Why Was .303 Packed 48 to the Box?

[Peter Laidler]

You are SOOOOOOO right BAR. They really don't care what quantities it comes in just so long as there's enough when he needs it

[Beerhunter]

I'm inclined to go for the Lewis gun explanation. We were always told a similar story in the cadets. 47 to load the drum with a spare to use on the gas regulator, or whatever drill the Lewis pamphlet said required the use of a round as a tool.

Cadets were told a lot of other rubbish by their Adult Instructors as well. (I often had to bite my lip.) The (Greek) 48 round boxes used by cadets were bought especially for them - and that's how the ammunition came packaged. (Because the moron on the MoD who sold off all the .303 forgot about them.)

The magazines of the section Section Light Machine Gun, like the Lewis and the Bren were filled from the ammunition carried by the Section's riflemen, so no need for anything special. The riflemen would carry their ammunition in 50 round expendable bandoliers.

As to the regular ammunition, Peter answered the question way back. The strange numbers are to fit the standard packing. So training ammunition (packed in cartons) came cartons of 32 round which translated into 288 rounds in a plywood outer. The same outer contained 250 rounds belted or 300 rounds in bandoliers. (All numbers IIRC) (BTW, that was the British standard - can't speak for others.)