I managed to get about 68 rounds, 20 dated from 1938 and 48 dated from 1940, all Canadian manufacture, from one of the HACSBC shows a few months back. The guy had about fifteen 20-round paper wrapped packets available. I'm not sure if you'd still be able to get them.
303 milsurp amo
- Thread starter al100
- Start date
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Lets put to rest one myth. Mk8z ammo is NOT harder on rifle barrels, in fact it is cordite that is more detrimental because it burns hotter. Mk8z is only 100fps faster than Mk7. The difference between the two is the BULLET which is a boat tail, giving more range because of it's design. Mk8z while primarily designed for the Vickers, was also authorized for rifles and the Bren gun when less muzzle flash was desireable.
Now the principal problem is that cordite caused throat erosion which a boat tail does not take kindly to, resulting in reduced accuracy in barrels that had been extensively used with cordite. (a new barrel would not have that problem) You can change a machine gun barrel in less than a minute, something not possible with a rifle. In fact using Mk8z in a Vickers did require a new barrel or one not previously used with cordite.
Now the principal problem is that cordite caused throat erosion which a boat tail does not take kindly to, resulting in reduced accuracy in barrels that had been extensively used with cordite. (a new barrel would not have that problem) You can change a machine gun barrel in less than a minute, something not possible with a rifle. In fact using Mk8z in a Vickers did require a new barrel or one not previously used with cordite.
Years back, there was a load of FNB .303 available from Marstar. I loaded up on it at the time, and I've still got about 400 rnds. I've heard good and bad about it, but I never had any negative incidents when I was shooting it. I don't know if anyone else is familiar with it, or bought some when it was around. It came in a seriously heavy duty ammo box, to which I have attached a shackle and now serves as a well sealed and kick-ass ammo storage box.
John Sukey, please quote your source regarding Commonwealth WW2 ammunition. I quoted exactly what was in the Text Book of Ammunition: Small Arms Ammunition 1944 Small Arms Ammunition. I agree current Cdn Mk 8 or 8z is not a problem.
The IVI that i have shows the lot number as IVI04F16-03. any idea if this is 2003 or 2004?
PFO
I've still got some of that too, no issues and quite accurate.
fat tony
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Sometimes I wish the government would subsidize a factory to make .303 ammo for the CANADIAN market with incidental sales to other countries. I guess that's just a lazy pipe dream, hell weren't the Lieberals just a few years ago melting as many #4's as they could get their hands on? 
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
heh.... i just bought a 48rnd box (un-opend) from a gun shop today for under $40, MKVII ball headstamp say's D.A.C 45 Mk7... thats cheaper then CT's gray box and more accurate then Ingman.... probably should have bought the other box they had.... hmmmm....
Yup, go back and get the other one - DA 45 will be excellent ammunition
