.303 Ball, South African

[bombdoc]

Hi Guys,

Ok.. sounds like someone has been tumbling loaded ammunition!

The "copper wash" look is the result of dezincification.. the cases have been exposed to an oxidising atmosphere, both acid and alkali will do it, which has corroded the zinc out of the brass and left the copper. This is an indication of poor storage, and although not always a problem it points towards weak cases. The marking is not caused by handling as you would actually see defined marks, this has come from fumes..

Tumbling loaded ammunition is a SERIOUSLY bad thing to do. What happens is that the propellant grains break up, increasing the surface area and hence the burn rate. This leads to pressure spikes and all the associated over pressure consequences. It is a particular problem with old ammunition where the plasticisers in the propellant will have degraded and the structure has become brittle and shatters easily. The consequence is that the round behaves as if it is full of Bullseye!

Just to touch on the primers.. copper .303 primers are filled with ASA mix which contains Lead Azide and Potassium Chlorate. The reason for this is that it gave the ammunition a long shelf life and an ability to operate over a very wide range of temperatures. The lead however kills the brass and the Chlorate rusts your barrel.. this is fine if you only ever use the brass once and you have a shouty Sargent who will hit you if you do not clean your rifle!

Others Beware!

I would burn this ammunition on the spot, if only to stop anyone else using it! There is nothing wrong with SA ammunition which was made in properly run government factories, but this stuff is Old and from a part of the world that has been through lots of changes...