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Enjoying Black Powder Episode 9: 1869 Swiss Vetterli (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2025-03-15 12:00:01 +0000 UTCFor the full episode with the hand loading instructional section, click here:
https://forgottenweapons.vhx.tv/videos/ep-9-swiss-vetterli-app
Black powder military rifles of the 1860s-1880s are a really enjoyable group of guns. A lot of them are relatively reasonably priced, and they are actually pretty easy to reload for. The unavailability of factory ammunition (for most, although not so much for the Trapdoor) makes them seem like a daunting prospect, but for a pretty simple investment in tools and time one can make up ammunition and have a lot of fun with rifles like this.
That's the idea behind a new series here on black powder military rifles. Each month, my friend - and handloader - Tom and I will take out a different model to have some fun at the range and compare how they handle. And then we will show you how to make the ammunition for them. So grab your pith helmet, pause "Zulu" and join us! Today is Episode Nine: 1869 Swiss Vetterli!
Comments
Dana Arbeit
I really love this video series. What a period of firearm development! I should note that although range was a factor in the world's militaries keeping "full power" cartridges, the real reason was the Infantryman's long arm had to be able to drop a horse when faced with a Cavalry charge.
Bruce Brodnax
NB: Appalachian bears are black bears, so in modern parlance, anything w/ 357 Mag power or better fills the bill. Nevertheless, cash was always scarce among the mountainfolk: I'm sure Bannerman's selling these w/ the matching ammo for absurdly low prices made them a tempting buy!
Guido Schriewer
not only that this is SO hightech in 1869, that darn rifle looks wicked cool, too! yep. it is gorgeous. kicks up some serious dust downrange and rings steel with some umph behind it, huh. with rifles that eject straight up maybe choose some tacticool combat shirt zipped up all the way.
