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Had this for a while and have been pondering whether it is a rare type as I have not seen a black packet from this Australian maker before I have Green/Red, Yellow/Red, Purple/White.
And over the years of collecting I have not seen another like this so I am thinking either it missed out on a colouration say being a purple/white or it is as made.
Any thoughts from collectors out there, it is a full packet.
The only "Super" .303-25 packets I have here are the red and yellow ones that say "Super Cartridge Co, Melbourne", on the end flap. The original brass was Boxer-primed and loaded with the "Super" 87gn soft point bullet. There are a few "Riverbrand' packets somewhere, as well, but these contained re-formed .303 Mk7 cases that had been fitted with brass-cupped primers, probably RWS 6000.
I got a motley bunch of packets and ammo / fired brass, when I bought a Lithgow-converted, "Sportco" SMLE conversion, about twenty-five years ago. .303-25 kills the ferals just as dead as anything else in the cupboard.
It is my "usual" field hunting rifle, but I use re-formed "modern" cases for "polite" hunting. For "rough" culling, often from a dirt-bike, where I don't expect to find much of my brass, I use reformed, once-fired Berdan-primed .303 brass. The slow, 1:14" twist barrel will only work with "short" bullets, like the old Supers. Slinky, 90gn BT HPs will not stabilise in that twist, at safe velocities.
The “Black Label” “Super” packets are new to me. Nice find.
I must say that while I have never seen a rifle chambered for the 303/25 cartridge here in the USA, I am quite impressed by the ballistics. As I have a small collection of wildcats and "semi wildcats, I will
include the 303/25 cartridge. Such an easy conversion to the Lee Enfields.
The 303 also came out in other Wildcats its a pretty impressive list when you think of the parent cartridge -
303/22 Meredith, 303/22 Varmint - R, 303/22 Wasp, 303/22 Sprinter, 303/22 Rocket (4000), 303/22 Epps, 303/22 British Improved 40 degree shoulder, 303/220 (Shannon), 303/243, 303/6mm Epps,
303/6.5mm, 303/270, 303/270 Epps, 303/7mm British, 303/7mm Epps, 303/7.7 x 54 Rimmed, 303 ICL Improved, 303 ICBM, 303 Epps Improved, 303/8mm Epps, 303/338 Epps, 303/338 JDJ, 303/35,
303/375.
Source ~ The Accurate Lee Enfield No.1 (SMLE's) & No.4 Rifles By Stephen Redgwell Gun Plumber Press 2001
Maybe that Black packet is Supers Johnnie Walker Black Label, a slightly better drop than the Red:cheers:
I saw an interesting shortened 303-22 one off custom named after its maker in my fav gun shop last year.