303 ammo
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jonnyboy1014
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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You lucky....
Early 1990's the .303 Bren Ammo Fiasco. I remember it well.
DCRA had IVI 1992 .303 ammo. It was made at their factory, beside the tracks, down from la range. The powder ingrediants was a more powerful charge for the old Bren guns. So I had been told later on.
Shooting a 1950 Long Branch rifle I noticed much more recoil, and smoke, while shooting those rounds. After firing the brass had primers separating. And several of my primers had perferations, could see right through the cases and remainder of primer looked like an x. The spent cases I kept but recently lost.
Question, is all Bren .303 ammo hot loaded? Or just that IVI lot?
DCRA had IVI 1992 .303 ammo. It was made at their factory, beside the tracks, down from la range. The powder ingrediants was a more powerful charge for the old Bren guns. So I had been told later on.
Shooting a 1950 Long Branch rifle I noticed much more recoil, and smoke, while shooting those rounds. After firing the brass had primers separating. And several of my primers had perferations, could see right through the cases and remainder of primer looked like an x. The spent cases I kept but recently lost.
Question, is all Bren .303 ammo hot loaded? Or just that IVI lot?
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No. Brens were intended to use standard Mk. 7/7Z ammunition. With anything else, sight calibrations would have been off. Were Brens even still issue in '92?
When did IVI start making .303 ammunition for the Canadian Rangers? It was a non-standard loading, but not over pressure.
Sounds as if that '92 batch was an off-spec lot.
When did IVI start making .303 ammunition for the Canadian Rangers? It was a non-standard loading, but not over pressure.
Sounds as if that '92 batch was an off-spec lot.
Essentially it's loaded with a boat tailed bullet, generally not as suited to the rifle as to the MG as it will disperse over long ranges, which is a plus for a machine gun. If you're shooting under 400 yards it shouldn't be much different than Mark 8z. Yes, it's corrosive, most ammunition made for issue in 303 was. I have some of that and it shoots well at 100-200 yards, slightly better than RG from the same period.
I recently purchased a case of IVI ammo.Is this the same 1992 batch of ranger ammo you guys are referring to?
Damn - I hope you bought a lottery ticket the same day!
There is a write up in The Canadian Marksman magazine 1993, if I recall. One DCRA shooter had #4 bolt lug damaged or off while using this ammo. After investigation seemed the powder looked, weighed similar to others in 30 cals, but composition was different. Mk VII not MkVIII.
Anyway, just a little piece of history.
Anyway, just a little piece of history.
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