The Canadian Rangers were the last users of No. 4 rifles. Long Branch made rifles were standard issue, often brand new; ammunition issued was late WW2 production.
Then the supplies of both ran out.
W-W commercial 180gr soft point ammunition was procured and issued as a stopgap measure.
Long Branch rifles were sourced on the surplus market. Eventually EAL rifles were issued in quantity, and No. 4s of other manufacturers were acquired. Hence the
British
No. 4 Mk. 2 rifles in service.
Ball ammunition was desired. Much Ranger issued ammunition is used for hunting purposes; the softpoint is fine for that. Generally Provincial and Territorial game departments disapprove of ball ammunition for hunting. There is also an issue with softpoint being issued for military purposes.
Anyway, IVI was the sole supplier of issue ammunition to the Cdn. Gov't, and was contracted to supply .303 ammunition. Mk. 7/7z .303 ball had not been produced for decades, let alone Mk. 8. Don't know when
Canada phased out Vickers guns, and started issuing 1919A4 Browning guns.
The story I was told is that IVI was supplied with the specs for 8z ammunition, this being the last, most recent, Mark of .303 ball designed. The order was made without knowledge of the different applications for Mk. 7 and Mk. 8 cartridges.
Someone then realized that 8z ballistics and No. 4 sight calibrations were not in harmony, and the load was tweaked so that trajectory and sights would agree at 200y.
IVI was also contracted to supply .303 softpoint ammunition. Similar brown boxes, but quite different labelling.
Incidentally, not only is that IVI 8z good ammunition, it was also quite costly. A sole source supplier and relatively limited production will drive up the cost.
7.62x51 rifles are now replacing the No. 4s in Ranger service. I do not know the last date that might be found on the.303 headstamps.
PM
Originally Posted by Lee Enfield
