Vetterli Moschetto
Gentlemen,
For those interested in the Vetterli Moschetto some information extracted from our work:-
On October 22nd 1871, the minister of the War, general Caesar Ricotti-Magnani signed the decree to adopt the cartridges for rifles and carbines, Modello 1870. With the adoption of a lightweight carbine, a less powerful cartridge had to be introduced. The consequence was a reduced charged version of the full-power rifle cartridge to minimize muzzle flash and blast in a short length barrel, resulting in a muzzle velocity loss from 464.8m/s, to 410m/s. The issue of a short barrelled weapon meant that with the different cartridge, it inevitably made logistics during the time of conflict more difficult.
The first Modello 1870 Pallottola was almost a direct copy of the Swiss heeled-base Geshoss Projectile Mod. 1871, featuring a hemispherical cavity or hollow in the base to move the centre of gravity forward and to aid base expansion, it was made from swaged lead hardened with antimony. There are four cannelures in which two are exposed, the widest at the base, and the bullet is seated to a depth of 8mm. On reducing the case neck to 11.1mm diameter to secure the seated bullet, the two lower bands are reduced in diameter to 10.35mm, giving in cross-section, the effect of a heeled-base bullet.
Powder weight, Moschetto:................... 3.5gm.
Service velocity - Moschetto:................ 410m/s @ 25m from muzzle.
Attachment shows a Moschetto chambering a reduced carbine cartridge being evaluated with its bayonet fixed.
We hope this is of use.
Guy and Leonard
I've a friend in Holland who may check the Euro sites for me. SW
