Swiss Vetterli Adventure

[SwedeNelson]

After reading jhrosier (Jack) post on his 1878/81 Vetterli about a year ago
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=21917

I got very inspired and ran across one for sale that was clean and a rim fire (unconverted).
The barrel was rough but I have saved barrels before that were rougher.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/fab4029f3293f283d3e94873e7ea7db2.jpg
After looking at the two different options to make it center fire I opted to
change the firing pin.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/th_Picture065-1.jpg (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/?action=view&current=Picture065-1.jpg)
You can see the 4 3/4” long extension on the front of the firing pin.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/th_Picture066-1.jpg (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/?action=view&current=Picture066-1.jpg)
I turned a 3/8” long section of the original firing pin to fit inside of the
new extension and then put a through pin in it to hold it together.

Next the bolt went to the lathe and had the firing pin hole centered and
drilled.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/th_Picture067-1.jpg (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/?action=view&current=Picture067-1.jpg)
So far so good, every thing worked as it should.

Started to clean the barrel of all the rust and powder build up.
It was in pretty bad shape. Has a very rough spot in front of the
chamber. I hope it will clean up with use.

Making brass if pretty straight forward and had very little problems.
Did find that the little chop saw from Harbor Freight works real
good at cutting down 348 Win. brass to form cartridges out of.
The LEE dies work great but they don’t offer a neck size die so I made
one.

Now to find a bullet to shoot in it.

Made a cast of the chamber and throat and found a very large
funnel shaped throat.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/th_1058dwg001.jpg (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/?action=view&current=1058dwg001.jpg)

With the help of 45 2.1 and a lot of head scratching we came up with
a very good hollow base heeled bullet and had three moulds made.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/th_DSCN0918.jpg (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/?action=view&current=DSCN0918.jpg)
Some of the best alum. moulds I have ever used. Made one for my self
one for 45 2.1 and one for a member that showed a lot of support for the
group buy that didn’t pan out, smokemjoe. Also had buckshot make a
two step size die for a heeled bullet.

Have just started to get in to load development but the first time out the
new bullet out shot everything that I have used up to this time.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/th_Picture019-1.jpg (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/?action=view&current=Picture019-1.jpg)
First shoot was the lowest shot, played with the front sight and shot next higher shot.
Played with the front sight some more and made the last three shot group. This was only
at 50 yards.

Made a front sight blade that looks a little crud but it works.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/th_Picture020.jpg (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/?action=view&current=Picture020.jpg)
Will post more on loads and how it shoots as I go.

All in all this has been a very educational and fun adventure. And I would like to thank all that helped.

Swede Nelson

[jhrosier]

Nice job Swede!

Are you going to shoot black powder or smokeless in it?

Jack

[SwedeNelson]

jhrosier

So far just smokeless.

smokemjoe sent me a picture of a 100 yard group using
the hollow base heeled bullet. It looks like a winner to me.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/IMG_5317.jpg
I think it was 13gr. of unique.

Swede Nelson

[smokemjoe]

Thanks Swede For posting the pic. Yes 13 gr. Unique, The weather wasnt good for shooting,cold- damp and only had 10 bullets at the time that Swede sent me. The heel bullet was sized in a 2 step sizing die that Buckshot made, A very fine machinist , The botton half was sized at .430, The 2 top bands sized at.452 but fits the lead in the long throat and it dose perform exc. 3 shots cut one hole, one out and the flyer I beleive was do to wrinkles in the base. My bore size in my rifle is .411 and groove .428, Thanks for a nice mold and sizing die and asking me to help. Its a long wait now to spring.