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Hello
I have a 78/81Vetterli (ser. #166XXX) that I was lucky enough to find at a flea market up here in Northern Idaho. It's in great shape and I've really become fond of it - a beautiful piece of engineering for the time. Has the cleaning rod and spare firing pin (wrapped in a paper with the date of 1888 on it). Had only a vague idea of what a Vetterli was when I bought it. Got a REAL deal - $275. Haven't had time to shoot it yet but have made cases out of 8mm Lebel and 348 Winchester cases formed with Lee dies. I've loaded 5 each of 5 different powders with loads I've gotten from this and other sites. I'm using 330 gr. lead bullets I bought from GAD. I'll post results here when I get the time to shoot the old baby.

One concern, that I've learned from others' experience, is that the lowest setting for that amazing '81 model rear sight is over 200 meters. When shooting at 50 yds., point of impact can be up to 14" high I have read. LoLo and Parashooter have GREAT designs but I didn't have any of the necessary parts at hand. I've been a shooting nut for years and have accumulated a small number of misc. parts and pieces. In that collection, I had an old 22 cal. scope with a .75" width tube AND .75" weaver type scope mounts. The muzzel of my Vetterli is .73" - it gave me an idea. I cut a "shim" out of a throw away 1 gal. plastic water container, put it in one of the scope mount rings and tightened it up on the muzzel - fit like a charm without scratching the vintage finish on the old Vetterli. Because the Weaver style scope mount is upside down, it gives a solid base a little above the original sight and, at a glance, the scope mount clamps look like the wings on a military rifle. As a post in between the "wings", I drilled a small hole and screwed in a screw from one of those eye-glass repare kits - it seemed to cut it's own threads. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm hopeing that I can make vertical adjustments by screwing in or out on the eye-glass screw.

TO: LoLo and Parashooter - This isn't anywhere as professional looking or innovating as the ones You made but I'm not anywhere as skilled as You appear to be. Also, I'd like to thank You both for sharing all Your experiences with these great Vetterli rifles!!