Wanted: Reloadable Canadian War Dated .303 Brass

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by kajn65

However, ther are a couple of points I neglected to mention in my previous post on the subject. So it is probably best that I mention them now before progressing any further, as they do hold quite heavily to why I'm asking for my .303 casings to be in a certain condition.

...... Inert .303 British Ammuntion, with either Spent or Dummy Primers intact, Service Mk7 or Mk8 Bullets installed....... They look like Live Ammuntion except they don't have the feel (weight) of such. The same also holds true to authentic WW2 ammuntion that are describing us to make.

It seems that I'm the only one in my group who is interested in doing such a thing. Hence, my specific request(s).

Keyan

I don't think there is a human alive who can feel the weight of an assembled cartridge and determine whether or not if it contains 39gns of propellant! If this is your safety method for ensuring you do not mix live and dummy ammunition, it has a serious potential for error.

Your request was also quite specific regarding Boxer primers. Why is that? While Berdan primer cases can be reloaded, it is a much more time consuming process, and as such Berdan cases lend themselves much more readily to making dummy cases. Also, Boxer cases tend to have a higher value due to their higher utility with modern reloaders. You could possibly get as many Berdan cases as you like for free at a Service Rifle shoot, while the Boxer cases will be jealously hoarded. The vast majority of WW2 .303 was Berdan primed, so that will be your most common find.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

...

Your request was also quite specific regarding Boxer primers. Why is that? While Berdan primer cases can be reloaded, it is a much more time consuming process, and as such Berdan cases lend themselves much more readily to making dummy cases. Also, Boxer cases tend to have a higher value due to their higher utility with modern reloaders. You could possibly get as many Berdan cases as you like for free at a Service Rifle shoot, while the Boxer cases will be jealously hoarded. The vast majority of WW2 .303 was Berdan primed, so that will be your most common find.

That is how I turn my 'fulls' into 'empties'. And yes, Canadian nitrocellulose DIZ ammo is still competitive in the matches that I shoot. I have probably 6 boxes of 48 rounds of late WWII/Korea vintage ball. Except for some new Privi Partisan 190-odd gr soft points, that is all I buy. I haven't seen much foreign surplus wartime ammo here.

Whenever I get my act together (ie a better powder measure, a tumbler and a scales I can trust) I'll get around to reloading some of the half-dozen cartridge case types I've squirrelled away. Since I have a number of No.4 rifles, I will shoot what I've got.

BTW, I don't know where you're going to find loose nickle plated ball bullets.

[Radek]

Any time ago I have bought original 303 box. Now I have made my own repro boxes. (the original one is with the black tipe)
I have bought fired ww2 cases and made repro bullets. The bullets are made from Sn (tin).
I thing looks great for desplay.

[Radek]

Could I ask how was stored the ammo in this wooden boxes? Separately or in boxex?

[rob love]

The box marked 7.62 would have had it's ammunition on charger clips and in bandoleers, as indicated by the marking on the side of the box. I can't make out the other box's markings, but generally the ammo in the wooden box would have been either on clips in bandoleers, or in smaller boxes of 48 (or other similar smaller quantities) or else on cloth belts.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Radek

Could I ask how was stored the ammo in this wooden boxes? Separately or in boxex?

Radek, these are not .303 ammunition boxes, but other calibres. The plywood box itself is called a H51 (that should be stamped into the woodwork somewhere), and was used for a wide variety of Small Arms Ammunition.

The first box is for 7.62mm NATO ammn (aka .308 Win, 7.62x51). The rounds were held 5 to a Charger, with 10 chargers in a Bandolier (Written on sides, with pictogram: 5 in Chgr Mk3, in Bdlr Mk3). 7 of these Bandoliers (total of 350 rds) were contained in a soldered tin liner inside. I will post some pics in daylight.

The second box is for 9mm NATO (aka Luger, Parabellum, 9x21). 9mm rounds came in cartons of 20rds, 35rds or 50rds. The 20 and 50rd cartons were WW2 sizes in which the rounds were loose within the carton, while postwar standardised on the 35rd carton which contained card dividers between rounds. This box of yours contained 25 cartons of 35rds for a total of 875 rounds, again in a soldered tin liner.

[kajn65]

Hi Terry,

Have found out how many of your DIZ Boxer primers cases you have available for me to purchase?

I don't have to purchase a batch of minimum of 150 cases. I'd be willing to go as low as a batch of 50 such cases if necessary. If you have more available that would be great.

I'd send you a PM if I knew how. I'm sort of new to the Forum thing, let alone the internet. Lol.

Rgs...

Keyan

[kajn65]

Hi Rob,

I was pretty lucky to get that particular type of round for that price. The dealer I bought it from only had the one available and wanted to get rid of it pretty quick. He was more interested in collecting RCMP related equipment, firearms, etc.

Just to make sure we're talking about the same type of round. The one round that I have has a chrome plated case that is indented on opposite sides and is painted red in the recess. Where the primer is suppose to be, it is also painted red. The bullet is a copper-coated FMJ. I assume its a Service Issue Mk7 Bullet. I'd give the head stamp info but I'm at work and the round is purposefully left there. Ammo of any type is frowned upon to bring to work (I work for an airline.). Is this the same type of round that you have?

I'm looking for 10-15 rounds if possible. I'd like to have ten rounds in Charger Clips and a few loose for display purposes. Just let me know how much per round you're asking.

Thanks.

Rgs...

Keyan