r/canadaguns • u/ichigofast • Apr 30 '26

Milsurps / Prohib New old gun!

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Carcano cavalry, it's definitely seen some things haha. If that rifle could talk haha. I love milsurps ❤️

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u/nineshotwonder Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26

Be forewarned, modern 6.5mm ammo isn't sized to the old Italian army specs. The projectile that is used nowadays (at least by Prvi, though I haven't found anyone else making 6.5x52mm ammo) is nominally 0.264 inches, while the original spec is 0.268. This doesn't have an effect on the function of the rifle, but they end up not being especially accurate as a result.

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u/TopLemon3678 Apr 30 '26

So it's the same problem I face with my Enfield, it would love 212 grains but the heaviest I can reliably find is 180. Maybe that's why I see the carcano on sale so often.

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u/nineshotwonder Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26

Not really the same problem. The 0.004 inch difference in diameter for the Carcano rounds means modern ammo doesn't make full contact with the rifling as it travels down the barrel.

While you may not be able to find the projectile weight you'd like for your Enfield, both the 212 and 180 grain projectiles are still made to the same diameter and will both make full contact with the rifling.

Carcanos are often on sale or are simply cheap due to the condition a lot of them are in as well as the lack of demand for them, which would partly be due to the reputation of being inaccurate, and partly due to lack of ammunition variety. Prvi is the only company I've ever seen make it, so unless you cast your own you're stuck with bullets that wobble down the barrel. EDIT: Or as a comment further down has mentioned, Budget Shooter Supply does have the proper projectiles for reloading

Which is a bit of a shame as they're smooth and reliable rifles that have fairly light recoil.

Apologies for the long reply, but I hope it helps.

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u/TopLemon3678 Apr 30 '26

Not the exact problem no but the supplies it was made for are no longer in production is the same problem.