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6.5 Carcano kind of like 6.5 Grendel long

4K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  1biggun 
#1 · (Edited)
Has anyone else though of an ak in 6.5x52mm Carcano?
The rim diameter is rather close to 7.62x39, heck some guys reform Carcano brass to 7.62x45mm Czech.
A little bit of modernization couldn't hurt it. I have only found one reference about the case capacity listing.
49 for the 6.5mm Carcano, 48 for 6.5mm Arisaka, and 53 for .260 Remington Case Capacities
Would like more than one reference though...

Aim actual has Prvi 6.5 Carcano ammo. AIM 6.5 Carcano 6.5 Carcano
Also note the Prvi is supposed to use .264 dia bullets.

They list this on there page for the 6.5 carcano ammo, all for a barrel length of 610mm.


Article Caliber Bullet Bullet Bullet Velocity Energy[J] Type Weight[gr] Weight[g] [m/s]

A-118 6.5 x 52 Carcano SP RN 156 10.1 725 2650
A-205 6.5 x 52 Carcano SP 123 8 820 2690
A-207 6.5 x 52 Carcano SP BT 139 9 770 2670
A-208 6.5 x 52 Carcano FMJ BT 139 9 770 2670

Grafs does have 6.5 Carcano brass Graf & Sons - PRVI BRASS 6.5x52 CARCANO UNPRIMED 100/BAG
 
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#2 ·
Had to look this up - its the Italian military cartridge through WW2. I can't find pressure info on the loads and there's only a brief reference to "low pressure" in Barnes' semi-useful COTW book. Velocity is listed by Hodgdon as anywhere between 1800-2400. Chuckhawks briefly mentions "designed for 40,000 PSI" but doesn't clarify max pressures. I found only one other reference that alludes to "German proofshooting" pressure to be 60,000 PSI. Which means nothing to us... but it is probably slightly lower pressure than .308 if the proof pressure is 60,000.

Looks like you could fit that into a .308 mag. If the pressure is relatively tame then I don't see why not!
 
#5 ·
That last article states:

The working pressure of the 6.5x52 and 7.35x51 cartridges is approximately 41,000 psi while the 7.92x57 chambering treads on 56,000 psi. Overall, it is a safe and tough action.
which is the only one that flat out states a specific pressure and not "about X or Y PSI" like the others do.
 
#6 ·
I looked at using the brass for a wildcat i was thinking of a grendal that was a little longer with a longer neck. the case capacity I show is 48.70grs water. it is a little long for a 308 mag when actualy loaded Im showing 2.94" loaded length. the speeds I see listed indicate to me that is a pretty low pressure round. If you were going to buy ammo then it is likey a OK round . however if your going to reload you might as well go with a 260 remington that is more avaliable and there is lots of quality brass. it would be a great build if there was dirt cheap surplus ammo for it.

If the round floats your boat id say go for it. there is no reason not to it would make a nice rifle. not sure the factory stuff will do any thing more than a grendal build but he you would be the only one to have a 6.5 Carcano AK :) mdwest has barrel blanks in
.264 for about $80 I just did a grendel barrel for a customer and the rifleing looked good to me.

Whats more interesting to me is the carcanos rifle has abolt face that will work for building a 7.62x39 rifle. HMMMMMM were are the cheap rifles??
 
#9 ·
I have some old books with some references to reforming 6.5x52 to 7.62x39 and 7.62x45. At least one of my load guides says for "safety" use only ball powders when loading 6.5x52 and they say to use H-380, H-414 or W-760. It's normally loaded wimpier than 6.5x50 Japanese. The Carcano rifle is suppose to have the largest receiver ring diameter of bolt actions used in WWII but I don't think the bolt design is very strong. They say the load data developed with .264" bullets is not safe to use with proper .268" bullets. Prvi makes (or made) brass but had a big explosion at the factory so I don't know how much longer it will be available.
 
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