Re: Could a 6.5mm Carcano Have Made 2 out of 3 of JFK's Woun
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 5:14 pm
Just a quick post and I will share more later. Here are photos of a 6.5mm Carcano M.37 frangible range bullet:http://www.munizioni.eu/munizioni/image ... d.jpgThese were produced as late as 1953 and possibly even into the 1960's. It is a little hard to understand but, basically, you have a two piece copper alloy jacket (the seam is just behind the nose) with a large weakening groove (cannelure) near the base of the jacket. It is interesting to note that the Italians did not use a cannelure anywhere near as large on their standard ball ammo. There is a small piece of solid maillechort (alloy of copper, nickel and zinc) in the nose, followed by powdered lead in the middle and the base of the bullet is filled with sand. I do not have the numbers handy but, the weight of this bullet was considerably less than the regular 162 grain Carcano bullet, and the amount of gunpowder was also reduced. I seem to remember that the reduced charge would propel this bullet at roughly the same muzzle velocity as the standard bullet.Also noted is a small opening in the jacket at the nose of the bullet. As these bullets were intended for indoor shooting ranges up to 300 metres in length, this type of bullet would disintegrate into powder if it struck anything such as steel or concrete, thus preventing ricochets, and this small opening likely assisted in the start of the disintegration.The only major difference between this bullet and modern lethal frangible ammo is the opening at the nose of the jacket. In the lethal version, this opening is extended well into the nose of the bullet, creating a hollow point. It is this hollow point, on the modern frangible bullet, that enables the lethal frangible bullets to disintegrate into powder as they travel through soft tissue.