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I may have already asked but, I am still looking for more information on a Finnish marked 7.35 m/m Carcano. Could anyone share production and lend information if they are so inclined. The one I have is a Terni, in very nice condition marked SA on the side but otherwise un-molested, any information would be most useful, many thanks -SDH:yikes:
Basically, they were going to be the new standard infantry rifle for Italy, but hte start of WW2 suspended production after only a few thousand M38 carcanos were made in 7.35mm.
Given the stocks of 6.5 carcano already available and the urgent need, plans to re-equip the Italian army were shelved. After a year or two of sitting in storage, a deal was worked to sell the mto Finland just in time for the Winter War with Russia.
What else do you want to know about them?
Would it be a safe assumption, they would have been a last ditch or rear area type of thing given the odd caliber?-SDH
I don;t tink so. If I recall they were used as artillery carbines to free up mosins for the front.
They must have included a mountain of ammo cause as best I can tell it's all gone! I wish I could find a box of it before I retire it-SDH
ALOt of ammo was produced for them in Finland and went to the USA when the guns were imported. Most of it is long gone now. Lee still makes dies and I think the brass is ready formed from other sources. Buffalo Arms also has brass.
Is there any potential accuracy to go after?-SDH
Sure, if the rifle is in good shape, decent bore and you handload - like most good military bolt actions :)
I gotta think this one over. I like to shoot a lot. That was a major factor why I collect most of the guns I do, cause I can buy the ammo by the case and drag the kids up for a day at the range. I may be starting to reload again in the near future, I have a lot of guns that could shoot far better with a little TLC. Before I get going on something like the 7.35, I'd most likely start with the 6.5X55 first and then work my way into the more exotic stuff, many thanks-SDH
Just to expand on what Claven2 has mentioned there were well over 260,000 7.35mm M38 short rifles manufactured by RE Terni, FNA-Brescia, Beretta and Gardone (Terni had received the main contract of approx 260,000) between 1938 and 1940. The M38 TS and M38 Cavalry Carbine were also produced in 7.35, but in much smaller numbers.
I have one that my dad bought for around $10 at Woolworths five and dime circa 1954. It's sportorized and shoots 2 3/4- 3 1/2 inches at 100 yards.....but it's about 15" high for it's fixed battle sights for I'm guessing to 300 meters.
My dad said it wouldn't hit the broadside of a barn if you were in it. When I shot (with big cardboad!) he was suprised it grouped so well. I'm sure that he was annoyed as youth to have to deal with fixed battle sights set high and that's where he got the inaccurate notion from.
Yes, I had a SA marked 1941 but sold it. I had three 1941's all shot about 16" high at 100 yards.
I found the bolt hard to operate on all mine, but maybe I'm just used to Enfields.
Hornady now is selling the 6.5x52 Cacano cartridge.
They also make the .300" 128-grain bullet for the 7.35.
Everybody and his dog makes dies for the 7.35. Even Lee has a set.
Get 6,5s, expand the case-mouths and seat the .300 slugs. That`s it.
The 128-grain slug should run about 2485 ft/sec. You can dupe this with 40 of 4895 (BARNES - COTW-6).
Should be a nice light deer rifle out to 250 or so.
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PRVI makes 7.35 cases so why bother with reforming? However, if you find it necessary to turn 6.5x52's into 7.35's theres a bit more to it than just expanding the neck and seating the bullet, the 6.5 Carcano case is 1mm(.040'') longer than the 7.35 case so they need to be trimmed to the correct length after reforming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintage hunter
And a supplier would be? (I haven't shopped for brass lately, but last time I just went with Hornady 6,5 brass.)
Graf Sons - The Reloading Authority - Your Source for Shooting Supplies
I have'nt bought any either, have an fair supply of military stuff, several hundred Hornady bullets along with 50 reformed cases I fixed up before PRVI came out with the ready rolled stuff. It's been at least 3 years since I shot it last so what I have is likely to do me a while.
Will get some directly, if it's still in stock. Brass costs as much as the Prvi 7,62x51 ammo I've been buying! But I think that's more of a reflection of how cheap that ammo is, rather than how high the brass is priced. Excellent .308 ammo, BTW.