Military rifles 1866-1898, a look at the progression of technology.

Silfield said:
I recently converted a 71' Vetterli from rim fire to centre fire for a friend. It was quite an easy job but required a fair bit of hand finishing to get it really slick but is now lovely to shoot. I dont know if I would have the patience to undertake the reloading for it thou-case forming, heeled boolits etc.
Here it is on its first outing as a centre fire.....
I am in the next lane getting a bruising from my CE44 K98.
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My brother has a vetterli that we are going to convert as well.

I really enjoy doing case conversions, it's just so rewarding to make an old gun talk again. Last conversion I did was for my a Kropatschek in the picture. I used 348 winchester and 8mm lebel dies. They didn't firm very well but I managed to get 25 good rounds out of it.
 
Thank you for the photos, it looks beautiful. Nice rolling block as well, I have been tempted to try black powder and have been leaning somewhere between the P53 or a single shot like a rolling block or trapdoor springfield.
 
Eaglelord17 said:
Thank you for the photos, it looks beautiful. Nice rolling block as well, I have been tempted to try black powder and have been leaning somewhere between the P53 or a single shot like a rolling block or trapdoor springfield.
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There's something kinda special about shooting large bore antique rifles. I started with a Snider Enfield and then got a 71/84 mauser. I've wanted a rolling block since day one so I'll be very excited to put some rounds through the old 43 spanish soon.
 
Tinman204 said:
-1886 Kropatscheck (Portugal). Basically the same gun as the 71/84 mauser but chambered in a small bore 8mm black powder 8x60 Kropatscheck round. This rifle is noteworthy as it is thought of as the last military rifle that was built for black powder cartridges. It also has a magazine interrupter which helps with issues common to tube fed guns. By the time it entered service the new smokeless powder cartridges were coming into service rendering it obselete. It was eventually rechambered for the 8x56 kropatschek round which is essentially a smokeless version of the earlier black powder round.
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In fact I think it's the Turkish M1887 http://www.militaryrifles.com/Turkey/TkMauser.htm and yes I have one.

I was going to comment on the Swiss Vetterli, but Diopter bear me to it.

Great thread!
 
Andy said:
In fact I think it's the Turkish M1887 http://www.militaryrifles.com/Turkey/TkMauser.htm and yes I have one.

I was going to comment on the Swiss Vetterli, but Diopter bear me to it.

Great thread!
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Oh yes the 1887 turk, a super neat gun, I'd love to have have one. I'm still going with the Krop as it was designed well after the the turk and was purpose built for black powder. The turk 1887 was really just a modified 71/84 with and extra locking lug and a smaller bore.

Can you post some pictures as I think that would go very well in this thread for reference.
 
Tinman204 said:
Oh yes the 1887 turk, a super neat gun, I'd love to have have one. I'm still going with the Krop as it was designed well after the the turk and was purpose built for black powder. The turk 1887 was really just a modified 71/84 with and extra locking lug and a smaller bore.

Can you post some pictures as I think that would go very well in this thread for reference.
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Here's a couple of pics - not as good as on the website I mentioned, but they're of my gun. Ridden hard and put away wet, but the bore is surprisingly good and it's all there except for the cleaning rod. Operational too. I have shot it - once. I do that will all of my obscure firearms for the fun of making up the brass and the load - all with smokeless, even my Belgian Albini.

Turkish%20M1887_zpsk2drytoe.jpg


A better view of the bolt, and the severely pitted bolt handle and stock with lots of "character".

Turkish%20M1887%20Receiver_zpsgpcu8vip.jpg
 
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