Is This Ammo For My Carcano?

[Sonny B]

I just became the proud owner of what appears to be a Carcano Mod #91/28, stamped "Beretta Gardone 1932, Ser #20xxx". Total length= 37 inches. Muzzle to receiver= 17 inches. The 3/4 length stock appears to be a not-too-professional homemade one. When I got it home, I checked in my stash of unknown firearms items, and found what appears to be ammo for this Carcano. I think this gun is supposed to be chambered for 6.5 x 52. The two boxes of ammo I found do have "6.5 Carcano" handwritten on the box. The rounds have raised letters and numbers around the primer, "SMI 936" (SMI=Societa Metalurgica Italiana / 936=Sep 1936). The round is 2 7/8 inch long. The projectile is the long silver-in-color round-nose Carcano type. I also have a standard steel Carcano clip with six of these rounds in it. I dropped one of these shells into the chamber, and it fit snugly, and came out easily. I can't tell if this is the "6.5 x 52", or "6.5 x 50". How can I tell for sure whether this ammo is intended for this gun? Also in my stash, I found several loose rounds that look the same as the above described rounds, but these are stamped on the base= "V146 4 8 HA", and are 3 1/16 inch long. These will not chamber in this gun. What gun could these rounds be intended for? Any help would be really great. Thanks to you all for what you do here on this site.

[jmoore]

The rounds with the groove surrounding the primer are Carcano rounds. The others? No. Just what they're for will likely be solved shortly.

[Sonny B]

jmoore, Thanks for your response. My research turned up two or three versions, or sizes of the 6.5 round, and I'm unsure whether this one is right for my Carcano. I look forward to learning more. Sonny B.

[jmoore]

As far as military ammo goes, there's not much variation in Italian manufacture. Non-Italian ammo for the Carcano is completely different. No one producer seems to get it nailed down all that well. Hornady may be the best new factory ammo, but only if your rifle has a very good bore. If the bore is marginal or poor, then I wouldn't recommend it.

[jonnyc]

The ammo you have pictured is 6.5x52 Carcano, although the bullet tip looks wrong. Did someone remove the tip to make it a "hollow-point"? Bad move. Your other 6.5 is 6.5x55 Swedish ammo, totally different, for a different rifle.

[Sonny B]

jonnyc, I looked at my photo again and saw the "wrong" tip you refer to. I had not noticed it before. I then dug out the opened box of ammo again, and found that only 3 or 4 of the rounds look that way. I rubbed my finger across the flattened tip, wax (or something similar) came off, leaving a nice rounded tip. The ammo has not been tampered with. Thanks for comforting me about the 6.5 x 52 ammo. I read an old post on the GUNBOARDS site, stating that 7.35 is marked with "SMI 939", which is the same marking on my ammo. I guess that marking is on both rounds. The inside of my barrel is a bit dull in appearance, but the rifling appears to be sharply defined. I will try running that ammo throught it as soon as I can. I read that these actions and barrels are quite strong, so I suppose I shouldn't worry too much. Thanks again.

Sonny B., WV

[Sonny B]

CORRECTION for my last post. I mistakenly said that my ammo is stamped "SMI 939". My 6.5 ammo is actually stamped "SMI 936". I'm sorry for any confusion.

Sonny B.

[TonyE]

SMI is the manufacturer, Società Metallurgica Italiana, Campo Tizzoro, Italy. 939 and 936 is simply the Italian way of expressing the date, 1939 and 1936.

Since SMI made both 6.5mm and 7.35mm Carcano rounds in 1939 you will find the same headstamp on both. You would also find it on 7.7mm BREDA ammunition for the air force as well.

Regards
TonyE

[Sonny B]

Thanks a lot TonyE, I previously thought "9"= September, "36"= 1936. I stand corrected. Your imput is most appreciated. My 6.5 ammo looks to be in good shape. I hope it don't blow me up when I get a chance to try it. I'll take precautions / remote trigger pull / shroud the action / etc., just in case. I may not even shoot this Carcano. I may keep it just to manipulate the bolt at times when I've nothing else to do; man, it sure is smooth. The inside of the barrel is pretty rough looking, but at least there is light at the end. Wish me luck.

ShootLow77

[jmoore]

I don't seem to find any 6,5mm SMI photos handy, but the 7,35mm boxes are about the same, and the clips are identical:





Note the different shape (Tapered ogive and a bit pointier) of the 7,35mm projectiles from the more cylindrical 6,5mm bullet: