Some questions about .303" Mk.VIIIz ammo

[enfield303t]

You mean this stuff? LOL

Not trying to rub salt in the wound, this will never be shot but will stay in my collection.

[Sentryduty]

That's not just salt, that is Mediterranean Sun Evaporated Salt imported directly from the Larnaca Salt Lakes and hand ground by a Cypriot ex-Pat named Kellari directly into the wound in question.

[Peter Laidler]

But you ain't got a Vickers champing at the bit either........... That might change your ideas!

[bigduke6]

Hi all! New poster, relatively long time lurker.

I'm taking up handloading at the moment and I've been wondering for a while how best to reproduce a service load with modern components. Here in the UK our only factory .303" options are PPU and S&B, both of which are adequate but far from exceptional.

From what I've read, nobody on this side of the pond makes a flat based 174gr bullet, only boat tails, which leads me to think it wouldn't be possible to faithfully reproduce the Mk.VII round. But wasn't the Mk.VIII's bullet boat tailed? And if so, what were the round's specifications?

I'd love to be able to produce ammunition that's as close as possible to the original. Thanks in advance for your help, folks.

The bullets are available in the UK but they are not cheap as they are hand swaged...... depends what you plan on doing if its for the occasional shooter then I would say its the way to go.

MrE posted a thread about a dye he made and shared the info for anyone who wanted it, as mentioned its a bump dye that forms the boat tail into a flat base, very simple solution but not easy to make the reamer, I had a few disasters with a few reamers I made, but came up with an other idea regarding the Dye....... still to finish but like many projects before got shelved to do other jobs..... although am getting round to some as the weather gets better at long last........

Speaking of weather, I was sitting outside a bar (of all places) in Dunkirk last Friday getting some rays, was a little sun trap and my face was burning..... still a chill in the air but I left there with a healthy glow......

Back to bullets, they are hand made by B&S Products, PM me for contact details etc.

[CINDERS]

Geez BD you were caught out red faced were you
Looks like Mr L E took offence at my saying he would have to do some work in getting his reloading underway me I do not give a rats rissole if he has taken his bat, ball and the wickets mind you and faded away also I stand by my statement I do not know just how good they are at reloading and I am not putting my backside out into the gunfire to get sued away because he says "But he told me that was what I had to do?".

Enfield 303 youy have to explain to us A) why the can is open much better sealed B) Why there are a few rounds missing!!!! by the way years ago I went to my friends place (Yes Cinders has some friends I pay them highly I may add) who was a WWII armourer he had all sorts of gear in his work shop was like an Aladins cave he had a pillow case with @20 pistols in it he tipped up for my son to play with whilst we were chatting (they were wrecked guns most were just frames).
Anyway this day we were talking about belt fed MG's so Jack as cool as you like reaches under a bench rummages around then pulls out a full 250 round belt with every round a tracer say's he "Roo shooter ordered this from me and never came to pick it up" he then proceeded to stuff it back into its hiding spot anticipating my question he stated it was not for sale, he had mountains of gear but was like the south end of a north bound camel and that my friends is dust proof.
Sadly Jack had a falling out with his son it got nasty so in retaliation there was some dobbing police firearms paid a visit and wreaked havoc with Jack he passed away sadly and his collection split up some through his will others through his son it was a sad day for me as I enjoyed his and his wifes company for many years we still have the small doyeley his wife made for my son when he was a bub. RIP Jack

[enfield303t]

Geez BD you were caught out red faced were you
Looks like Mr L E took offence at my saying he would have to do some work in getting his reloading underway me I do not give a rats rissole if he has taken his bat, ball and the wickets mind you and faded away also I stand by my statement I do not know just how good they are at reloading and I am not putting my backside out into the gunfire to get sued away because he says "But he told me that was what I had to do?".

Enfield 303 youy have to explain to us A) why the can is open much better sealed B) Why there are a few rounds missing!!!! by the way years ago I went to my friends place (Yes Cinders has some friends I pay them highly I may add) who was a WWII armourer he had all sorts of gear in his work shop was like an Aladins cave he had a pillow case with @20 pistols in it he tipped up for my son to play with whilst we were chatting (they were wrecked guns most were just frames).
Anyway this day we were talking about belt fed MG's so Jack as cool as you like reaches under a bench rummages around then pulls out a full 250 round belt with every round a tracer say's he "Roo shooter ordered this from me and never came to pick it up" he then proceeded to stuff it back into its hiding spot anticipating my question he stated it was not for sale, he had mountains of gear but was like the south end of a north bound camel and that my friends is dust proof.
Sadly Jack had a falling out with his son it got nasty so in retaliation there was some dobbing police firearms paid a visit and wreaked havoc with Jack he passed away sadly and his collection split up some through his will others through his son it was a sad day for me as I enjoyed his and his wifes company for many years we still have the small doyeley his wife made for my son when he was a bub. RIP Jack

Well personally would never open the can however it came as seen, my son gave it to me for Christmas last year buying it from a guy that works at our local gun shop. I do have a couple of 8's loose in my collection so could fill more of the belt however bit of a moot point IMO.

I do know where there is a sealed can of 7's, 360 rds in chargers/bandoliers. I can get it for anyone if they want, but shipping will be expensive. Only negative for many, it is in Canada.

[CINDERS]

Yeah I would love a can but getting it to Aus would be a nightmare and if I flew there and tried to get it out of Canada and then into Aus even on a collectors licence the AFP and Customs may see me as a threat which I am not just a passionate collector like some of us here.

[Sentryduty]

I do know where there is a sealed can of 7's, 360 rds in chargers/bandoliers. I can get it for anyone if they want, but shipping will be expensive. Only negative for many, it is in Canada

And right now the hamster wheel in my brain is spinning thinking about the prospect.

[enfield303t]

And right now the hamster wheel in my brain is spinning thinking about the prospect.

PM sent.

[LondonEnfield]

Geez BD you were caught out red faced were you
Looks like Mr L E took offence at my saying he would have to do some work in getting his reloading underway me I do not give a rats rissole if he has taken his bat, ball and the wickets mind you and faded away also I stand by my statement I do not know just how good they are at reloading and I am not putting my backside out into the gunfire to get sued away because he says "But he told me that was what I had to do?".

Actually I came to a forum of people who know far more about the rifle, its cartridge and their characteristics and history than I ever will, in good faith, to ask a simple question, and got an answer that settled the matter pretty quickly, as far as I'm concerned. You clearly want to find fault where none exists and I find that very strange and hostile.