1942 DAC MKvii .303 Safe?

kawicrash

kawicrash

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I have about 300 rounds of 1942 DAC MKVII .303 ammo that I am wondering about shooting.
There are actually a couple different kinds in a box my old gunsmith gave me about 20-25 years ago. Him: "You got a 303, right?" Me: "ya" Him: "here you go, have fun"
Anyway, I was wondering about using it. It all looks in excellent condition, but I know some is berdan/cordite ( I don't know how they coaxed all those little strands in there..)
Some is boxer/powder has a Z on headstamp.
Some have the copper coloured bullet that has a ring around that you can catch with your fingernail, and a black tip??
Are the cordite rounds super-corrosive? Are the black-tipped bullets with the ring something? I imagine even the boxer/powder rounds will be corrosive primers.
Opinions?
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Yours is Canadian made ammo.
It is the primer CHEMICAL that is or isnt corrosive, NOT the TYPE (Berdan vs. Boxer)
Canadian ammo is generally not corrosive.


Cordite propellent burns a bit hotter, so is a bit more EROSIVE, but is not corrosive in the usual sense.
And the Z in the headstamp signifies nitrocellulose powder.
They got the sticks into the case by necking the case after it was charged.

HTH
 
The copper coloured bullet in your second picture looks like a commercial hunting bullet. If your other ones have a black tip with a visible ring under the coloured portion they are probably plastic tips and are Imperial Sabre tips. It was common, post war, to reload military cases with hunting bullets as FMJ is lousy for killing game.

Canada/Uk used black as a bullet tip colour code for observing rounds but it will also have a black primer annulus and have the letter 'O' in the head stamp.
 
kawicrash said:
I have about 300 rounds of 1942 DAC MKVII .303 ammo that I am wondering about shooting.
There are actually a couple different kinds in a box my old gunsmith gave me about 20-25 years ago. Him: "You got a 303, right?" Me: "ya" Him: "here you go, have fun"
Anyway, I was wondering about using it. It all looks in excellent condition, but I know some is berdan/cordite ( I don't know how they coaxed all those little strands in there..)
Some is boxer/powder has a Z on headstamp.
Some have the copper coloured bullet that has a ring around that you can catch with your fingernail, and a black tip??
Are the cordite rounds super-corrosive? Are the black-tipped bullets with the ring something? I imagine even the boxer/powder rounds will be corrosive primers.
Opinions?
...
Click to expand...

You've got 300 rounds - that is a good stash of good ammo. Shoot it!
 
The ammo with the DA head stamp is corrosive. Clean barrel by pouring hot water through it, dry, then clean as normal.
 
37patt said:
The copper coloured bullet in your second picture looks like a commercial hunting bullet. If your other ones have a black tip with a visible ring under the coloured portion they are probably plastic tips and are Imperial Sabre tips. It was common, post war, to reload military cases with hunting bullets as FMJ is lousy for killing game.

Canada/Uk used black as a bullet tip colour code for observing rounds but it will also have a black primer annulus and have the letter 'O' in the head stamp.
Click to expand...
It does look like a ballistic tip, but it seems to be all one piece, it's almost like a small cannelure. I'll pull one and have a look.
They are the least common of the stash.
 
The value for a collector would be in an unopened box with a loose example so treasure hunters aren't tempted to break the paper seals.

If it was mine, I'd shoot it with a period correct LB No.4 MkI* rifle, and not worry about collector's status. It is not as rare as you might think.
 
They are not boxed, some loose and some are in stripper clips in bandoliers.
I'll keep a couple of each variety as souvenirs.
maple_leaf_eh said:
The value for a collector would be in an unopened box with a loose example so treasure hunters aren't tempted to break the paper seals.

If it was mine, I'd shoot it with a period correct LB No.4 MkI* rifle, and not worry about collector's status. It is not as rare as you might think.
Click to expand...
 
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