My Italian 6.5X52MM Shoot Out today.

Adam Helmer · #1 10-30-2011, 03:38 PM

I own several Italian 6.5X52MM Carbines and a Rifle and today was 54 degrees and sunny. I whistled up the dog and we went to the backyard shooting bench. Lori dog is not gun shy and serves as my range master. I just got a supply of 160 grain .268" Round nose 6.5 bullets which Hornady also loads in 6.5MM Italian ammo. In the past I loaded .264" bullets and had a few "keyholes."

Today, all .268" handloads went just fine and one Carbine gave me a .50" (half-inch) 3-shot group at 100 yards. All groups were high, above point of aim at 100 yards, and a "Finer" (Lower front sight in the rear sight) brought the hits to Point Of Aim. My Frau saw me lugging two M1941 Italian Carbines out the side door and she asked, "What are those?" I said, "Italian 6.5MM Carbines that I bought in 1970, they were $10 each or TWO for $5.00". She said, "You did ok."

I reccommend .268" bullets in all 6.5mm Italian arms for better performance on the range or afield.

Adam

T.R. · #2 10-30-2011, 03:45 PM

Isn't that one of the guns reputed to murder JFK?

TR

Gil Martin · #3 10-30-2011, 07:43 PM

You are fortunate to have such high quality military arms that shoot so well. I would guess that the Alpini Stalking Rifle is the best of the bunch. All the best...
Gil

Mr. 16 gauge · #4 10-30-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Isn't that one of the guns reputed to murder JFK?

Only if you believe the "official", lone gunman theory.

Adam;
Why .268 bullets instead of .264? Are the bores that much oversized, or has time/neglect/corrosive ammo taken it's toll on the bores? Thanks in advance...

Adam Helmer · #5 10-31-2011, 09:46 AM

Mr. 16 gauge,

I would say all of those factors apply to my 6.5mm arms. Some reloading manuals say the 6.5 Italian is .268 bore. Some arms do ok with .264 bullets, so it depends. When I saw keyholes on my targets, I ordered a box of .268 bullets from Graf and Son.

Adam

skeet · #6 10-31-2011, 01:01 PM

6.5 Italian was supposed to be .267-.268 originally..but war production etc and italian military expedience allowed .264-.269...Most Italian rifles were only dropped once

Mr. 16 gauge · #7 10-31-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Most Italian rifles were only dropped once

I thought those were the French rifles......

.....or was it ARVN rifles?

skeet · #8 10-31-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. 16 gauge

I thought those were the French rifles......

.....or was it ARVN rifles?

LOL..hahahaha..yep..all of the above.

Adam Helmer · #9 11-01-2011, 05:14 PM

Mr. 16 gauge and skeet,

Also in the package from Graf & Son was a box of .300" jacketed bullets for my first rifle, a 7.35mm Terni M-38 short rifle. At a yard sale years ago I got a set of new Lyman 7.35mm dies and shell holder for $1.00. I am about to reload for my FIRST rifle. It was not an economic triumph, even by 1958 standards, and I soon bought better military surplus arms. For nostalgiic reasons, old 7.35 M38 still sits in a vault hereat.

Adam