A Model 1891 to keep my 1898 Krag, 1891 Mosin-Nagant and 1896 Swede company.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Well I have brought back several guns from wallhanger status to usable, but that sounds pretty bad. Land diameter enlargement towards the muzzle means gas blow-by, but the bullet is still being held on course by the grooves, so the rifle may still shoot straight. With black powder rifles one can pack in a lot of lube, so that the hydraulic seal is (hopefully) maintained right up to the muzzle. However, that is not a solution that I have heard of being applied to smokeless rifles.

Groove diameter enlargement as well means the bullet is now longer axially guided as it approaches the muzzle. So it will develop a yaw before it emerges, and that will probably cause tumbling. I would not spend too much time on it.


Patrick

[RBruce]

Thaks Patrick for providing guidance. Would you recommend sticking with the Hornady 160 gr bullets that are slightly oversized?

[RBruce]

I fprgot to mention that my rifle built in 1896 has four grooves. also, what would be the recommended beginning load for the Hornady 160gr Carcano bullet? --TIA

[Patrick Chadwick]

Yes, I would try the 312 Hornadys in the Mosin, before giving up on it. As for loads, the 0.268 Hornady Carcano bullet has been the subject of intensive, verging on heated, discussion. This is a bullet that is definitely oversized for an as-new, in-spec Carcano, so whether or not you can use it depends on how badly the bore is worn. In this situation, there are serious safety aspects to be considered, and if you search the forum there is a link somewhere to a handwritten table that is supposed to have originated at Hornady. There seems to be a conspicuous lack of printed info from Hornady itself, so there is no recommended starting load. Using bullets that would be oversize for an in-spec rifle is something that you undertake entirely at your own risk.

You must drive a slug all the way down the bore before considering such components. Measuring at the ends alone is not adequate. If, for instance, the bore is worn at both ends (quite possible) then using a bullet based on that info might result in an oversized bullet plugging the bore some way down. Not a good idea. Accurate measurement is a precondition, not an option.


Patrick

[shop tom]

I agree with Patrick. An accurate slugging of any milsurp is highly advised, especially on one in which the bore size is known to vary in spec.

Here is a good read on Carcano reloading in general:

SHOOTING THE 6

tom

[jmoore]

There seems to be a conspicuous lack of printed info from Hornady itself, so there is no recommended starting load.

Hornady does have a load data table for the 0.267"+ bullet in at least one recent edition. (The 7th ed., I'm pretty sure. The cover of the 8th edition is not one that I have at home, so it appears I'm behind at little.) Haven't seen anything for the 7,35 cartridge, though. As usual, I won't post any load recommendations. Just get the book and follow the instructions.

[BGunther]

See now I have to close the deal on a Carcano.
I also have a 30 - 40 Krag(Bubba'd but S.N. is 1994, that's kinda cool), a Finn M-39 & a 6.5 X 55 Swede.
OP , you must be like me...I appreciate the different mechanisms of Milsurp bolt actions.
I've also a mildly Bubba'd Ross and K98.
Carcano and maybe a 1895 Steyr are next on my wish list.

[RBruce]

Using Nosler partition 140 gr bullets - .264 diameter. Attachment 34702

[Aragorn243]

Doesn't look like the bore's shot out to me.

[RBruce]

Well, my jackleg method of slugging the bore at the muzzle lead to faulty data. But, I had near catastrophic results using the Hornady 160 gr .2675 bullets. The Hornady 160 gr .264 bullets worked fine, but not as accurate as the 140s.