DCRA colour banded 303 rifle ammunition

[55recce]

Just purchased a collection of colour banded 303 DCRA ammunition and am trying to produce a comprehensive and accurate list of years and colours used. I did find a list on the internet https://forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/303-british-case-colour-marking-query/4194/2 (though I am confused by the dates used which sometimes are earlier than the production date), and another at http://www.doug-and-dusty.com/Head_Stamps/Canadian%20Banded%20Match%20cartridges.pdf

I have supplemented the first list by going through the rounds that I have. The situation is more complicated than I first thought because some individual years seems to have cartridges with more than 1 colour of bands and/or some cartridges I have do not agree with the earlier published list. There are also some gaps in the list with missing years (for example 1911, 1912)

Would welcome any amendments to this list. Would also be interested in hearing from collectors who may have years that are not in my collection. I do have duplicates for trading.

BTW 7.62mm DCRA rounds seem to have only been produced in 1960 with 2 black bands

1910 Match, Colour: Black?, Bands: 1, Width: 11/2 - inch, round tip bullet
1913 Match, Colour: Black?, Bands: 1, Width: 1 inch
1921 Match, Colour: Rosaniline, Bands: 1, Width: 3/4-inch
1922 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 1, Width: 3/4-inch, dates known: 1922
1922 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 1, Width: 3/4-inch
1923 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands:1, Width:3/4-inch, dates known: 1923
1924 Match, Colour: Victoria Blue, Bands: 1, Width: 3/4-inch
1924 Match, Colour: ?, Bands: 4, Width: 1/8-inch
1924 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 6, Width: 1/16-inch
1925 Match, Colour: Rosaniline, Bands: 6, Width: 1/16-inch, dates known: 1924
1925 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 6, Width: 1/16-inch
1926 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 6, Width: 1/16-inch, dates known: 1925, ‘26
1926 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 6, Width: 1/16-inch
1927 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 6, Width: 1/16-inch, dates known: 1924, ‘26, ‘27
1927 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 6, Width: 1/16-inch
1928 Match, Colour: Victoria Blue, Bands: 6, Width: 1/16-inch, dates known: 1927
1928 Match, Colour: Rosaniline, Bands: 3, Width: 1/8-inch
1929 Match, Colour: Rosaniline, Bands: 3, Width: 1/16-inch, dates known: 1928
1929 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 3, Width: 1/8-inch
1930 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 3, Width: 1/16-inch dates, known: 1929
1930 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 3, Width:1/8-inch
1931 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 3, Width: 1/16-inch, dates known: 1930
1931 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 3, Width:1/8-inch
1932 Match, Colour: Victoria Blue, Bands:3, Width:1/16-inch, dates known: 1931
1932 Match, Colour: Rosaniline, Bands: 4, Width: 1/8-inch
1933 Match, Colour: Rosaniline, Bands: 4, Width:1/8-inch, dates known: 1932
1933 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 4, Width: 4mm
1934 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 4, Width:1/8-inch, dates known: 1933, ‘34
1934 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 4, Width: 1/8-inch
1935 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 4, Width: 1/8-inch, dates known: 1934
1936 Match, Colour: Victoria Blue, Bands: 4, Width:1/8-inch, dates known: 1935
1936 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 2, Width: 5mm
1937 Match, Colour: Rosaniline, Bands: 2, Width:5mm, dates known: 1936
1937 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 2, Width: 5mm
1938 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 2, Width:5mm, dates known: 1937
1938 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands:2, Width:5mm
1939 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 2, Width:5mm, dates known: 1936, ‘38
1939 Match, Colour: Malachite Green, Bands: 2, Width: 5mm
1940 Match, Colour: Victoria Blue, Bands: 2, Width:5mm, dates known: 1939
1944 Match, Colour: Green, Bands: 1, Width: 10mm, dates known: 1944
1944 Match, Colour: Gentian Violet, Bands: 1, Width: ½ inch
1945 Match, Colour: Purple, Bands: 1, Width:14mm, dates known: 1944

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Those are some obtuse colour names.

 

[buzzmagoo]

I don't have as complete a collection as yours ( may be 1/3 of your list ) I haven't really gotten in to head stamps . My collecting is more for different types ( bullets, colour and years ) for the most part I have just picked examples up because they are different . Willing to check out what I have if you have a want list ,trading or selling . I am looking for 55 boys stripper clips , 55 boys fluted dummies , 50 bmg , experimentals/ special purpose in all most any caliber under 40 mm .

 

[37patt]

In the privately published booklet by C.R. MacDonald he says that,

"In general, cartridges produced one year were assigned for the match of the following year. When insufficient quantities were held from the previous year, current production was chosen to make up the amount required.

Thus you could expect to see a 1936 headstamp with 2 red bands for the 1937 match, but you could also find a 1937 headstamp for the same match.

In short, the band code is for the year of the DCRA match, and cartridge headstamps may vary"

In addition 1945 cases were loaded with a nickle primer for the 1950 match and, for the 1948 Olympics, cases dated 1940-1943 were used and these were completely black to identify them. He also has some information on pre 1920 match ammo if you're interested.

Very nice collection by the way, well done.

 

[stusmle]

Hi there sorry to butt in , I collect ammo in particular DCRA rounds and was wondering if you had any that you are willing to sell.
Cheers Stu

 

[smellie]

The late Major Peter Labbett wrote a series of articles back about 1965/66 which were printed in GUNS REVIEW Magazine in England. The magazine was published by Ravenhill Publishing in London and was imported into Canada only in small numbers.

The series was entitled "The Banded .303s" and ran in several (at least 6) consecutive issues.

At this remove in time, I cannot say whether or not the DCRA rounds were included but, knowing Major Labbett's penchant for being THOROUGH, I would be surprised if they were not.

Sorry I cannot add more, but my own files were destroyed when our Museum was burned-out several years ago.

It's a place to look, anyway, and definitely less expensive than Peter's definitive book, ".303 Inch", which he wrote in concert with Freddy Meade.