Powder in 1950 .303 British cartridge

[GunsNotPuns]

Just curious if anyone knows what gun powder was used in Canadian military .303 British ammunition produced in 1950. I'm sure it's nitro cellulose but other than that I can't seem to find anything reasonably specific...or vague, for that matter.

Pulled apart a round today out of curiosity and what you see in the picture was in there.

 

[antiqueguy]

That’s cordite and I doubt it’s Canadian manufactured most Canadian ball didn’t use cordite after ww2 I thought anyway.

 

[GunsNotPuns]

Interesting, I was under the impression they moved from cordite by 1950. The head stamp was DA so I assume it's Canadian.

 

[Geoman]

Pretty sure it’s cordite. Pulled a few rounds apart when young and foolish lol!

 

[tiriaq]

DA 50 was cordite loaded with the copper coloured .250" diameter Berdan primer. Assume corrosive.

 

[partial]

that's what they call spaghetti powder

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

I think the cordite was dropped into the case then the neck closed in, otherwise gravity wouldn't get a full charge down there.

 

[tiriaq]

Yes. Cordite was inserted in the straight case, then the case was tapered and neck and shoulder formed.

 

[DiMP]

Danger Spaghetti! Some can get "spicier" over time

 

[GunsNotPuns]

Yes. Cordite was inserted in the straight case, then the case was tapered and neck and shoulder formed.

That doesn't surprise me -- it was a minor hassle getting the powder back into the case when I rebuilt the round.

 

[GunsNotPuns]

Another question while I have you cats on the line: Were the bullets used copper coated lead core?

I've been told that the military didn't use them in their .303 British loads but these are definitely what they are.

 

[antiqueguy]

Another question while I have you cats on the line: Were the bullets used copper coated lead core?

I've been told that the military didn't use them in their .303 British loads but these are definitely what they are.

Most are cupronickel. If it’s mk7 ball it will have a jacket the nose core will have wood pulp/paper pulp/aluminum and the rest will be a lead core.

 

[Potashminer]

Might want to read up about that cupro-nickel jacket fouling - is NOT like removing "normal" bullet jacket fouling.

 

[GunsNotPuns]

Most are cupronickel. If it’s mk7 ball it will have a jacket the nose core will have wood pulp/paper pulp/aluminum and the rest will be a lead core.

Yes, it is in fact Mk 7.

 

[antiqueguy]

Yes, it is in fact Mk 7.

They did that to destabilize the projectile after it enters the intended target It should in theory tumble in said target. They made them bc The Hague convention of 1899 that banned expanding bullets in warfare.

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

They did that to destabilize the projectile after it enters the intended target It should in theory tumble in said target. They made them bc The Hague convention of 1899 that banned expanding bullets in warfare.

Completely incorrect.

 

[tiriaq]

If the bullet looks silver coloured, it is likely cupronickel. Cupronickel metallic fouling is particularly nasty when compared with copper jacketed bullets.
If a bullet is copper coloured, try a magnet. If the magnet sticks, the jacket is likely copper clad mild steel. If it doesn't stick, likely guilding metal.

 

[antiqueguy]

Completely incorrect.

How so?

 

[Craig0ry]

Danger Spaghetti! Some can get "spicier" over time

I've heard this but never seen a source or evidence of the statement.

 

[steelgray]

Take your cordite and put it on an anvil and hit it with a hammer. Not to much though because it explodes when struck. I wonder if people could repurpose cordite to restore fired primers ....

Definitely a good project for someone else to try.