A quick reference to .303 Headstamps

[John Brandon]

Thought this may be of use to members. Having a vast collection of .303's There isn't that much information on them, unless you're lucky enough to get hold of Labbett and Mead's definitive guide to the .303 inch cartridge! ( I have) Out of print since 1989

Known Manufacturers
A Pretoria West Metal Pressings, Pretoria SOUTH AFRICA
A Artillerie Inrichingen, Hemberg, NETHERLANDS
AE Arsenal do Ejecito, Libson, PORTUGAL
AF Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
AIF Small Arms Ammunition Factory No 1, Footscray, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
AOC Bombrini, Parodi et Delfino, Rome, ITALY
APX Atelier dr Construction de Puteaux, FRANCE
AI Artillerie Inrichingen, Hemberg, NETHERLANDS
A-VE Atelier de Construction de Valence, FRANCE
A.VIS Atelier de Fabrication de Vincinnes, FRANCE
B Brimingham Metal and Munitions Co Ltd, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
BD Halls Telegraph Co Burghfield, UNITED KINGDOM
BE Royal Ordinance Factory, Blackpole, Worchester, UNITED KINGDOM
BLANCH J Blanch & Sons of Fenchurch St., London, UNITED KINGDOM
BM British Munitions Co Ltd., Millwall, London UNITED KINGDOM
BPD Bombrini, Parodi et Delfino, Rome, ITALY
C Pirotecnico di Capua, ITALY
CAC Colonial Ammunition Co., Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
CAC Colonial Ammunition Co. Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
CIL Canadian Industies Ltd., Montreal, CANADA
CP Crompton Parkinson Ltd., Guiseley, Yorkshire, UNITED KINGDOM
C18F1 Government Cartridge Factory No 1, Blackheath, UNITED KINGDOM
C-P Crompton Parkinson Ltd., Doncaster, Yorkshire, UNITED KINGDOM
C..F3 Government Caartridge Factory No 3, Blackpole, Worc, UNITED KINGDOM
D Dominion Cartridge Co., Brownsberg, Quebec, CANADA
DA Dominion Arsenal, Montreal, CANADA
DAC Dominion Arsenal, Quebec, CANADA
DAL Dominion Arsenal, Lindsay, Ontario, CANADA
DAQ Dominion Arsenal, Quebec, CANADA
DC Defense Industries, Brownsburgh, Quebec, CANADA
DC Dominion Cartridge Company, CANADA
DC CO Dominion Cartridge Company, CANADA
DF Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, INDIA
DI Defense Industies, Montreal, CANADA
DI Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, INDIA
DIL Defense Industies, Montreal, CANADA
DIV Defense Industies, Verdun, CANADA
Do Hirtenberg Patronenfabrik, Dordrecht, NETHERLANDS
Dominion Dominion Cartridge Co., Quebec, CANADA
DF Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, INDIA
DWM Deutsche Waffen Und Munitionsfabrik, Karlsruhe, GERMANY
E Eley Brothers, Edmonton, London, UNITED KINGDOM
Eatons Dominion Cartridge Co.(Made for Eatons Dept Store), Quebec, CANADA
EB Eley Brothers, Edmonton, London, UNITED KINGDOM
F Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
FC Federal Cartridge Co, Anoka, Minn UNITED STATES
FN Fabrique National d’Armes de Guerre, Herstal BELGIUM
FNM Fabrique National de Municoes e Armas Legeiras, Moscavide, PORTUGAL
FNT Fabrica Nacional de Espana, Palencia, SPAIN
FWL & Co. F.W. Lamplough & Co, CANADA
G Greenwood and Batley, Leeds, UNITED KINGDOM
GA Grenfell and Accies Ltd. Perry Barr, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
GB Greenwood and Batley, Leeds, UNITED KINGDOM
GBF Greenwood and Batley, Leeds, UNITED KINGDOM
G18F1 Government Cartridge Factory No 1, Blackheath, UNITED KINGDOM
G..F3 Government Caartridge Factory No 3, Blackpole, Worc, UNITED KINGDOM
GKB George Kynoch, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
GEVELOT Gevelot & Gaupittat Freres, Paris, FRANCE
Hornady Hornady UNITED STATES
HN Royal Ordinance Factory, Hirwaun, South Wales, UNITED KINGDOM
HSA Hingston Arms Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA
HXP Greek Powder and Cartridge Co., Athens, GREECE
ICI Imperial Chemicals Industries, UNITED KINGDOM
ICIANZ Imperial Chemicals Industries, NEW ZEALAND
IMPERIAL Canadian Industries Ltd, Montreal, CANADA
IMPERIAL Canadian Industires Ltd, Plattsburg, NY, UNITED STATES
IVI Industries Valcartier Industies, CANADA
J Brimingham Metal and Munitions Co Ltd, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
K Kynoch & Co., Witton, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
K Indian Government Ammunition Factory Kirkee, near Poona, INDIA
K2 Imperial Chemical Industries Kynoch Factory at Standish UNITED KINGDOM
K4 Imperial Chemical Industries Kynoch Factory at Yeading UNITED KINGDOM
K5 Imperial Chemical Industries Kynoch Factory at Kidderminster UNITED KINGDOM
KF Indian Government Ammunition Factory Kirkee, near Poona, INDIA
KH Indian Government Ordinance Factory, Khamaria, INDIA
KN Kings Norton Metal Co., Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
KYNOCH Kynoch & Co., Witton, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
L Lorenz Ammunition and Ordinance Co, Millwall London, UNITED KINGDOM
L Ludlow and Co, Wolverhampton, Staffs, UNITED KINGDOM
LAC Dominion Arsenal, Lindsay, Ontario, CANADA
L-E Remington UMC, Bridgeport Conn., UNITED STATES
M Brimingham Metal and Munitions Co Ltd, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
M Nobel Explosives Ltd., Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM
MAXIM Maxim Arms Co., London, UNITED KINGDOM
MEN Maschinefabrik Elisenhutte, WEST GERMANY
MEXICO Fabrica National de Munitions, Mexico City, MEXICO
MF Small Arms Ammunition Factory No 1, Footscray, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
MG Small Arms Ammunition Factory No2, Footscray, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
MH Small Arms Ammunition Factory No 3, Hendon, AUSTRALIA
MI Societe Meridionale d’Industrie, Robert Paulet & Cie, Marseille, FRANCE
MJ Small Arms Ammunition Factory No 4, Hendon, AUSTRALIA
MKE Makina ve Kimya Endusrisi, Kuruma, TURKEY
MQ Small Arms Ammunition Factory No 5, Rocklea, AUSTRALIA
MS Small Arms Ammunition Factory No 7, Salisbury, AUSTRALIA
MW Small Arms Ammunition Factory No 6, Welshpool, AUSTRALIA
N Brimingham Metal and Munitions Co Ltd, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
N Nobel’s Explosives Co Glasgow, UNITED KINGDOM
N Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, INDIA
NI Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, INDIA
nny Privi Partizan, Titovo Uzice, YUGOSLAVIA
NORMA Norma Projectilfabrik, Amotfors, SWEDEN
OFN Government Ordinance Factory, Lagos, NIGERIA
OK Indian Government Ordinance Factory, Khamaria, INDIA
P Peters Cartridge Co., Kings Mills, Ohio, UNITED STATES
PC Peters Cartridge Co., Kings Mills, Ohio, UNITED STATES
PMP Pretoria Metal Pressings(Pty) Ltd. Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA
POF Pakistan Ordinance Factory, Rawalpindi, PAKISTAN
PP Privi Partizan, Titovo Uzice, YUGOSLAVIA
PS Pirotechnico Militar de Seville, SPAIN
QA Quebec Arsenal, Quebec, CANADA
R Dominion Cartridge Co.(Made for Eatons Dept Store), Quebec, CANADA
RA Remington Arms Co., Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., UNITED STATES
RA Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker, Raufoss, NORWAY
RC Raleigh Cycle Co, Nottingham, UNITED KINGDOM
RG Royal Ordinance Factory, Radway Green, Cheshire, UNITED KINGDOM
RH Raleigh Cycle Co, Nottingham, UNITED KINGDOM
RL Royal Laboratory,, Woolwich Arsenal, Kent, UNITED KINGDOM
RNRA Rhodesia National Rifle Association
R-P Remington Arms Co, Bridgeport, Conn, UNITED STATES
RR Ross Rifle Co, Montreal, CANADA
RRCO Ross Rifle Co, Montreal, CANADA
RTS Richard Threlfall and Sons, UNITED KINGDOM
R..W Rudge Whitworth Ltd. Tyseley, UNITED KINGDOM
S Indian Government Ammunition Factory Kirkee,Southern Circuit, INDIA
S Pirotechnico Militar de Seville, SPAIN
SAM South African Mint, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA
SAAF Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
SBR Sellier & Belot, Riga, LATVIA
SFM Societe Francaise des Munitions, Issy-les-Moulineaux, FRANCE
SI Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, INDIA
SMI Societa Metallurgica Italliana, Campo Tizzoro, ITALY
SR Royal Ordinance Factory, Spennymoor, Durham, UNITED KINGDOM
ST Royal Ordinance Factory Steaton, UNITED KINGDOM
SWN Royal Ordinance Factory Swynnerton, UNITED KINGDOM
TH Royal Ordinance Factory Thorpe Arch, Boston Spa, UNITED KINGDOM
TM..B Pirotechnia de Bologna, ITALY
T. BLAND & SONS T. Bland & Sons, London, UNITED KINGDOM
TR Dominion Rubber and Munitions Trois Rivieres, Quebec, CANADA
U South African Mint, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA
U Remington UMC, Bridgeport Conn., UNITED STATES
US United States Cartridge Co, Lowell Mass., UNITED STATES
VE Cartoucherie de Valence, FRANCE
VPT Valtion Patruunatehdas, Lapua, FINLAND
W Winchester Repeating Arms Co. New Haven Conn. UNITED STATES
WCC Western Cartridge Co., East Alton, Ill. UNITED STATES
W-W Winchester Western Division of Olin Industires. Conn UNITED STATES
WRA Winchester Repeating Arms Co. New Haven Conn. UNITED STATES
ZV Zbrojovka Brno, Brno CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Colour Coding of .303 Ammunition

Bullet Type Colour of Tip Colour of annulus

Armour Piercing Green Green
Ball None Purple
Incendiary Blue Blue
Observing Black Black
Proof None Yellow
Tracer Short Range White Red
Tracer Dark Ignition Grey Red
Tracer Long Range Red Red

[GasMasksUK]

Extremely useful for pretty much anyone who has dug up or has .303 rounds Must have taken you quite a bit of time to type that lot up

Thanks for the info

Danny

[John Brandon]

Must have taken you quite a bit of time to type that lot up

Danny, I typed it up a few years ago instead of thumbing through my precious book, those were the day's when I had time on my hands

As long as it helps. Knowledge is power, as they say

[John Brandon]

A little more to add

Letter codes other than Manufacture’s Codes on .303 Headstamp
AA Pomeroy explosive Incendiary Mk 2 Bullet (circa 1917)
B Incendiary Bullet
C Cordite Propellant charge(pre 1912)
D Drill Round
E Smoke Bomb Projector
F Semi Armour Piercing
FG Semi Armour Piercing Tracer
G Tracer bullet
H Grenade Discharger
J Illuminating
K Brock explosive incendiary bullet (circa 1918)
L Blank
O Observation Bullet
P Practice Round

[bikerboyzx6r]

John, what does the /|\ mean between letters? i.e. R /|\ L

Cheers
Dan

[John Brandon]

It's the broad arrow mate.............. War Department

[bikerboyzx6r]

Appreciated

[zephyr4]

Very useful thanks John.

[zwerge]

Hi John,thanks for the list,I have a question for you.On the HS does not the letter C denote cordite? Because when I shake this round I can hear the powder inside,would this be a black powder round?

[85ronnies]

Zwerge i am not 100% but it maybe like strips of cordite if i remember right they look like lead from inside a pencil thats what i remember from taking one apart
cheers Ronnie