toolness1
Ultimate Member
Today I tried a few different handloads in my Carcano, as well as some PCI 128gr factory ammo.
My rifle is a Finn marked sporter, someone cut the stock down and added a recoil pad. Bummer since it's a matching stock. I plan to restore it to stock configuration eventually, luckily they left everything else alone.
The thing shot a decent group with the PCI ammo but it was way high at 50 yards. I shoot all my milsurp rifles at 50 since my eyes suck.
The cast loads that shot dead on and really surprised me were with the
Lee .312 155gr cast bullets. This is the mold that was made for 7.62x39, the bullets are pointy.
I cast them and powder coat with Harbor Freight red. Then I run them through Lee style push thru sizers, first a .311 sizer (They measure .316 with the coating), then a .308 sizer w/ gas check, then a custom .301 sizer. I did it this way so I wouldn't strip my powder coating off. Next time I will size before I coat them so I don't have to do that, but I didn't have the rifle when I first coated these bullets (I use them in my SKS and AK rifles)
The load was:
155gr .301" coated cast with gas check
17.5gr 2400
PPU brass, WLR primers
These would chamber fine at max OAL, but I seated them 2.735"
These shot really well, right to point of aim.
I also tried two other bullet styles and they did decent, but not near as well as the 155gr.
The other two loads were:
Lee .308 120gr cast/coated with 17gr 2400. This is a little stubby bullet I use in the M1 Carbine.
and
Lee 180gr .308 cast/coated with 16.5gr 2400
Hornady is making the .300" 128gr SP bullets again, Buffalo Arms and Grafs has them in stock. I got a box of them and will try them out. Too bad I have no way of adjusting the sights, but I'll stick mostly with the cast loads since they shoot dead on.
I was using what I believe were a couple reproduction en bloc clips and they were terrible. They are really flimsy and kept bending out of shape on me. I have a used surplus clip on the way, hopefully it works better.
If anyone else is loading this cartridge, lemme know what your rifle likes.
My rifle is a Finn marked sporter, someone cut the stock down and added a recoil pad. Bummer since it's a matching stock. I plan to restore it to stock configuration eventually, luckily they left everything else alone.
The thing shot a decent group with the PCI ammo but it was way high at 50 yards. I shoot all my milsurp rifles at 50 since my eyes suck.
The cast loads that shot dead on and really surprised me were with the
Lee .312 155gr cast bullets. This is the mold that was made for 7.62x39, the bullets are pointy.
I cast them and powder coat with Harbor Freight red. Then I run them through Lee style push thru sizers, first a .311 sizer (They measure .316 with the coating), then a .308 sizer w/ gas check, then a custom .301 sizer. I did it this way so I wouldn't strip my powder coating off. Next time I will size before I coat them so I don't have to do that, but I didn't have the rifle when I first coated these bullets (I use them in my SKS and AK rifles)
The load was:
155gr .301" coated cast with gas check
17.5gr 2400
PPU brass, WLR primers
These would chamber fine at max OAL, but I seated them 2.735"
These shot really well, right to point of aim.
I also tried two other bullet styles and they did decent, but not near as well as the 155gr.
The other two loads were:
Lee .308 120gr cast/coated with 17gr 2400. This is a little stubby bullet I use in the M1 Carbine.
and
Lee 180gr .308 cast/coated with 16.5gr 2400
Hornady is making the .300" 128gr SP bullets again, Buffalo Arms and Grafs has them in stock. I got a box of them and will try them out. Too bad I have no way of adjusting the sights, but I'll stick mostly with the cast loads since they shoot dead on.
I was using what I believe were a couple reproduction en bloc clips and they were terrible. They are really flimsy and kept bending out of shape on me. I have a used surplus clip on the way, hopefully it works better.
If anyone else is loading this cartridge, lemme know what your rifle likes.