Some 303 Ammo showing up

[Woodman in MO]

I am starting to see some 'new' surplus ammo in 303 showing up. It's coming loose in wooden crates and everything I have seen is WWII vintage British made and headstamped
CP 42 VII
K 42 VII

CP = Crompton Parkinson Ltd, Guiseley, Yorkshire
K = Kynoch & Co, Witton, Birmingham

VII = Mark 7 Ball ammo (the type of ammo)

I haven't had a problem with any of the few I have shot. The gunstore by me got about 3000 rounds and is selling it at $4 for 20 but I may go see what he will take for a case..

[okie shooter]

Is that stuff going to be corrosive? I am guessing so but you never know. I have some from WWI that when I got my enfield was told it should work in the rifle, but I just keep it around for collectablity. I havent shot my enfield in the fifteen years or so I haev it.

[KnobCreek]

Well, if they do show up more and more, hopefully I'll be able to afford some and finally shoot my Enfield.

[omerta123]

no kidding shooting some remington or federal gets a little pricey

[k98k792]

Find out and Pm me!

[nevada]

I got a can from Classic Arms about a year ago, all 40s stuff. It has all shot so far, but it hesitates just a 1/2 second before going boom. Very interesting! They use cordite strands instead of powder. I treat it as corrosive.

[mrbgt]

i remember reading that cordite burns extremely hot and accelerates barrel wear ,anyone have any 1st hand experience

[turbothis]

looks kinda scary

[Woodman in MO]

Well a few million British Soldiers used it and most of the Enfields I have owned still had pretty good barrels.

[Schultz]

I got a can from Classic Arms about a year ago, all 40s stuff. It has all shot so far, but it hesitates just a 1/2 second before going boom. .

Before you shoot it let it sit in the sun for a few minutes. Oddly enough it works a little bit but theres no guarantee with some of them. I reload mine but i have a #1 i use for the surp stuff.


i remember reading that cordite burns extremely hot and accelerates barrel wear ,anyone have any 1st hand experience

I've heard that before but the barrel wouldn't wear hardly at all in the lifetime it's with you so long as you clean it good go ahead and shoot it.

[Perro]

is any of it boxer primed??

me and a buddy were thinking of ordering the mixed UK, and some of the POF

[weasel_master]

If it is boxer I'd be tempted to pick some up for vickers reloading.

[Woodman in MO]

Boxer? I doubt it...but I'll double check.

[okie shooter]

I got a can from Classic Arms about a year ago, all 40s stuff. It has all shot so far, but it hesitates just a 1/2 second before going boom. Very interesting! They use cordite strands instead of powder. I treat it as corrosive.

Cordite is still just a gun powder(double based) in long grains, its just gun cotton(or nitrocellulose) and nitroglycerin. I imagine the burning properties of being hot are effected by the grain size(surface area) as much as compositions. There are some variants of the stuff I read that was more unstable in storage but was made due to the shortages during WWII)

[g3shooter1]

I got a can from Classic Arms about a year ago, all 40s stuff. It has all shot so far, but it hesitates just a 1/2 second before going boom. Very interesting! They use cordite strands instead of powder. I treat it as corrosive.

I wonder why they put the wood plug in there?

[Optimus Prime]

It's actually cardboard... from what I gather they put the cordite in the case before necking it down and the cardboard held it in place while the cartride was necked and the bullet seated.

[Jacobite]

I just reload for my Enfield. I bought 100 cases plus picked up about 30 or so here and there. Of course I reload for all my rifles includeing my M1 Garands and AR15 so it was just natural.

[Seattlefungus]

Century is selling .303 (got a dealer fax)

AM965 Pakistani .303 Ball Ammo (Surplus) Berdan Primed / Corrosive 32rd/box 768rd/case $175.00/case