.303 Surplus. Why Cant Canadians Get This Stuff?

Back when the yanks were OK with private exports of ammo, I got a crate of Greek made .303 ammo.
Headstamp is HXP, and it is beautiful stuff, probably the best surplus .303 I have seen.
I wish I bought a LOT more of it!

The Greek surplus I had was HXP stamped aswell, '74 manufacture. Definitely not WWII surplus.
Good, thick brass for reloading aswell.
 
Looks like it is sold out for the most part in the U.S. now anyway ....

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-A13480X

What a find! Original .303 British ammunition stored for many years in a military bunker in Greece. This is real military ammunition, not commercial loads, it is so accurate and loaded to Military specifications. Exact tolerances are required and that is exactly what this .303 British ammunition delivers.

Founded in 1874, Pyrkal, known as "Greek Powder and Cartridge Company", is one of the oldest Defense Industries in Greece. As the main producer of ammunition and explosives in the country, they have been a crucial supplier during all the military conflicts, and historically a well established exporter to five continents.

This is true Military Spec MK7Z Spitzer .303 British! This ammo has a 174 grain Full Metal Jacket bullet, brass cased, boxer primed, non-corrosive, and is reloadable. The Greek HXP (HXP is the headstamp code for the Greek Powder and Cartridge Company of Athens) .303 British is one of the most sought after surplus ammunition still available. This is the ammo you need if you shoot a Lee-Enfield, Lee-Metford, or a Martini-Enfield rifle.

As with any surplus ammunition, each and every round should be carefully inspected before use and we recommend cleaning your weapon.

This super deal is very limited and when this ammunition is gone, there will be no more. Buy now and take advantage of this great deal on grade A ammunition.

Caliber: .303 British
Bullet: MK7Z Spitzer
Grain Weight: 174
Muzzle Velocity: 2440 fps
Boxer Primed
Reloadable
480 Round bulk case packed in 48 round Boxes

This is original military ammunition that is 35 plus years old. The brass and bullets may have tarnish, surface corrosion, pitting, and discoloration as you would expect with ammunition that has been stored in a Greece bunker. We recommend you clean your weapon after use.

Not Returnable or Refundable in any part or portion, all sales are final.
 
It's kind of a fantasy to imagine that there would be .303 ammo readily available.

WWII ended in 1945 remember? Yes, the LE attended Korea but Canada switched to the FN in 1955 so the availability of surplus .303 has somewhat diminished in the 60 years since.

I'm surprised that folks buy LE rifles and then are shocked to discover they can't find cheap ammunition.
 
When the Rangers get their replacement rifles maybe we could get their leftovers? (sarcasm implied). The folks that produce the ammo could branch out into the commercial/public market on both sides of the border? Both ball and softpoint are listed in their website.
http://ww w.gd-otscanada.com/html/en/products/ammunition-small.php
 
It's kind of a fantasy to imagine that there would be .303 ammo readily available.

WWII ended in 1945 remember? Yes, the LE attended Korea but Canada switched to the FN in 1955 so the availability of surplus .303 has somewhat diminished in the 60 years since.

I'm surprised that folks buy LE rifles and then are shocked to discover they can't find cheap ammunition.

I'd rather pay for .303 then pay big bucks for some of the "New Calibers".
 
There are probably a half million .303 rifles in canada.Surplus ammo should sell like hot cakes.
It did, that's why there's none left.

When the Rangers get their replacement rifles maybe we could get their leftovers? (sarcasm implied).
I've got quite a few modern .303 cases stamped "IVI" on them. Rangers "loosing" ammo is quite common. Mine is all range brass; no idea who used it but I'm pretty sure Canadian Rangers don't train at a Civilian range in Ottawa.

The folks that produce the ammo could branch out into the commercial/public market on both sides of the border? Both ball and softpoint are listed in their website.
If it was easy/cheap enough to turn a profit, I'm sure they would be selling it on the civilian market already. I have no doubts that they have their reasons not to (most likely legal headaches/not worth it financially).
The soft points could be for the Rangers as well since their rifles serve many purposes (animal defence, foraging, fighting the Russians, etc.)
 
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When the Rangers get their replacement rifles maybe we could get their leftovers? (sarcasm implied). The folks that produce the ammo could branch out into the commercial/public market on both sides of the border? Both ball and softpoint are listed in their website.
http://ww w.gd-otscanada.com/html/en/products/ammunition-small.php


I wonder if their tooling and equipment is up for sale.
 
Back when the yanks were OK with private exports of ammo, I got a crate of Greek made .303 ammo.
Headstamp is HXP, and it is beautiful stuff, probably the best surplus .303 I have seen.
I wish I bought a LOT more of it!

i bought a bunch of that HXP too back in the early `90s wish i bought more, remember it being dirt cheap, and my No 5 loves it. i have 10 rds left of it. Rangers use IVI, and i have seen casings dated as late as `86. last i heard from the supply chain for the Rangers was that all the No4s were being smelted, but nothing about the ammo.
 
Yeah interesting as I am to get one in time from a family member. Never crossed my mind that ammo would be short given the number of rifles. All hail CDN government, again, and again, and again.
 
Yeah interesting as I am to get one in time from a family member. Never crossed my mind that ammo would be short given the number of rifles. All hail CDN government, again, and again, and again.

Short supply is a relative thing.
Nobody claims that 7mm RemMag or 300 Weatherby is in short supply, because nobody expects to find crates of 1000 for a few hundred bucks...
There will always be commercial made SP hunting 303, even in remote areas.

But surplus ammo is exactly that, SURPLUS to the army's needs. So they blow it out cheap, then the well runs dry.
Who would have thought I cannot find any more Martini-Henry 577-450 ammo???
After all, it was the British service round about 140 years ago...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.577/450_Martini–Henry
 
Right. I forgot about that. Canadian law says I can bring in up to 5000 rounds for personal use. US law says I can't bring any ammo out. How the heck did the good old US of A get to be LESS free than Canada about anything firearms related??

because years ago there was a joint security agreement that canada couldn't be bothered to sign...since we don't SAY we won't let terrorists get the stuff and ship it out, they won't sell it to us...the problem is our side of the border, not theirs
 
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