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What .303 to shoot first Radway Green or HXP?
I have about 4 boxes (48rds each) of 1945 Radway Green .303 that are still sealed and wrapped in cellophane. I also have a ample supply (1000rds) of 1970s HXP.
My question is should I shoot up the RG first or hold on to it and shoot the HXP first?
I shot a full box of the RG a few months back and it was great for it's age. No duds or hang fires. Just worry that it will start to deteriorate.
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01-23-2016 09:07 PM
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In about a year you won't have either left as it will be all gone...so just get started and when you finish, tell us which was better.
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Is the RG MkVII or MkVIIz? If it is VII it is cordite loaded.. Make sure you are not getting a vinegar smell as this is a sign of propellent breakdown.. (though this is rare in small arms...) There is a good chance you will have corrosive primers on the RG, so make sure you clean out your gun as soon as you are finished shooting!
The HXP is loaded with NC powder.. the cases are probably Boxer primed and reloadable, the RG are almost certainly Berdan primed and are not...
Up to you which you shoot first.. The RG will not live forever.. either sell it to collectors or use it IMHO..
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Thank You to bombdoc For This Useful Post:
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Use the HXP, save the RG. HXP is excellent brass, non-corrosive, boxer primed. RG will be 70 years old, Berdan primed and corrosive. Leave it in the cellophane and keep it, or sell it to a collector. Not that it's worth a fortune, but it has some intrinsic value by now.
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Thank You to M2phil For This Useful Post:
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I have to agree with M2phil. Flog off the RG to a collector and get good shootable .303. I had some WWII vintage british ammo and every empty casing was neck split after firing. I was told that wartime English brass wasn't very good and turned brittle over the years. I also shot WWII Canadian DIZ ammo and it not only held up just fine, but it's reloadable. Unless you have a display of wartime gear or you are a collector yourself, I'd just bang it off or sell it. My 2 cents worth.
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RG45 in 48 round packs is Greek supply and surplus.
Cases are Berdan (.250") and Corrosive; Cordite won't deteriorate, but the Primers probably already have. (Despite the cellophane tropicalization).
Splitting cases has nothing to do with "Poor wartime manufacture" but all to do with the manner in which .303 Cordite is loaded...case is made to the First Taper (about Calibre .420), Primed, then the cut-off "cord" of cordite is fitted (Like a cork to a wine-bottle), then the wad is placed over the cordite, and the Bullet, and then the Neck and Shoulder is formed down and mouth crimped. There is NO "Neck and Shoulder" anneal as happens in (Boxer) Nitrocellulose loaded cases.
So the Case has Stress issues from the get-go: Age and Seasonal variations both contribute to "age cracking" of stressed brass...a lot of Cordite .303 will have split necks even before firing, and a combination of neck splits and "pin-holes" in the shoulder after firing.
48 round boxes are for Bren and RAF loading use (Mostly RAF); by 1945, all .303 ammo was "Air Use Quality" (but Crates were marked in Red, "Not for use in Synchronised guns after .........( date Two years after Manufacture date).---Primer issues.
By 1945, there were very few "synchronised" MGs in use by Britain, but some European Airforces still had them on older Craft. The Red Notice was dropped by the mid-1950s.
Collect or Shoot? Given that this ammo is ex-Greek ( source) supplied by Britain in the 1944-49/1950s, it has a certain Historical appeal ( Greek Civil War, re-armament of Royal Hellenic Army). Most is gone now ( first released in early 1980s).
The Canadian (DI Z) is also "Greek supply", but being made using Commercial Non-corrosive Boxer Primers, and Nitro-cellulose Powder in a Military spec. case, it is more likely to be still "Good Shooting/Reloading ammo"...in any case, a couple of Sealed Packets for collecting Purposes are warranted.
The other good .303 was the Greek-manufactured "HXP" of the 60s and 70s...made using Olin Industries Technology ("Winchester") and Ball Powder. If you can get HXP ( some still around the ridges) it is equal to DI Z .303 ammo.
( HXP Greek Cartridge and Powder Co.).
Doc AV
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