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    Legacy Member RCS's Avatar
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    Some 303 cartridges

    I had these for a long time and could use some help to identify the last two cartridges with the colored bullets (I knew what they were but since forgot)

    The first is the Mark 11 C and the second is 1916 - it is the last two I need to I DAttachment 56389Attachment 56390
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    Round identification

    Last round FN= Fabrique National d 'Armes de Gurre Herstal Belgiumicon 1950 vintage Incendiary going by the coloured tip and the annulus other one is a something 1942 so will go with this one;

    2nd last one

    CARTRIDGE, S.A., TRACER, .303-INCH, G MARK 6.

    Introduced: c.1942
    Approved: 3-1945

    Description: PS bullet with C-N* , G-M* or coated MS* envelope containing a compound core consisting of a lead/antimony (92/8) front piece, with a copper cup containing tracer composition in the rear. The bottom of the cup is closed by a brass washer and the envelope turned over to retain the core. There is a cannelure round the middle of the bullet.

    Crimping: Case mouth coned onto bullet cannelure.
    Weight: 151 grains
    Tip Color: White
    Trace Color: Red

    Charge: 35 grains cordite MDT, size 5/2*, with a strawboard wad on top.


    Remarks: This is the standard GIV pattern with a bullet using standard components, and was originally known as the "GIV/II" which became "G MARK VI". The above designation was adopted circa late 1944 with the change of mark numerals in Britishicon service.
    Air service day tracer.

    PS= Pointed, Solid
    C-N= Cupro-Nickel, an alloy of 80% copper, 20% Nickel. Dull Silver in color
    G-M= Gilding Metal, An alloy of 85-90% Copper and 15-20% zinc. Copper in color
    MS= Mild Steel
    MDT, Size 5/2= Modified, Tubular. Cordite was originally 58% Nitroglycerine, 37% Guncotton and 5% mineral jelly but it caused excessive bore erosion so the mixture was modifided to 30%, 65% and 5% respectively. This was known as "Modified". Then it was pressed into a tubular form to obtain an increased burning surface. The 5/2 indicates the external and internal diameters. (External=0.05" and Internal 0.02")

    Source: Identification Manual on the .303 British Service Cartridge, No.3 - Special Purpose Ammunition. Published: B.A.Temple-1987

    And a tad more;

    British Ammunition
    There are several types of ammunition available in Cliffs of Dover, we’ll go over the different types used by the RAF and explain their composition and effects. It’s important to note that although Cliffs of Dover allows unlimited use of ammo types, some were in fact quite rare and not in abundant supply.

    Ammo Type Description
    Ball, .303 inch, Magazine Rifle, Cordite, Mark I Jacketed round nose bullet with lead core.
    Ball, .303 inch, Cordite, Mark VI Jacketed round nose hollow point bullet with lead core.
    Ball, .303 inch, Cordite, Mark VII Jacketed pointed bullet with internal paper or aluminum tip and lead base.
    Tracer (Yellow), G, 500 yd, .303 inch, Cordite, Mark I Jacketed tracer, yellow. 500 yard burn on tracer.
    Tracer (Yellow), G, Infantry Long Range, 1000 yd, .303 inch, Cordite Mark II Jacketed tracer, yellow. 1000 yard burn on tracer.
    Tracer (Red), G, Naval 800 yd, .303 inch, Cordite, Mark III Jacketed tracer, red. 800 yard burn on tracer.
    Tracer (Yellow), G, Aircraft 550 yd, .303 inch, Cordite, Mark IV Jacketed tracer, yellow. 550 yard burn on tracer.
    Tracer (Burgundy), G, Aircraft Night Dimmed, 550 yd, .303 inch, Cordite, Mark V Jacketed tracer, burgundy. 550 yard “dim” burn on tracer.
    Tracer (Yellow), G, Aircraft, 550 yd, .303 inch, Nitrocellulose, Mark VIz Jacketed tracer, yellow. 550 yard burn on tracer.
    Armour Piercing, W, .303 inch, Nitrocellulose, Mark Iz Armour piercing jacketed bullet.
    Incendiary/Tracer (White), B, .303 inch, Nitrocellulose, Mark Iz Incendiary bullet with tracer composition.
    Incendiary, B, .303 inch, Nitrocellulose, Mark VIz, “De Wilde” Improved incendiary bullet.
    Observer, O, .303 inch, Cordite, Mark I Observer round, designed to show a puff of smoke when striking a target.
    * Cordite and Nitrocellulose are two different types of propellant. Cordite is a long stick-like propellant, and Nitrocellulose is a tiny flake propellant
    Last edited by CINDERS; 09-20-2014 at 12:25 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RCS View Post
    I had these for a long time and could use some help to identify the last two cartridges with the colored bullets (I knew what they were but since forgot)

    The first is the Mark 11 C and the second is 1916 - it is the last two I need to I DAttachment 56389Attachment 56390
    Headstamps of the .303 British Calibre Service Ammunition Round

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    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
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    I remember that FN 50 tracer stuff being SO common in the mid-1970s that we would buy crates of the stuff for less than $8 (Oz) per hundred, pull the projectiles and reseat soft-points (Oz-made "Super") for hunting. The funny thing is that, at the time, I gave a swag of the projectiles to a couple of "eccentric " types who were reloading for 7.7 Jap............

    The packets were a "beige-ish" cardboard, with a crimson label clearly stating "pour BREN". I think I still have one round and an empty packet with label somewhere.....

    There was also a swag of FN ball ammo of similar vintage and suitable markings around at the same time: EXCELLENT ammo indeed. I still have a substantial quantity of the fired brass, (being a chronic scrounger) and it takes the "standard" RWS .217" 5608 or 6627 Berdan primer. Being non-Mercuric, it is good for quite a few reloads; (chambers permitting). Considerable quantities of these cases are slowly "returning to nature" across a vast swathe of southern Queensland.

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    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
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    Have not found my own packets yet.

    However, I found some pix over at The International Ammo forum: International Ammunition Association {iaaforum.org} - View topic - Belgian FN .303 box

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