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    Legacy Member 82Trooper's Avatar
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    So what am I looking at...

    This is a follow up post to a prior from New Years weekend. I had the chance to shoot my "new to me" Mk II Martini Henry. I fired 9 rounds of vintage Kynoch rounds, and one of those was a dud. Little pop, but no kick.
    So out of curiosity, I removed the bullet. The interior of the case was packed solid. I dig around with an awl, and this is what I removed. Is this normal? Does not look like any powder I have ever seen.
    Attachment 98212Attachment 98213Attachment 98214Attachment 98215

    So what are we looking at?
    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.
    "Audacia....By daring deed"

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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Strands of cordite.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Yes...cordite stick. Looks like a punk primer, you could reprime with a good LR primer and carefully stuff it's guts back in, it'll work fine.
    Regards, Jim

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    Cordite strands was the propellant for many Britishicon cartridges, mainly military. Many South African made 303 cartridges in the early seventies were still cordite loaded. With age [30+ years] the strands evidently become brittle and broke in the case, causing tracer to curve in any direction except straight ahead.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Daan Kemp View Post
    With age [30+ years] the strands evidently become brittle and broke in the case, causing tracer to curve in any direction except straight ahead.
    And you believe the propellant was the cause of a bullet going off like that?
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member Daan Kemp's Avatar
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    Well, the newest ammo dated 1944. The shooting year was 1972 with the last 303 Brens in the SA Army. Shooting at 300m ball hit anywhere from about 100m to the backstop. Tracer curved up, to the sides or just dropped to meet the closest earth. Not just the one I was shooting, all ten Brens did the same. All the ammo worked the first time.

    Might be the tracer was just burning unevenly, I would too if I had been confined in a cartridge case for 30 years.

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    Legacy Member Bruce McAskill's Avatar
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    Typical of a bad/weak primer trying to ignite a cordite load.

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    Thank you all for the information....once again, expanding my knowledge.
    "Audacia....By daring deed"

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