7.35 Carcano Commentary:

[jmoore]

I must say there's no 7,35 rifles in the stable yet, so I'm certainly no "expert"!

Have shot one and was really impressed by the good accuracy and lack of recoil! No hunting results from the crew yet...the 6.5sp Carcano loads work well though.

All of my boxed military Italian ammo IS 7.35 for some strange reason. Couple of variants in marking. All 1939 vintage.

Whilst looking for a box of 6.5 Carcano, I noticed that the bullets of the 7,35 rounds are all thinly coated w/ wax, thickest at the bullet tips. Cases are NOT waxed. I'm curious if anyone else has noticed, and knows the story.

IMO if the case was shorter this would have to be classified as the first "assault" rifle round! Light bullet, moderate velocity, effective to 3-400m. Just no appropriate platform from which to launch them in mass quantities.

Rumor has it that Hornady will incorporate the caliber in their next edition. Already there are components to be had. A friend loaded some last year using the 2002 Emary article. It seemed to work best w/ not quite max loads, but he didn't record the results so a new wheel will have to be invented!

Feel free to comment on this interesting round! (Just don't go lowest common denominator, please.) I will say my exposure to the internet is minimal, so reference stuff to look up, too!

Information

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[Randy in Arizona]

I have a Beretta made 7.35. Have a fair amount of Milsurp ammo, but want to reload for it.
I have the dies and can get the bullets for it, but no 7.35 brass is to be had.
I check Graf & Sons frequently but no brass in stock. Graf & Sons - 7.35x51 Carcano
Does anyone know of a source for Parti Prvi brass for the 7.35?

[Amatikulu]

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,761.html

Buffalo Arms have it, but it ain't cheap

[jmoore]

We've been necking up 6.5 brass w/o any dramas. (about 100 so far)

[vw69turbobug]

well hey guys. i dont have a gun too shoot this rounds so i thoght id help someone out. i have a case of old 1938 and 1939 ammo 7.35x51 with striper clips i have one original box and the rest are in a ammo box there are 216 rounds. make an offer.

[jmoore]

Thanks, VW. You might try putting your ammo on the WTS classified section for best results.

[jmoore]

Bought another 8 boxes of 7.35 recently, some unopened! Two different manufacturers. $10 each 15rds w/clips. Still can't find any old 6.5mm ammo...

Will try for some pics of the ammo soon.

[jmoore]

Some photos:


Middle box completely intact w/ the addtional cloth strap.



End view



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Note the difference in bullet colouration. I think it has more to do w/ the wax coating on the bullets than any real difference in the jacket material itself.

[smellie]

I'm just taking a shot in the dark here, so don't pay much attention to this unless it's reasonable.

Most European armies issued their troops with leather ammunition pouches. Leather is made from animal hides, preserved with various corrosive substances (lye, tannin, other nasty things). Ammunition placed in such pouches will, sooner or later, exhibit a kind of corrosion called verdigris, a bluish or emerald-coloured greasy, waxy coating. This is where the "Poison Bullet" myth of the Spanish-American War came from.

Waxed bullets would be exempt from contact with the leather, thus would not coat with verdigris.

Make sense?

[jmoore]

They're both waxed (green and not green). I think the wax used by one ammunition manufacturer just came from a different source and is just a bit off on the Ph, or it contained some minor impurities. None of the "de Barga" rounds are green, just the "Tizzoro".