1880 Vetterli 6.5 Carcano Caliber en route

[TheMrMitch]

OK.....Just what kind of ammo SHOULD I use? Modern ammo too hot? Old war ammo ok? Or should I pull some privi 6.5 and dump a little powder? Eh?
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ddr223/8108%20Italian%20M1880%20Vetterli%20Rifle/right.jpg

[O.S.O.K.]

Cool. I think I would get some 160 grain Hornady .268" bullets and load them light - around 2100 fps would be good IIRC.

You might slug the bore first to see what it'll need but typically - .268".

[Helen Keller]

can always go the Unique route if youre just gonna plink 100-200 yards.
10-14 grs

I gots me a beautiful NRa-Cmp sporter 30-40 Krag carbine last week in a trade with a pile of goods with it.
Gotta find a soft load and get some Round bullets, 150gr FMJ's hang up.

[raxar]

Don't shoot it at all, those were considered dangerous by the italians all the way back in WW1 (just not as dangerous as the germans).

[az_paul]

I read the article in SGN not to shoot my Italian Military Vetterli Model 1870/87/15 rifle, well after I hat run 10 rounds through it, using Prvi Partizan new ammo. Fortunately, no problems encountered! I'll probably light load some ammo for future use.

How did you do with yours?

[Schuetzenman]

A weapon that old doesn't have a barrel made for Nitro based powders in my opinion. It was designed for Black Powder cartridges. Pyrodex or another Black Powder replica powder would be OK to make up loads with in my opinion. I would adivse against shooting it with any modern Smokeless powder. That's my 2 cents on it. Cast bullets would also probably be a better choice vs. copper jacketed rounds.

[az_paul]

Thank you for your thoughts, Schuetz! It's too neat of a gun to let it just sit there.

[studmuffin]

definite black powder design. Do not use modern nitro powders in it, unless you want a kaboom.