old 303 ammo

[TonyE]

Several points here:

As previously posted, Son's post says it all with regard to the modifications to the rifle and the "HV" and "SC" stamps.

However, there are a couple of misconceptions stated. British military .303 inch ammunition continued to use cupro-nickel jacketed bullets until WW2. It was not until about 1943 when gilding metal clad steel envelopes began to be used extensively, although armour piercing ammunition used cupro-nickel clad steel. It was not until the mid 1950s that gilding metal alone was used.

John - your 1917 dated Mark VI is perfectly correct. Although the Mark VII was approved in 1910 for British service, the colonies continued to manufacture and use Mark VI. Australian production did not switch to Mark VII until February 1918 and India changed about the same time. Canada had changed earlier, but continued to make quantities of Mark VI until the end of the war.

smle13 - there were no lead bulleted .303 in British service, all from the Mark I black powder load onwards were jacketed. There were a number of short range or gallery practice rounds with short lead bullets introduced in Canada, India and New Zealand but these were not adopted in British service. The four marks of British short range cartridges all had jacketed bullets.

Finally, the modern Kynamco Mark VI type 215 grain loads are gilding metal (copper coloured) jacketed.

Regards
TonyE

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Son]

I have several dozen MkVI and MkII rounds. I'll have to do some fresh pics of the headstamps. Many are WW1 vintage Aussie production.

[smle13]

thanks so much! all of your posts were greatlu helpful to me. I do have some 180 gr. round nosed .303 ammo so I think I might shoot that. but ill keep looking for rare 303 ammo!

Thanks!!

[TonyE]

Are you based in the UK?

.303 Mark VI ammo is not rare or even scarce in UK ammo collector circles, and it would not be hard to find a dozen or so rounds, but as others have said, the real hard part is getting it to you!

The real rare .303 ball round is the Mark III hollow nose, so if you find one headstamped "R^L C III" please let me know at once!

Cheers
TonyE

[smle13]

great!

[smle13]

i am taking my smle no.1 mk1*** out shooting in a few weeks, just have to get it cheaked out by the gunsmith first.

[TonyE]

smle13 - See the link in Son's post regarding the nomenclature of your rifle! It is a Rifle, Short, Magazine Lee Enfield Mark I***, not a No.1 Mark 1***.

A small point, but it is important to be accurate about these things.

Regards
TonyE