- Location
- West coast of Vancouver Island
Could someone please tell me what the proper name and caliber are for each of these two Italian Vetterli Rifles?
Thanks
Kevin
Thanks
Kevin
Could someone please tell me...
- Thread starter Steppenwolf
- Start date
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Top one will be 10.4x42R A black powder cartridge for the Vetterli-Vitali. These rifles were originaly single shots, and the Vitali part refers to the magazine conversion
Dies, brass, and bullet mould can be obtained from www.buffaloarms.com
Bottom one is a conversion to the 6.5xx52 mm Mannlicher Carcano cartridge. which was the standard Italian service round
the conversion was not really intended for combat use and was only issued to rear area types who had to be armed with something. I would be inclined to handload that round with a reduced charge.
In any case those are some beautiful examples and the bayonet for the upper one is a really rare goodie as most were shortened later on
Dies, brass, and bullet mould can be obtained from www.buffaloarms.com
Bottom one is a conversion to the 6.5xx52 mm Mannlicher Carcano cartridge. which was the standard Italian service round
the conversion was not really intended for combat use and was only issued to rear area types who had to be armed with something. I would be inclined to handload that round with a reduced charge.
In any case those are some beautiful examples and the bayonet for the upper one is a really rare goodie as most were shortened later on
Last edited:
- Location
- West coast of Vancouver Island
Thanks guys, just picked up one like the top rifle, online, and they listed it as a Vetterli-Vitali 1870/87/16 in 6.5 Carcano. I found it a bit confusing as I was sure that the Vitali magazine was not for 6.5 Carcano. Did they ever chamber the 1870/87 for 6.5 and not change the magazine style?
Forty4Forty
Regular
- Location
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Recent article I read stated best not to shoot these, not really meant to be used, if hand load very light loads..
Great looking rifles there.
The rifles originally came out in 1870, chambered for the 10.35mm or .41 cartridge, which was basically a centrefire version of the Swiss Vetterli cartridge. These were all single-shot bolt rifles, and were surprisingly advanced for their period.
In 1887 the Vitali box magazine was adapted to this rifle and adopted for it. Early rifles were converted to take the magazine, and subsequent production was built with the magazines already in place. This gave the shooter 4 rounds in the box magazine.
In 1915, many of these early rifles were converted to take the 6.5x52 Carcano cartridge which Italy had adopted as the Model 1891. The conversion consisted of a tube soldered into the barrel to sleeve it for the newer round, alterations to the bolt face and extractor, and the installation of a new magazine assembly so that the rifle could take a Mannlisher-type clip; pieces of wood were let into the forestocks at this time to take up space where the Vitali magazine (which was very wide because of its central coil spring) had been removed.
For ammunition, regular 6.5 Carcano is safe but marginal for the conversions. Nice thing is that you can handload the stuff and keep pressures even lower than they already are. These rifles can be very accurate, but, boy!, are they ever heavy to lug around!
For an original rifle, you can make up ammo using .348 Winchester brass. RCBS has dies for this number. Try a cast bullet with no more than 20 grains of SR4759 as a start load and see what that does.
These are one of the lesser-known rifles of the black-powder period, which is really too bad, as they were very advanced in their design.
And they are a LOTTA fun to shoot!
Got my first one more than 40 years ago and still have it, a 6.5 conversion; some day, I'm gonna be rich enough to get a .41.
In 1887 the Vitali box magazine was adapted to this rifle and adopted for it. Early rifles were converted to take the magazine, and subsequent production was built with the magazines already in place. This gave the shooter 4 rounds in the box magazine.
In 1915, many of these early rifles were converted to take the 6.5x52 Carcano cartridge which Italy had adopted as the Model 1891. The conversion consisted of a tube soldered into the barrel to sleeve it for the newer round, alterations to the bolt face and extractor, and the installation of a new magazine assembly so that the rifle could take a Mannlisher-type clip; pieces of wood were let into the forestocks at this time to take up space where the Vitali magazine (which was very wide because of its central coil spring) had been removed.
For ammunition, regular 6.5 Carcano is safe but marginal for the conversions. Nice thing is that you can handload the stuff and keep pressures even lower than they already are. These rifles can be very accurate, but, boy!, are they ever heavy to lug around!
For an original rifle, you can make up ammo using .348 Winchester brass. RCBS has dies for this number. Try a cast bullet with no more than 20 grains of SR4759 as a start load and see what that does.
These are one of the lesser-known rifles of the black-powder period, which is really too bad, as they were very advanced in their design.
And they are a LOTTA fun to shoot!
Got my first one more than 40 years ago and still have it, a 6.5 conversion; some day, I'm gonna be rich enough to get a .41.
- Location
- West coast of Vancouver Island
Thanks again for all the replies. Either rifle is dead ###ie. You can see the changes taking place in the shape of the trigger guard, almost percussion rifle style.
