.303 Brit surplus. All dried up?

Are there any stocks left of DA ball in the Forces inventory at all? Saw lots of it fired in the 80s for DCRA matches.

Are they producing new Ball ammo for the Rangers, or just using up remaining stocks, if any, of what had been stored from 50s lots.

As for finding once fired brass, I can't think of a better place to start than economical priced new ball ammo such as S&B, and using this to get you started. Unless you shoot alot, 200 once fired by you, will last along time when resized for your rifle, and firing moderate loads.
You get to group your Rifle with the S&B, PRVI etc and use the data to base the effectiveness of your handloading against. As for picking up once fired, ive seen alot at ranges fired in "field condition" sporters, and that brass has zero firings left in it. Some old No 1s were sporterized with no QA and were in desperate need of a new bolt head. So be wary spending too much money on someone elses .303 British brass, unless they are experienced handloaders and can identify the condition of the used brass and life expectancy of same. Buy the new cheap Ball to get your own brass or buy new Brass to start.
 
you will all probably hate me since I just blew off 120 rounds of milsurp (some cases were - shall we say... less than stellar and probably should never have been shot - but oh well...they went bang... though some went click-....BANG LOL!)

I usually get it dropped off at my office when an elderly patient passes away with a note saying "Doc, can you dispose of this old ammo?"

To which I obligingly do so saying a small prayer between rounds for the patient (and maybe the case integrity!)

Dr.Oz
 
i had reloaded a couple of 180 grain spitzer spear tips and they shot great. but just wont fire my 85 grain hallow point. do want to get into playing around with weight sizes. had some rounds that were ball point 180 used by the rangers in nfld got 3 boxes for 30 bucks.
and now have a trunk for of brass almost time for reloading soon. biggest kicker i went to the gun shop and had a us #4 mk1 full wood good condition and a #3 mk1 full wood same condition wish i had the cash would have bought both
 
RememberTheSomme said:
Are they producing new Ball ammo for the Rangers, or just using up remaining stocks, if any, of what had been stored from 50s lots.
Click to expand...

Canadian Ranger 303 is new production lots based on the standing contract.

Bear in mind when the 7.62 NCRR (New Canadian Ranger Rifle - the interim acronym until the final rifle is chosen) is delivered in the 2014-2016 timeframe there will be no further need for CF 303.
 
Once fired IVI brass is quite common (in my neighbourhood) but the best brass I've found is the PRVI stuff, try to find a pre-order of loaded ammo and you'll have a good start. Also the IVI once fired brass tends to show up at gun shows quite regularly - do not buy loaded IVI in the brown boxes it's considered stolen. The cello bagged Winchester stuff (50 bucks for 50 cases) isn't just rediculously expensive, it's crap - skip it.
 
With 303s, it is best to fire form the cases in your rifle and neck size only for reloading. After a number of re loadings, you will have to full length re size. I keep the 303 brass from my different rifles separate as they all have different throat dimensions. Sticking with neck sizing when possible really prolongs the case life.
This week I am going to delve into paper patching cast bullets in my 303s. This should drop my reloading expenses down to powder, primers and the cases when they wear out.
 
A buddy just 'found' a couple dozen rounds of milsurp; and I was wondering if someone can help id them...

most are stamped 1945 DI Z.

but the bullet itself, has a 3/16" tip, that looks like it was added on after the fact. or at the least, that you can pull it off/out.

does this make sense? what are these rounds
 
Sniper-T said:
A buddy just 'found' a couple dozen rounds of milsurp; and I was wondering if someone can help id them...

most are stamped 1945 DI Z.

but the bullet itself, has a 3/16" tip, that looks like it was added on after the fact. or at the least, that you can pull it off/out.

does this make sense? what are these rounds
Click to expand...

DI is "Dominion Industries", a canadian manufacturer the Z is the mark for nitrocellulose propellant (non corrosive) as the standard at the time was the corrosive cordite propellant. and the 1945 is obviously the date of manufacture.

The tip you describe sounds like makeshift hunting ammo. After the war several companies bought loads of surplus ammo and simply modified the bullet by trimming the copper jacket from the tip and re-forming the exposed lead core to make soft point ammo. this ammo is considered very unsafe to shoot as the base of a FMJ bullet is exposed, and by trimming the tip you basically have a copper tube filed with lead. fireing can lead to the lead core melting out of the tube and some things that could happen is severe fouling and the copper tube/jacket stuck in the bore.

However the DI ammo is usually considered very good ammo, reloadable boxxer primed brass and fairly good consistency. Your friend would be best to pull the bullet and top it off with a new one.
 
enefgee said:
Once fired IVI brass is quite common (in my neighbourhood) but the best brass I've found is the PRVI stuff, try to find a pre-order of loaded ammo and you'll have a good start. Also the IVI once fired brass tends to show up at gun shows quite regularly - do not buy loaded IVI in the brown boxes it's considered stolen. The cello bagged Winchester stuff (50 bucks for 50 cases) isn't just rediculously expensive, it's crap - skip it.
Click to expand...

Two questions...can you elaborate on the loaded IVI ammo, and are you talking about new Winchester brass?

I just loaded 100 new Winchester cases with Hornady 174FMJs and 43gr of
RL15. I'll be out to try them out either this weekend or next in my No. 4.
 
4b1t said:
Canadian Ranger 303 is new production lots based on the standing contract.

Bear in mind when the 7.62 NCRR (New Canadian Ranger Rifle - the interim acronym until the final rifle is chosen) is delivered in the 2014-2016 timeframe there will be no further need for CF 303.
Click to expand...

yup what he said......Join the Canadian Rangers and the Queen will issue you 200 rounds a year......
 
Chuckbuster said:
Two questions...can you elaborate on the loaded IVI ammo, and are you talking about new Winchester brass?

I just loaded 100 new Winchester cases with Hornady 174FMJs and 43gr of
RL15. I'll be out to try them out either this weekend or next in my No. 4.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat, but not as deep. 20 Winchester cases with Hornady 174 RNSP and various amounts of Varget.

I didn't pay $50 for the bag though - it was $32. At $50 for 50, I'd probably just spend the extra $.25-$.50 per case and get the ones that go bang.;)
 
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