this. I'm not sure if I would go quite THAT high.

Most important point: have fun!
.

[jmoore]

Ach, found that old thread. Probably needs a revisit, as there's a 7,35 rifle to feed.

But there's ammo and box photos of some Italian military issue which would be pertinent to this thread.

Link below-

7.35 Carcano Commentary:

[shop tom]

I have a good amount of surplus ammo, late 1930's vintage. I have tried shooting some, a high amount of FTFs. I have disassembled some of the unfired rounds, the powder seems to be breaking down. I remember reading about 6.5 surplus ammo having problems with the coating on the powder granules breaking down, seems to be the problem with the 7.35 as well. My biggest fear is a hang-fire or squib blocking the barrel. New brass and bullets are fairly easy to get now, as are dies. I think I'll go that route if I get to the point where I have to shoot my M38.

tom