Need help about a Italian Vetterli

FailureByDesign · August 27, 2006, 10:00 PM

Hello everybody, ok heres what i do know about this old rifle that has been passed down to be, its in rough shape, although straight barrel and all working components.

It's an Italian Vetterli in 6.5mm Carcano. They were originally a single shot 11mm. Later converted to a repeater by adding a magazine. The final conversion was to 6.5 Carcano (Either by a barrel liner or, in some cases, a new barrel.) The 6.5 Carcano is loaded via an enblock clip (ala Mannilicher). One interesting thing on these is the "gain twist" rifiling.
The rifling starts out at a slow rate and progressively gets tighter as the bullet proceeds down the barrel.

1. Where can i find ammo for this thing?

2. Could anyone give me a aproximate date it was manufactured thanx

Scorch · August 28, 2006, 01:40 AM

The 1871 Vetterli was an older 11mm black powder cartridge, as you said. Some were converted to fire the 6.5X52mm Carcano round around the time of WWI. You can find 6.5X52mm ammo from Norma or Hornady Metric Caliber ammo.

BUSTER51 · August 28, 2006, 04:32 PM

check the headspace B4 you shoot it .

Hummer70 · August 11, 2018, 05:34 AM

Pretty straight forward get dies from Lee and 6.5 bullets. Neighbor got one, paid a mint for it. She thought she was getting a nice antique. I looked at it and they never finished the striker nose, it was flat so I chucked striker in lathe and made the nose hemispherical and we fired it with converted cases that worked but didn't work.

garyhan · August 14, 2018, 10:14 AM

Shooting this model with commercial ammo is potentially dangerous. They were designed for much lower pressure black powder ammo. There are several videos on you tube of Vetterelli's damaged by modern ammo.

tangolima · August 14, 2018, 10:44 AM

I bought one as antique. All checked out ok, but haven't had time to shoot it (2 years after I bought it).

As my rules for antique guns, I am going to shoot light load with cast bullets through it.

Surprisingly parts are still quite available online.

-TL

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

emcon5 · August 16, 2018, 11:59 PM

It may not help with your specific rifle, but if you want entirely too much information about the model, check out C&Rsenals excellent primer series.

The original single shot and black powder magazine fed repeater:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PIBzye7to8

The 6.5 conversions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qOEh_DwJR0

For ammo, Handload light only, if you want it to last. Cast lead is your friend. Remember, Italy measured 6.5mm differently than everyone else in the world, and the 6.5 Carcano was .268 rather than .264 for the more common 6.5 cartridges (6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer, 6.5 Swede, 6.5 Japanese).

On Edit: Seriously, watch the second video, to see the big problems they had with the 6.5 converted Vetterly, even with reduced loads.

Archie · August 27, 2018, 12:42 AM

PPU makes new ammunition for the 6.5 Carcano. Check on the internet for sales.

**Mike Irwin** · August 27, 2018, 07:23 AM

This thread is TWELVE years old.

The original poster hasn't been here in over 6 years.

August 27, 2006, 10:00 PM	#1
FailureByDesign Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Posts: 93	Need help about a Italian Vetterli Hello everybody, ok heres what i do know about this old rifle that has been passed down to be, its in rough shape, although straight barrel and all working components. It's an Italian Vetterli in 6.5mm Carcano. They were originally a single shot 11mm. Later converted to a repeater by adding a magazine. The final conversion was to 6.5 Carcano (Either by a barrel liner or, in some cases, a new barrel.) The 6.5 Carcano is loaded via an enblock clip (ala Mannilicher). One interesting thing on these is the "gain twist" rifiling. The rifling starts out at a slow rate and progressively gets tighter as the bullet proceeds down the barrel. 1. Where can i find ammo for this thing? 2. Could anyone give me a aproximate date it was manufactured thanx

August 28, 2006, 01:40 AM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	The 1871 Vetterli was an older 11mm black powder cartridge, as you said. Some were converted to fire the 6.5X52mm Carcano round around the time of WWI. You can find 6.5X52mm ammo from Norma or Hornady Metric Caliber ammo. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 11, 2018, 05:34 AM	#4
Hummer70 Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 203	Pretty straight forward get dies from Lee and 6.5 bullets. Neighbor got one, paid a mint for it. She thought she was getting a nice antique. I looked at it and they never finished the striker nose, it was flat so I chucked striker in lathe and made the nose hemispherical and we fired it with converted cases that worked but didn't work. __________________ Distinguished Rifleman High Power & Smallbore Prone President's Hundred (Rifle) US Palma Teams(2) US Dewar Team (2),4 Man Natl.Champ Team SB Prone Cert Test Dir. Sm Arms and Ammo,Aberdeen Pr Ground, Firefighter I, AC4HT

August 16, 2018, 11:59 PM	#7
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	It may not help with your specific rifle, but if you want entirely too much information about the model, check out C&Rsenals excellent primer series. The original single shot and black powder magazine fed repeater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PIBzye7to8 The 6.5 conversions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qOEh_DwJR0 For ammo, Handload light only, if you want it to last. Cast lead is your friend. Remember, Italy measured 6.5mm differently than everyone else in the world, and the 6.5 Carcano was .268 rather than .264 for the more common 6.5 cartridges (6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer, 6.5 Swede, 6.5 Japanese). On Edit: Seriously, watch the second video, to see the big problems they had with the 6.5 converted Vetterly, even with reduced loads. Last edited by emcon5; August 17, 2018 at 12:17 AM.

August 27, 2018, 12:42 AM	#8
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear Posts: 2,209	PPU makes new ammunition for the 6.5 Carcano. Check on the internet for sales. __________________ There ain't no free lunch, except Jesus. Archie Check out updated journal at http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/

August 28, 2006, 04:32 PM	#3
BUSTER51 Junior member Join Date: December 28, 2004 Location: PHOENIX, AZ Posts: 992	check the headspace B4 you shoot it .

August 14, 2018, 10:14 AM	#5
garyhan Member Join Date: June 22, 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 90	Shooting this model with commercial ammo is potentially dangerous. They were designed for much lower pressure black powder ammo. There are several videos on you tube of Vetterelli's damaged by modern ammo.

August 14, 2018, 10:44 AM	#6
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,813	I bought one as antique. All checked out ok, but haven't had time to shoot it (2 years after I bought it). As my rules for antique guns, I am going to shoot light load with cast bullets through it. Surprisingly parts are still quite available online. -TL Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

August 27, 2018, 07:23 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	This thread is TWELVE years old. The original poster hasn't been here in over 6 years. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

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