UNAMERICAN HANDGUNS: SWISS ORDNANCE REVOLVER MODEL 1929 / PICTURE-UPDATE IN THREAD #1

[Swissman]

Dear community

Here is another special thing from Switzerland. Back in 1929 became the .30 Luger Parabellum the sidearm of the Swiss-Army-officers.
But because this pistol was expensive, decided the Swiss-Army to order a new series of improved (cheaper) revolvers in 7.5 mm.
So they made the lockwork of the Model 1882 much more simple and took some shortcuts by the finish. But all in all
was the new 1929 a tough and accurate revolver.

Here is the new gun surrounded by the other Swiss-ordnance-sidearms.

The gun is really clean and like the holster too, it looks like the gun leaved never the armory. The cylinder got seven bright holes
and the star is in great shape too.

The barrel and muzzle is mirrorlike.

What makes me a bit nervous is the very long conic part of the throat. I shot some old blackpowder-army-rounds at 50 meters. I can't say anything
about the accuracy, because some rounds doesn't go "bang", some goes "bang" with a delay.

Here's the difference between the throat of both revolvers of this family. The bullet is the same .314 roundnose from H&N.

For a size-comparsion I did a family-picture with a Model 28, a Model 31 (with a big-sized grip for taming the heavy recoil),
the Model 1882, a Baby-Russian and a Model 1 1/2.

The internal affairs shows the improvement / simplification from the Model 1929, compared to the Model 1882.

1882:

1929:

Reloading:
The first tryouts are now ready for checking the accuracy of the new Model 1929. I got 25 rounds of every load.

Well, we will see if I choose the right components (and the right gun, I'm still a bit concerned about the long throat)

Thanks for looking

Swissman

 

[rocketdog]

Thanks for posting the photos. I've been thinking for a while about buying one of these revolvers.

How does the revolver feel in the hand, good and well balanced, or awkward and clunky?

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Good to hear from you! Nice revolver.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I've just received a cast bullet mould from Qball for my 7.5 Swedish and 7.5 Swiss revolvers- so please post some load notes!

Of course, I know you can't use plain cast lead, but I will try some jacketed.

Here's a picture of my Swedish Husqvarna Nagant with a nice 12ga Husqvara- both ready for field use.

I'm not trying to steal your thread, but I just want to let you know how much I, and so many others also like your threads.
Sorry, I don't have a picture yet of my 1882 Swiss revolver.

I'd love to have a 1929, but on this side of the pond they seem to be made of solid gold, because that is how much most people value them!

The good thing is, that the 7.5 Swiss Revolver cartridge and the 7.5 Swedish revolver cartridge are almost always interchangeable, with only sight differences in case length and bullet weight, if I am correct.

 

[Swissman]

Andy Griffith, thanks for the nice comment. Lead isn't a bad choice. This are two of my favorite loads for the model 1882.
I really hope, that this fodder is good too for the new model 1929.

Case: Fiocchi 7,5 mm Svizzera
Primer: Small Pistol Mag.
Bullet: .314 H+N Lead-Roundnose 100 gr.
Powder: Solo 1000
Powderweight: 2.5 grains.

I give a ligth crimp over the bearing-part of the bullet. This is my ultimate load for the Model 1882.


An ugly but accurate load too is this one on the following picture. Try different OAL's.

Using this data is at your own risk.

Swissman

 

[Texas Star]

Swissman-

Thanks once again for the terrific photos and interesting topic.

As an aside, the childrens'story, "Heidi" has a scene where two gentlemen got out their revolvers and sat up all night. I forgot what they were waiting for. But the guns were probably the M-1882 ones. (Heidi was a Swiss girl.)



T-Star

 

[Swissman]

The first testfiring is done

The first two loads got a very strong tendence to the left. So I adjusted the frontsight. The H&N did not good. But the Lapua Wadcutter got a big potential.

The Lapua RN is not what I've expected. What really surprised me, was the Meister-RN/FP. Both loads have a POI on the right side. (So I pushed the frontsight back again)

All testfiring was at 25 meters. Right now I am not very happy with the first results of the gun. I will check now two things:

1: Is the long throat standard or is this a production-mistake?

2: More tests with the H&N bullet. I can't believe this bad result with it. I'll seat it deeper for more speed.

Swissman

 

[mkk41]

Magnificent! Gotta love that world famous Swiss craftsmanship! That looks as well built as a Swiss watch , er , gun.

I'm a Toolmaker myself and I just love my Swiss-made Etalon measuring tools.

And my Sig P210 , and my Bern K-31.

 

[Swissman]

It's a good sunday. Now I deserved my weekend-cigar

The hotter load with the H&N brings not better results. They are acceptable at 15 meters. But at 25 meters it's a waste of powder and bullets.
And still the tendency to the left....

The best choice so far is the 103 grain Hollowbase Wadcutter from Geco. The bad fact is, I don't know where I can find more of them.
Both results are made without any support.

Now it was necessary to see what this gun can do from a better supported position:

And the confidence goes on..... The last ten rounds of fifty without any cleaning of the bore.

Swissman

 

[Cobroller]

Great pics, great guns, and excellent commentary Swissman.