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Vetterli-Vitali

Cpl. ParkerCpl. Parker Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
edited November 2007 in Ask the Experts
Guys, I have purchased this Vetterli-Vitali rifle online. The site I bought it from had it listed as a Vetterli-Vitali 1870/87/16 in 6.5 Carcano. To the best of my knowledge this rifle has a Vitali magazine which was used to house 10.4mm rounds. I emailed them again to ask them to confirm the caliber of this rifle and they said it is 6.5. So have any of you heard of a Vitali magazine used on a 6.5 Vetterli rifle?
ug16612weben5.jpg

Comments

  • joeaf1911a1joeaf1911a1 Member Posts: 2,962 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The NRA magazine "Man at Arms" july/aug 1993 has a large article on these and other conversions to magazine rifles. On yours: "Even more marginal was the Italian conversion of old M1870/87 Vetterlis. After 1887 and preceding adotion of the M1891 Carcano. Italy had converted nearly 1.5 million single shot M1870 vetterli rifles to the Vitalia 4 round extendedd box magazines, still taking the M1870 10.35 X 47R black powder cartridge." It goes on to say that in 1915 these rifles were chamber and barrel sleeved to take the 6.5 X 52.3 mm M 1891
    cartridge and a 6 round clip. Hope this helps you. If you wish a copy of this article contact me. Joe
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Vitali in the photo appears to be a Model 1870-87, rather then a 1870-87-15. The magazine and rear sights are different on the 1870-87-15. I would have to say that the folks who are selling it are either mistaken, or their has been a mix-up with the photos.
  • Cpl. ParkerCpl. Parker Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    rufe-snow,

    Your post got me to thinking so I decided to do a photo comparison between my rifle and a V-V1870/84/16 and a V-V1870/84. Mine looks like it has the later, 1870/84/16 model rear sight. So it is a pickle.
    ug16612webaaaazi2.jpg
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    The Vitali in the photo appears to be a Model 1870-87, rather then a 1870-87-15. The magazine and rear sights are different on the 1870-87-15. I would have to say that the folks who are selling it are either mistaken, or their has been a mix-up with the photos.
  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Simple enough to eyeball; is the bore 4/10 of an inch across or 26/100? In short, is it a huge gaping maw, or a small highpower bore?

    If it has been sleeved it is pretty much a single shot as no way a 6.5 would feed out of that mag.

    The Vetterli action is plenty strong for the original blackpowder round, and specimens in the orginal caliber are worth a fair penny more than the conversions so you may have done good. The conversions however, are only marginally strong enough for the 6.5 Carcano. The Italians themselves realized this and they were for emergency use only. Yes, I have safely fired them- but only with reduced loads. (12 gr of 2400 pistol powder does pretty well) Do not use full power ammo or it will slowly stretch things out of spec. I've not heard of one letting go, but have heard of loose barrel liners, exessive headspace, chamber insert seperation, etc.
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