.303 surplus ammo questions for use in my Enfield and my Ross

[rodauto]

I just received a full wood No4 MK1 and a Ross III this week from a couple of great CGN members.
Decided to check out what I had left of the surplus ammo I had bought for my No1 MK3 many years ago.
2 boxes from POF date 1968 so I expect they are not corrosive? The strange thing to me is the primers are rounded on these, does that mean berdan primed if they come from Pakistan?
1 box that says 1950 date stamp, has a C with an arrow pointing up inside of it and the letters C.I.A. under the big C, don't want to open it up if it has some collector value.
1 box says 7,7 x 56R Ball R1M has 150 stamped on it so likely 150 grain bullet? also has a 12/81 Z stamped also, would that be manufacture date of Dec. 1981?

My question is are these all non corrosive, and should I shoot them or keep them as collectors items? Thanks.

Rodney

 

[RRCo.]

Your 1950 box may be match ammo. Does it have nickel plated primers?

Why worry about corrosive, just "boil out" the barrel after.

 

[smellie]

Generally speaking, if the stuff has that BIG primer, it will be corrosive AND mercuric because it will be a copy of the old British primer.

The stuff with regular-sized primers is generally noncorrosive' given that it is made post-1950.

Canadian .303 with the big primer was corrosive but the wartime stuff with the DI headstamp and the regular-sized primer was all Boxer-primed, noncorrosive, nonmercuric AND the nicest reloading brass you will find anywhere. It also headspaces perfectly.

TYPE of primer is another issue: Boxer or Berdan. Boxer primers are .175" and .210", Berdan primers are .177", .217" and, for the .303, .251"..... and there are also the special-size Italian .204" and Swedish .199" Berdans.

The whole thing is like a cat's breakfast: you know what it's supposed to be but you aren't quite sure if it IS!

 

[vinver]

Collector Value ammo? I bought 3 boxes at a recent gunshow, 48 to a box, for $100. 1943 dated. That's a lot cheaper than commercial prices, for modern ammo. Is it any good for firing after 70 years? What makes 303 ammo collectible?

 

[rodauto]

Thanks Guys,
I think I will just shoot it and find out which ones are reloadable, will keep the box from 1950 until last though. Not sure what color the primers are as the box is still sealed.

 

[purple]

The last box is South African made ball, also Berdan primed. It was on the market until 12 yrs ago or so. Treat all surplus .303 ammo as corrosive primed and clean with water to dissolve primer residue/salts from the barrel immediately after shooting. The bolt face should be cleaned with water as well. Handloading will bring out the best in any rifle and will eliminate any concerns about barrel damage from corrosive priming.

 

[TonyE]

Collector Value ammo? I bought 3 boxes at a recent gunshow, 48 to a box, for $100. 1943 dated. That's a lot cheaper than commercial prices, for modern ammo. Is it any good for firing after 70 years? What makes 303 ammo collectible?

Well, apart from the heritage aspects, it is the sheer variety of .303 inch ammo that is so interesting. There were approximately 135 different marks of .303 inch approved, including Local Patterns and then there were all the different manufacturers, different dates ....

If one collected all the different dates then a reasonable .303 collection would be perhaps 7,500 rounds. I only collect first and last dates for each type so my collection is restricted to just over 1,000 rounds.

As to value, it ranges from virtually nothing to numbers that will astound you. I was present when a particular round changed hands for £3,500, say $5,300!

that's why people collect .303 inch ammo!

Cheers
TonyE

 

[sunray]

"...are these all non corrosive..." You should assume that the ammo is corrosive and clean accordingly. It's not a big deal. Just flush the with hot water then clean as per normal. One kettle full will do.