Carcano Loads

[Brewster]

Okay, I'd like to shoot my Carcano in the next EOHC shoot. I need to work up some loads.

Anyone have any good ones the'd like to share?

I have H414, H335, WC735, IMR4064, IMR4320 for powders...

I also have the Hornady 6.5 Carcano only bullets...

Gotta luv the extra smilies...

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[Claven2]

The Hornady .268 bullets are the way to go. The best carcano load data I've seen, believe it or not, is in Richard Lee's "Modern Reloading". As for powders, I use H4895 mainly because I have a lot of it for use in other calibers. Of the powders you listed, I'd recommend IMR4320 as it tends to work well in the 6mm to .30 cal range in bolt guns and gives fairly low pressures.

What manuals do you have to reference for carcano loads? If none, let me know, and I'll dig up some numbers for you.

[Brewster]

I have the Lee loading book and a hornady manual.

[Claven2]

If I remember later tonight, I'll dig through the Nosler manual, though the loads will be for the smaller .264 bullet, if it's even in that manual at all??? The hornady and Lee manuals are the best options out there anyhow, so stick with those and you won't be led astray Just seat the Hornady carcano bullets to the cannelure on properly sized brass and everything should be hunkey-dory with the published data. I assume you also have the Hodgdon pamphlet manual that Andrew gives out at Higginson? Maybe worth a try.

[derghost]

I have .264 Hornady bullets and the Hornady load manual only has data for .268 bullets with Win WLRM primers. I, too, would like to use 4064 and/or 4895 powder. A 1964 Lyman manual has data for 6.5 Car but does not list the bullet size. Can you use .268 data with .264 bullets? Thanks for any help.

[Claven2]

I don't see why not, though accuracy might not be great given the bore vs. bullet diameters.

[Andy]

Here are some max loads for the Hornady 160gr 0.268" bullet. A 0.264" of that weight or less could also be used.

IMR 4064 - 31.0 grs
RL-15 - 31.0 grs
Varget - 32.0 grs
H414 - 37.0 grs
WC760 - 39.0 grs

All with WLRM (magnum) primer.

[derghost]

Are Mag primers required?

[Claven2]

Are Mag primers required?

No, but hte max loads he quoted are with magnum primers. FWIW, I load all my carcano rounds with regular WLR primers.

[derghost]

Thanks. I currently load for 14 different calibers, but this one made me a bit nervous. I am going to try 30 grains of 4064 and large rifle primers. (160 gr .264 Hornady bullets). Thanks again.