45 vs 303 spitzer rifles: Which is Deadlier?

[Teapot]

The British Army found that their 450 Martini Henry rifles were effective against their foes in many parts of the world. When the 303 cartridge came into use it proved much more effective than the slow heavy .45 bullet.

I do not know if the Martini-Henry rounds were just too slow compared with the 45-70 but the 303 certainly did prove to be superior.

 

[ben hunchak]

I don't know that the .303 was a more effective cart. as far as actual killing power, it was eventually smokeless(firing it didn't give your position away), a fast repeater(as opposed to single shot). The .303 was flatter shooting, kicked much less, ammo was lighter to carry,etc. The smaller cal .303 had alot of advantages over single shot black powder guns, killing power was not one of them. No less an authourity on guns than Elmer Keith preferred the killing power of the .44 Cal. Sharps to the 30/06.

 

[green]

The original .303" cordite MkII ctg ,215 gr FMJ @2000 fps, proved inadequate when used against some natives exercising their right to national self determination on the fringes of Empire. It was considered much less effective than the .450" MH. Two marks of HP .303" ammo, the MKIV &V, were introduced to increase stopping power. They were outlawed for "civilised warfare" by the Hague convention. The .303" MkVII was found to be very lethal like all spitzer bullets.

 

[Teapot]

Most lethal of all were the spotting rounds filled with willie peter. Made a nasty example to all who would rebel against the Empire. Quite a few Dominion of Canada men fought on the frontier. We're back again.

 

[Win/64]

Neither were very "superior" against the Boers and their mauser 7x57's.

 

[Teapot]

No. But the bayonets on those 303-shooting rifles sure made the Boers turn tail and run or else put their hands up.

 

[Win/64]

No. But the bayonets on those 303-shooting rifles sure made the Boers turn tail and run or else put their hands up.

The Boers only put their hands up when the Brits put all their women and children in consentration camps. Nazi Germany wasn't the first to use these tactics. Read your history.

 

[Teapot]

Hey Meneer,
What the British did was a disgrace to Queen and country, I'll agree. The outbreak of the disease was unforseen and the soldiers had no way of controlling it.

Regardles, your argument over the mighty seven millimeter is correct. It was far superior and still is the best cartridge in the world for almost anything and handloaders can make it do anything.
The Boers did not like the bayonets however and there are countless examples of them fleeing in the face of British soldiers charging them with fixed bayonets.

The Boers were not soldiers and could not be expected to fight as such. What they were best at was hit and run tactics using the great mobility of the horse. They were fighting for their freedom and for the uninhabited land they had claimed for their own centuries before.
The 303 round was still capable of doing the job, just not as well as the 7mm.

 

[Win/64]

Hey Meneer,
What the British did was a disgrace to Queen and country, I'll agree. The outbreak of the disease was unforseen and the soldiers had no way of controlling it.

Regardles, your argument over the mighty seven millimeter is correct. It was far superior and still is the best cartridge in the world for almost anything and handloaders can make it do anything.
The Boers did not like the bayonets however and there are countless examples of them fleeing in the face of British soldiers charging them with fixed bayonets.

The Boers were not soldiers and could not be expected to fight as such. What they were best at was hit and run tactics using the great mobility of the horse. They were fighting for their freedom and for the uninhabited land they had claimed for their own centuries before.
The 303 round was still capable of doing the job, just not as well as the 7mm.

Nice post.