Correct Ammo for Lee-Metford MkII

[Gpcooke]

I recently acquired a Lee Metford MkII dated 1893 through an auction. It appears to have its original serial matching, Metford rifled barrel. The research that I have done suggests that the original cartridge for this example was the BP .303 MkI. I do not reload and have been trying to find an online source for a box or two of this ammo, as I would like to send a couple of rounds down range through the old girl, but have had no success. Would anyone here know of a source for the BP .303?
Also there is a unit mark on the tang of the butt plate that I have had trouble identifying. The unit mark is:

V
-----
7. L L.
13

The first L is twice the size of the second L.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

'Greg

Information

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[Strangely Brown]

Greg,

The original ammunition for the Lee Metford was a commpressed pellet of black powder that was then put into an unshaped cartridge case which was then finished off.i.e. the shoulders were formed on the case at this late stage.

It's a sad fact that for the last 30 years plus I have never known anybody to come up with a black powder reloading solution to this historical problem.
Unless of course anybody knows different??

[CINDERS]

I cannot say where you can get BP commercially so you may have to re load the top rt corner of the page gives threads for milsurps try looking at them to get info there.
When you consider the age of the weapon research is a must to ensure A) The rifle is serviceable and B) If you do reload that you do not blow yourself up. There are plenty here who will offer you honest opinions. Good luck.

[Strangely Brown]

From memory you could get a half decent group at about 200 yards with a compressed BP charge but at 300 yards it became a nightmare to stay on a figure target.
There were more than a few of us who just gave up!

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Anyone tried Pyrodex?

[Bindi2]

Why not use a slow powder like 2209 (H4350) 215gn RN loaded to about 2,000fps.

[bigduke6]

V
-----
7. L L.
13

The first L is twice the size of the second L

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

'Greg

Greg, the V normally stands for Volunteer, 7 is the battalion, as for the LL this would be the regiment and 13 the company or rifle number, don't know what what regiment the LL is unless its L I ? photo would help.

[Strangely Brown]

LL = Liverpool College. (Source The Broad Arrow, I Skennerton)

Possibly the reason it survives with a Metford barrel on, school cadet forces would not have been part of government reburbishes.

[Robert303]

I think your best bet would be to find someone who reloads BP cartridges and see if he can make you some.

[CINDERS]

Bertram Brass may know of some one or Co. who may load for obscure obsolete loadings but be prepared to fork out $'s/round for it just a guess, cheaper to research JM2CW