WWII Ammo and earlier. 303 and ?

[Danger]

Hey guys.
Had these old rounds sitting in a draw.
I have fired about 50-60 rounds of this stuff through my 1940 303, but have stopped because I want to keep them.
I don't know anything about these different types and would love any info
anyone can tell me about them.
Other .50cal bullets I got from a B-17 bomber crash site in the Pacific.

[zwerge]

Try this website.....Headstamps of the .303 British Calibre Service Ammunition Round

[Martin Bull]

The .303s with rounded, nickel bullets and 'domed' primers are very old - possibly pre-WW1. I certainly wouldn't try firing them.....

[Steve T]

Hi Danger

The link Zwerge has put up is a very good site and will give you all the info you need.

A nice selection of 303s. I particularly like the grenade blanks.......very unusual and a great piece of history.

If you wish to know more about headstamps, can I suggest you look here;

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/ordin...adstamps-5718/

Many of your rounds appear to be WW2 or earlier, with the rounded heads ones being WW1 and earlier, (although I have seen some WW2 carts with rounded bullets and also 'sport' rounds produced with the same type of bullet. The headstamp will tell you where they're from ). The digits on the base denote the year of manufacture and I note you have some from the 50s and 60s. Those also carry the number '7' which I presume denotes Mk VII cartridge. Your 50 cals are also a nice find. The link above will help you ID them.

Hope that helps.

Steve T

[Danger]

Thanks guys.
I will look at the website tonight.
The 50 cal rounds really got my heart racing when I saw them.
The gernade ammo is unopened and will stay that way.
Have a few massive brass shells at Mums that we have always used to keep the doors open when its windy.
Had them since I was a kid.
Might put them on.

[Danger]

A real mix bag, but couldn't find the 1928 rounds maker.

[Steve T]

A real mix bag, but couldn't find the 1928 rounds maker.

RL = Royal Laboratory,, Woolwich Arsenal, Kent, UNITED KINGDOM, (the mark between the code letters is the War Department arrow)
1928 = Year of manufacture
G = Tracer
I = Mark I cartridge



Steve T

[Danger]

Thanks Steve.
Tracer aye? Made of Mg?
Wish I knew what they are by just looking at them.
Most just say year and mk 6-7.
How can I find out?

[Steve T]

Danger

The annulus is normally coloured if they are anything other than ball, along with the tip of the projectile. Here is a list of the colours.

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



I can see lots of black annuli and a couple of reds. Please also note that the annulus wasn't always coloured for ball rounds.

Steve T

[Danger]

Wow Steve!!
I always wondered about that.
If my wife wasn't asleep and prone to yelling, I would get all my ammo out and see them with new eyes.
Cheers mate.