Subject: >> The Cartridges <<
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 14:47:04 -0700
From: John Ritchson <jonr2@worldnet.att.net>
Organization: Black Eagle Gun Works
Newsgroups: startext.jfk

Greetings,
 Some time ago,reseacher Walt Cakebread sent me a photo-reproduction
of Exhibit CE-738 taken at Dallas Police Headquarters around 10:00-
10:30pm,on November 22nd,1963.among the items inventoried,alledgedly
connected to LHO,are two spent brass cartridges identified as WCC
6.5x52mm Mannlicher Carcano cartridges,and one live round identified as
an unfired WCC 6.5x52mm Mannlicher Carcano cartridge.It is these two
items that are the focus of my evaluation.

 Measurements are made by Starrett precision instruments,and a Dietzgen
precision protractor,and will be in the English system.

 The unfired cartridge designated as Item-6 of Exhibit CE-738 and
identified as a WCC 6.5mm MC Cartridge appears not to be as represented.
I say appears,due to the fact that in the blow-up I'm working from,it
is impossible to read the make of the cartridge.However,the primer is
clearly visible and is markedly similar to the odd-sized Berdan primer
that is chacteristic of Italian GI Ammunition and is different in size
than the american primers that would be used in WCC Ammo.Also in evid-
ence,is a banded neck-crimp just above the shoulder,that locks
the neck into the bullet's cannelure which would not be present in
Winchester/Western Ammunition.

 Conclusion:The unfired cartridge represented as Item-6 of Exhibit
CE-738 more closly resembles an L.B.C.936, 6.5x52mm MC Italian GI
cartridge,then it does an American made WCC 6.5x52mm MC Cartridge.
[Note:]
Virtually all American bullets are jacketed with Gilders Metal which
is an alloy of copper and zinc,with a distinct brassy appearence.The
color photos of the unfired cartridge shows a bullet that is distinctly
silver in color consistant with the cupra-nickle alloy used by European
bullet makers, but not their American counterparts.

 The MC Cartridge possesses a shoulder width of .160" and a shoulder
bevel of 25 degrees.This is an extremely critical point as measurement
of the spent cases show a shoulder width of .186" and a shoulder bevel
of 24 degrees,for a difference of .026" in shoulder width and 1 degree
of angle in the bevel.

 Conclusion: The spent cases much more closely resemble a 6.5x54mm
Mannlicher-Schoenauer(MS)Cartridge then they do a 6.5x52mm MC cartridge.

 The distinction made in the above conclusion,if it holds up,is an
important one as the Austrian designed MS rifle is prized for its
smooth action,magazine efficency,chambering charactoristics and accuracy
as opposed to the dismal performance of the MC rifle.
[Note:]
 Many a custom Mauser is chambered for this cartridge which makes for an
excellent medium range deer rifle as well as a sniper rifle.

 So what we are dealing with here people, is 2 spent cartridges which
cannot be chambered in any Carcano rifle, and a live round that
would not have been made in America.

  With Regard,
  John Ritchson(SSGT. 499th TC USATC HG US Army Class of 69)
               (GunSmith/Ballistician,Black Eagle Gun Works)
               (Survivor, SE Asian Games, 11BRAVO7,Tet 1970)
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The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that
heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it) but
"That's Funny..." Isaac Asimov
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