Italian Vetterli M1870/87/15

jaguar

jaguar

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south eastern ontario
Hi all.
I recently aquired an Italian Vetterli M1870/87/15 . It is in sound shape and I am proceeding to aquire components for reloading 6.5 Carcano. If anyone has been down this road recently, any suggestions/advice would be appreciated. I already understand that the 6.5 Carc bullets are about .004 thou larger than regular 6.5's. Also, I am not intent in maximum loads which might strain the old girl, just some nice shooting loads. Also wondering how accuracy varies with the bullet weights (100-165gr). I've already ordered brass & probably will order the Lee dies first of the week.
Cheers
Jaguar
 
Jag:

Forget the Lee dies, they are set up for the standard 6.5 bullet. You need any other brand for the .004 thou larger (and far more accurate) bullets Hornady makes just for the carcano (they jam in the Lee dies from time to time).

Frontier is making the brass, seems like good stuff. The Hornady manual lists all the load data you could hope for.

Hope that helps!
 
I have a couple of these and have shot the one a bit. It started out as a 10.4mm blackpowder single shot (M1870), then a 10.4mm blackpowder repeater (M1870/87), and finally a 6.5mm smokeless repeater (M1870/87/15).

Definetly a case for light loads - and that comes from a guy considered as a bit foolhardy by some, shooting various supposed wallhangers-only, such as what some call the M1870/87/15 (which is nonsense of course).

It will slug somewhere around 0.268", and if shooting jacketed, I'd use lighter bullets (100 and 129) and go with the standard 6.5mm (0.264") and use starting loads with the slower powders.

But then I wouldn't shoot jacketed. I shot cast in mine (135gr from wheelweight and 0.266" in diameter) and the load that I used was enough to push it to just 1400 fps. In that big heavy gun it was like shooting a 22LR - fun.

The action was designed for no more than around 25K psi and I would recommend respecting that.
 
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Andy said:
I use the Lyman 266469 - got it off of eBay. I'm not sure who in Canada would carry it.
Click to expand...

You mean this mold.

http ://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/628940

It is available direct from Lyman if you call them. Of course it will be at the suggested retail price but...
 
I just checked - eBay is a good source for used and obsolete molds, but I bought the Lyman from "MidSouth Shooting Supplies" http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ They ship to Canada if you fax them a signed form they send you - good people. I also bought a Lee special order mold that drops a 170gr bullet - 170gr 6.5mm, talk about long and skinny! Unfortunately both molds are presently on backorder, but if you order, they will ship once in stock.

PM me your address and I'll send you a bunch of unsized, unlubed bullets in both 135gr and 170gr. Just add Alox and shoot.
 
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Oh man, sometimes this place suprises me. I was given a Swiss verterlli M1871 by a cousin. He collects shotguns and had inherited it from his father. When I showed an intrest he gave it to me as he had none. It's complete except for the front sling loop and screw and the rear sight blade (the base is there. Unfortunetly for the old girl, sometime in her past someone decided it would be a really good idea to clean her with 60 grit paper all over her exposed metal. Sigh. So I'm in the process of repolishing her and will get it all blued up proper when I'm done. Does anyone know if the bolt body was bright or blued? The plan is to convert to center fire and let her talk again.

Where the itallian ones really single shots? why? the swiss 1869 models held 12 rounds.

Anyone know where there is any brass lurking in canada?
 
Darren Constable said:
Oh man, sometimes this place suprises me. I was given a Swiss verterlli M1871 by a cousin. He collects shotguns and had inherited it from his father. When I showed an intrest he gave it to me as he had none. It's complete except for the front sling loop and screw and the rear sight blade (the base is there. Unfortunetly for the old girl, sometime in her past someone decided it would be a really good idea to clean her with 60 grit paper all over her exposed metal. Sigh. So I'm in the process of repolishing her and will get it all blued up proper when I'm done. Does anyone know if the bolt body was bright or blued? The plan is to convert to center fire and let her talk again.

Where the itallian ones really single shots? why? the swiss 1869 models held 12 rounds.

Anyone know where there is any brass lurking in canada?
Click to expand...

The best way to start is to subscribe to the "Swiss Rifles Forum" at http://p083.ezboard.com/ftheswissriflesdotcommessageboardfrm7

Read anything there is that was posted by "Parashooter" and you will understand enough about converting to centrefire, making brass, and bullets and loads. One you've done that, any specific questions can be answered.

Briefly though:

- the Italian and Swiss Vetterlis are completely different guns with nothing that interchanges (although they look very similar). The Italian gun started out single shot, went mag repeater and then to Carcano clip-loaded mag in 6.5mm. The Swiss started and ended as a tube-fed repeater.
- brass is everywhere. It is made up from 348 Win. If you do not handload, stop here - the Vetterli is not for you (to collect, yes, to shoot, no). If you are not at least an "Intermediate" handloader who has converted brass, contrived loads, etc. - become one.
- as for the parts, they are out there. Advertize for them on Gunnutz and wait. Or, pick up a bubba'd Vette for $75 and get a slew of spares.
 
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- as for the parts, they are out there. Advertize for them on Gunnutz and wait. Or, pick up a bubba'd Vette for $75 and get a slew of spares.[/QUOTE]

I can't do that! if I buy another one, I'll want to save it too!, and I already know where a bubba'd Ross and a No. 1 are waiting to be saved! argh, the butchers in the world......:mad:
 
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