Made Special for the RAF 303 Cartridges

[usabaker]

The WI is the coding for A.P the headstamp - R /|\ L is Royal Laboratories.

Thank you Cinders

Information

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[Sapper740]

.......until the Hell cat came along the tactic was to dive on the Zero shoot them up and dive away not get involved in a dogfight with them.

Maybe for the first 3 months of America's involvement in WWII but by September we had come up with the "Thach Weave" which nearly completely negated the Zero's superior performance over the Wildcat. The first time Lt. Commander Tadashi Nakajima encountered what was to become the famous double-team maneuver on the part of the enemy two Wildcats jumped on the commander's plane. He had no trouble in getting on the tail of an enemy fighter, but never had a chance to fire before the Wildcat's wingman roared at him from the side forcing him to dive and run for safety. By all reports Nakajima was raging when he got back to Rabaul at the effectiveness of the "Thach Weave".

[bob q]

Besides no self sealing tanks , the fact that they were mostly running on very flammable low octane gas made them light up easily .

[usabaker]

More I think about it... I might go back and buy the opened box as well.. not that I need it.. maybe put one or two rounds down the Enfield No. 5 Mk 1 aka 'Jungle Carbine' I will be picking up Friday (California 10 day waiting period will be over - I did not put this one on my Type 3 FFL)

[Flying10uk]

More I think about it... I might go back and buy the opened box as well.

When you've done that you may feel that you need to complete the package with the purchase of an appropriate aircraft, a Spitfire.

[usabaker]

with the purchase of an appropriate aircraft, a Spitfire

Wonder what the look on my brides face would be..

[browningautorifle]

you would require exactly 50 boxes of 48 rounds

So, are you wondering if that's why they chose the number "48" for the cardboard boxes? I know we've discussed it before here.

I might go back and buy the opened box as well

No but then you have loose rounds to sell guys for their collections. You only need one for your own and a couple loose to try on a steel plate.

[usabaker]

but then you have loose rounds to sell guys for their collections.

If they still have them on Friday and I'm able to get them. Anyone here would be welcome to one or two for their collection at cost plus shipping if wanted. Never mailed ammunition so I would have to figure that out.

[browningautorifle]

Never mailed ammunition

I think it would have to go by a courier, dangerous goods. Here anyway. Don't think shipping a couple will be very cost effective, in the US your rules might be different. Gunshow sales for sure.

[green]

The .303" RAF special for aircraft was the same as regular .303" except made to tighter specs. The RAF special ammo can be distinguished by all four digits of the year in the hs vs two in other .303".
In the late 1930s it was decided to make all .303" to RAF standard and the the four digit date was dropped c1942.
Crimped primers were introduced c1916 with the introduction of the Hotchkiss LMG which had a tendency to blow primers.