| Adopted by Italy in 1870 it is one of the earlier bolt | | | | smokeless load at the end of production. It was a |
| action rifles. It bears some resemblance to the Swiss | | | | 246 grain bullet at 2000 feet per second while the |
| version though it is a centerfire version as opposed | | | | military black powder load propelled a 313 grain out at |
| to the Swiss which was a rimfire. Originally it was a | | | | about 1300 feet per second. My rifle has gas vents in |
| single shot as the prevailing thought among military | | | | the receiver in case of a rupture which was common |
| authorities of the day was that repeating weapons | | | | in those days with the inferior quality of the brass. It |
| wasted ammo. Later on however it was fitted with a | | | | also has a safety of sorts which not all rifles had. The |
| magazine and called the Vetterli-Vitally. The Dutch | | | | finish and workmanship on the Vetterlies that I have |
| Beaumont also adopted the Vitally system in later | | | | seen is superior for a military weapon. |
| years of manufacture. The cartridge is a 41 caliber | | | | Due to the size and weight of the rifle the recoil is |
| and is one of the smaller military cartridges of its day. | | | | very mild. The accuracy is ok but with the |
| It is 47 mm long while most of its contemporaries | | | | gawd-awful sights inflicted on the rifle it's a wonder |
| were from 55 to over 60mm in length. | | | | that you can hit anything. My favorite bullet is a 300 |
| Also most of the others shot bullets larger in | | | | grain cast with a gas check that is made for the 405 |
| diameter and heavier. However it did stick around for | | | | Winchester. With velocities in the 1500 feet per |
| 20 years as the primary service cartridge until the 6.5 | | | | second range it is both pleasant and safe to shoot. |
| Carcano came out in 1891. As a note many of the | | | | You can use most 41 magnum bullets and get |
| Vetterlies were rebarreled to the 6.5 from 1914 to | | | | satisfactory results. I have shot it a couple hundred |
| 1918. They were meant as a stopgap measure and | | | | times and haven't had any malfunctions of any kind. |
| the work was crudely done. If you have one have it | | | | Like shooting any of the obsolete weapons I shoot I |
| thoroughly checked out prior to shooting and if you | | | | do it for the enjoyment of shooting history. |
| do shoot it use reduced loads. There were a number | | | | The extractors and ejector are sturdy and reliable as |
| of them sold to the Irish around the same time and it | | | | is the bolt and firing pin. I suspect that in the period |
| gave good service to them. Like many of those rifles | | | | when it was the military gun of Italy most if not all |
| they saw service for many years after it was | | | | the malfunctions was due to the ammo rather then |
| officially discontinued. They were given to home | | | | the gun. After metallic cartridges were put into |
| guard and second line troops. Some of the colonies | | | | general use it took them some years to prefect the |
| also received them for their military use. | | | | case as it is today. Some countries started with |
| If you want to shoot one there are a couple of | | | | brass foil cases or cases made out of soft copper or |
| challenges that you will encounter. There is no | | | | some other alloy. Some even used cardboard cases |
| commercial ammo available anywhere so you have to | | | | with iron or brass heads similar to the paper shotgun |
| make your own or obtain it from a custom loader. | | | | shells. While they were usable they had shortcomings |
| The brass can be made from 348 cases and a 41 | | | | especially in the durability area. By the mid to late |
| caliber bullet will work ok. The rifle is well made and | | | | 1870's most countries were able to make a fairly |
| safe to shoot as long as it is in good shape and the | | | | decent brass case enhancing the reliability of their |
| ammo is properly loaded. They used a high velocity | | | | weapons. |