1871 Swiss Vetterli Truck Gun

L.Parratt

L.Parratt

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Edmonton Alberta.
This rifle came to me in ROUGH shape. figured id atleast get it back to life as best as possible! and heck it actually shoots now

this thing has been cut down short from the original 33+" Barrel.

Chambered in 10.4x38R. Rimfire, i converted this to Centerfire and make my own ammo out of 8mm Lebel Brass

ecRpn9l.jpeg


Might get some hate for this. But it's seen a nice upgrade.

XMTujGL.jpeg
 
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WOW ! I was just given one, what are you doing about ammo? Once Mother nature is done messing with the BC Interior I'll be doing some home renos . then Ill move into working on the conversion to centerfire and reloadin aspects. Can you go into more detail about the conversion process
 
PPCLI-Jim said:
WOW ! I was just given one, what are you doing about ammo? Once Mother nature is done messing with the BC Interior I'll be doing some home renos . then Ill move into working on the conversion to centerfire and reloadin aspects. Can you go into more detail about the conversion process
Click to expand...

Its Actually super super easy, you just drill a hole in the centre of the bolt face and remove the rim fire striker setup. and replace with how youre going to hold your new firing pin.

https://imgur.com/a/d6D0MRx

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?21917-Vetterli-centerfire-conversion

https://www.valmontfirearms.com/accessories/valmont-firearms-swiss-vetterli-conversion-kit/1050
 
L.Parratt said:
Its Actually super super easy, you just drill a hole in the centre of the bolt face and remove the rim fire striker setup. and replace with how youre going to hold your new firing pin.

https://imgur.com/a/d6D0MRx

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?21917-Vetterli-centerfire-conversion

https://www.valmontfirearms.com/accessories/valmont-firearms-swiss-vetterli-conversion-kit/1050
Click to expand...

Great links.

I'm "Andy_P" on Castboolits in the second thread, but you don't have to leave CGN to gain quite a bit of knowledge about Swiss Vetterlis. Members here have been converting these to centrefire, loading for them and have taken deer and coyotes (Member "Noel") with them over the past 15 years.

Below is a link on how to install the kit sold by "Valmont Frearms", distributed in Canada by our own "diopter", an avid Swiss Vetterli and other Swiss Arms shooter.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...13-Converting-A-Swiss-Vetterli-to-Centrefire?

Here are some (mild) loads. Smokeless powder can be used to propel 300 gr bullets to about 1500 fps at safe pressures:

41 Swiss Quickload_zpsvl56l3kh.jpg
 

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Best load I've found is slightly warmer than the quickload data above, currently using 17gr of blue dot undr the lee C430-310-RF, seated to 2.200" for magazine feeding. Chrono data puts it at 1325 fps from my m78 long rifle, original load was a 330gr at 1345fps, so close enough match there.
 
Neat rifle!
Hope this doesn’t constitute hijacking the thread, but I have a quick question about these rifles.
I have the option to get a sporter very cheap that’s been converted to center fire, and another option to get an original one in great shape also cheap.
Is parts interchangeability on these enough that I might be able to use the center fire bolt in the other rifle, or are these the sorts of guns where swapping bolts isn’t advisable?
 
Lahti said:
Neat rifle!
Hope this doesn’t constitute hijacking the thread, but I have a quick question about these rifles.
I have the option to get a sporter very cheap that’s been converted to center fire, and another option to get an original one in great shape also cheap.
Is parts interchangeability on these enough that I might be able to use the center fire bolt in the other rifle, or are these the sorts of guns where swapping bolts isn’t advisable?
Click to expand...

I have converted several bolts to centrefire and they all have worked in all my Vetterlis.
 
Maybe, I have a couple, one with a bolt I converted to centerfire (was mismatched anyways) one of my guns will accept bothe bolts, but my 1869 will not. only way I can use it is by swapping everything on it's bolt to the converted bolt body. it's a bit hit or miss. the later patterns may be more likely, but these were pretty mutch all hand fitted, especially the earlier ones
 
Good to know, it’s 200 for the sporter and 400 for the original with bayonet, cheap enough that I may have to give it a try assuming they’re both the same model.

Thanks for the info.
 
L.Parratt said:
This rifle came to me in ROUGH shape. figured id atleast get it back to life as best as possible! and heck it actually shoots now

this thing has been cut down short from the original 33+" Barrel.

Chambered in 10.4x38R. Rimfire, i converted this to Centerfire and make my own ammo out of 8mm Lebel Brass

ecRpn9l.jpeg


Might get some hate for this. But it's seen a nice upgrade.

XMTujGL.jpeg
Click to expand...

That's a cool and at the time slightly funny/halerous rifle. Something about a old rifle with a red dot on top tickles the ol' funny bone. Cool idea!
 
You're missing duct tape and a rail for mounting a flashlight. That should be enough to make Turd's prohibited list. Great to see it still being put to use.
 
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