PPU brass 6.5 Carcano

[444ttd]

i use 8x57 ppu brass to make a 9.3x57. this was 2 years ago and i don't have any problems. i have some once fired 30-06 ppu brass(this year) that i'm about to make a 7.65x53 argie this week or next. i have a 100 cases of 7.65x53 agrie ppu that i bought this year, but they going to my sons' 7.65x53 argies.

[Conditor22]

6.5 Carcano PPU brass is significantly thinner than Norma brass.---switched to an RCBS shall holder and didn't have any more problems.

Often lee shell holders are made to fit too many different cartridges

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I'm reforming PPU 22 Hornet to 22 Ackley Hornet. The brass passes through the form die reducing the neck and forming a shoulder BUT upon fireforming, every case has split? I'm now in the process of unloading all the PPU bras and annealing the neck and 1/2 the body then reloading the shell to see if that cures the problem. In these days of shortages, and with 'fox season' upon us, I cannot afford to waste over 90% of my new cases.

[paul edward]

I ran into the Lee shell holder problem a dozen years ago when I helped a friend load a batch 6.5 Carcano. The RCBS #9 shell holder worked. Friend was also pleased with the accuracy of the .268 bullets compared to the .264s in the ammo he had been using.

Present day, I decided to convert some 6.5 Mannlicher Schoenauer to 7.35 for my Model 38. While PPU makes 7.35 brass, it is currently not available.

After ripping the rims off a few cases using different sizing lubes, I tried polishing the inside of the die. Did not help. At first I suspected the #9 shell holder, but got the same result with a Hornady #21 and the Redding #24. It seems the PPU 6.5 MS brass has a slightly larger base diameter than the Carcano brass at .452" versus .448".

Managed to get 6 cased reformed enough to chamber in the rifle. Have loaded them and will test next time I go to the range.

[muskeg13]

I also ripped the rim and got a stuck PPU Carcano case on the first case. Like has been suggested, I had to wait for a Hornady shellholder and used Imperial case lube. I had no problems after that, but be careful not to skip lubing inside of the case neck.

[muskeg13]

I compared 2 cases each of WW1 Italian, PPU and Norma 6.5 Carcano brass and discovered several significant differences. There was either a spent or dead (c. 1918) primer in each case. Rim thickness was measured as close as I could, but that was difficult. There was considerable bevel on the 1918 Italian brass. You can see the differences in rim thickness in the photo.

Norma: Weight- 154.8, 154.7 Base Diameter- .446, .446 Rim thickness- .045, .045

PPU: 150.1, 150.6 .447, .447 .036, .035

B.P B-18: 145.1, 144.4 .443, .443 .040, .039

Note: The 1918 FMJ measured right at .268 and weighed 160.7 grains.

[farmbif]

I've got a bunch of PPU brass bought new in several very common calibers, no problems at all with 30/30, 243, 30-06, but the 270 brass just will not take expanding to 35 whelen, no matter what I try. from what I've read from other's experiences I can only assume they have non standard quality control. some folks repot that the brass is very soft, others say it very hard, the lots I have seem a bit harder than say Remington or Winchester brands but it all has reloaded well for me. I just keep 270 as 270.

[0verkill]

I've used PPU for other chamberings, the 6.5 and 7.35 (same batch, 7.35s reformed) are the only ones I've had trouble with. I think chucking the Normas up in a drill and filing the extractor groove is going to be my route, they should last longer after formed.