.303 british headstamp help?

[skinkious]

I just picked up some 303 ammo today and can't find out any info on it.(corrosive???) It has K52 stamped on the top and a 7 bellow the primer.
Any help out there?

Information

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[Badger]

I believe this might be from India....

HEADSTAMP IDENTIFICATION (Click Here)

KF = Kirkee Arsenal, Poona-3, Kirkee, India

The 7 is probably a year of manufacture code...

Regards,
Badger

[buffdog]

If the .303 crtridges you picked up are military, there is a good chance that they were made in England.

The K was used by ICI (Kynoch) for military ammo.
The 52 would be a date of manufacture
The 7 would indicate it is a Mark 7 loading, which would agree with the date

The standard military practice was to run TWO pints of very hot water through the bore of the rifle after firing, then cleaning and lightly oiling the bore.

Also, check the size of the primer if you intend to reload. Many English and european cartridges have two flash holes and larger primers than our present domestic ones. They can be reloaded with effort, but it usually is not worth the time or bother unless you have an uncommon calibre.

Usually the nitro cellulose loads for the .303 have a Z after the 7 (or Mk.7) on the headstamp, but if you are in doubt, treat it as a cordite load, and clean accordingly.

[green]

Cordite ammo had no letter suffix to the mark numeral. Nitrocellulose loade ammo had the Z suffix.

[Badger]

Sorry, I miss-read the K5 as KF.... doh....

Regards,
Badger

[buffdog]

Cordite ammo had no letter suffix to the mark numeral. Nitrocellulose loade ammo had the Z suffix.

Green is absolutely right on the Z marking. While making the original post, I may have had a blonde moment. Only excuse I can make is a certain blonde Labrador Retriever was bugging me at the time, believeing that clamping its teeth on my ankle consisted of it's idea of play and fun.

The .303-in. S.A. Ball Cartridge Mark VII was introduced in November, 1910. It had a 174 grain bullet, propelled by 37 grains MDT (Modified Cordite in tubular form.) The word "Cordite" was dropped from the name of the new cartridge, and in February 1913, the word "Cordite" was omitted from all future Small Arms nomenclature.

When the cartridge was loaded with nitro-cellulose, it became the
Mark VII Z, and used principally in machine guns.

In February, 1913, a reclassification of the various Marks of .303 Small Arms Ammunition was also made.

Marks II and Mark III - for suitably sighted .303 in. small arms and machine guns.

Mark IV - for all suitably sighted small arms only.

Marks V, VI, and VII --for all suitably sighted small arms and machine guns.

Just so it doesn't confuse anyone, I have corrected the first post.