I'm sort of in the same boat. When I started collecting firearms, I vowed to myself that I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't get ammo for. I threw that out the window this past year and have several obsolete ammo rifles including an 1889 Swiss. You can use the Swiss brass but should trim it down a bit and then load it to 30-40 Krag specs from what I've read. Bullets are also round nosed which would make it easy to tell them apart. It didn't take me more than about 2 months to decide I needed a Swiss Vetterli to round out the Swiss series. I don't have every variation but the more common major ones now.
I'm sort of in the same boat. When I started collecting firearms, I vowed to myself that I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't get ammo for. I threw that out the window this past year and have several obsolete ammo rifles including an 1889 Swiss. You can use the Swiss brass but should trim it down a bit and then load it to 30-40 Krag specs from what I've read. Bullets are also round nosed which would make it easy to tell them apart. It didn't take me more than about 2 months to decide I needed a Swiss Vetterli to round out the Swiss series. I don't have every variation but the more common major ones now.
That's funny. I have 2 Vetterlis as well. One is still original rimfire and one has been converted. In fact I just ordered some projectiles for the converted rifle today.
It is rimfire but I'm planning to get a second bolt for it to convert. I already have the dies. I also have a Dutch Mannlicher (which I did finally find ammo for) a Dutch Beaumont, the 1889 Swiss, and a French Gras.
It is rimfire but I'm planning to get a second bolt for it to convert. I already have the dies. I also have a Dutch Mannlicher (which I did finally find ammo for) a Dutch Beaumont, the 1889 Swiss, and a French Gras.
Do you have the Lee dies for the Vetterli? If so, do you have to modify them to work?
I do have the Lee dies but I have no brass so I haven't used them yet. I just got them a few weeks ago and they are still sitting here by the computer, didn't even open them yet.
What modification did you hear about? I wasn't aware any were needed for the Lee dies. I did read they don't crimp but that's the only issue I'm aware of.
The video link below explains it better than I. I haven't bought dies yet but will probably get the Lee because of price and do whatever modification is necessary. I received some brass with the rifle and I bought some from Buffalo Arms.
I opened it up. It comes with a #8 shell holder which works perfectly with the 348 Winchester. It does not work for the 8mm Lebel. Could not find my original Swiss.