6.5 x 52 Carcano Load Data

The 6.5×52mm Carcano is an Italian military rifle cartridge developed in 1891 for use in the Carcano series of rifles. Designed during a transitional era of small-bore smokeless-powder ammunition, it features a rimless, bottlenecked case and typically fires a 160-grain round-nose bullet at moderate velocities of around 2,300 ft/s (700 m/s). Although not especially powerful by later standards, the cartridge was considered effective for infantry use at the time of its introduction, emphasizing manageable recoil, adequate penetration, and long-range stability.

The round was the standard Italian service cartridge through both World Wars, chambered in rifles such as the M91, M91/38, and various carbine variants. Its long, heavy bullet provided good sectional density, but the round-nose design limited aerodynamics compared to newer spitzer bullets adopted by other nations. Despite several modernization attempts, Italy retained the original cartridge until after World War II.

Today, the 6.5×52mm Carcano is mostly of historical and collector interest. Ammunition and rifles remain available in limited quantities; commercial loads typically use lighter bullets to improve performance, though careful matching to the rifle’s bore diameter is important for safety and accuracy.