Do I have a 297/230 Morris Short here?

[Ar180shooter]

I'm pretty sure this is a 297/230 Morris Short, but I'm not 100% sure.

Also, what can you guys tell me about this cartridge? If it is indeed a cartridge for a Morris conversion tube, all I really know is that the Morris tubes were used to convert late 19th century British military rifles (Martini-Henry, etc.) into small bore training rifles.

Does anybody know more about these?

Thanks,
Ar180shooter

 

[sunray]

Look like it to me. Pictures with some dimensions are here. http://www.ammo-one.com/297-230MorrisSh.html
Your's looks like the $4.75 model.

 

[John Sukey]

The funny bit. Have a SMLE chambered to 297/230 Morris long.

 

[smellie]

Shorts were commonly used in the Long chamber.

Standard cartridge for short-range shooting with the Snider, Martini-Henry, Lee-Metford, long Lee-Enfield and a few SMLEs. In the older rifles, the conversion kit was called a Morris "Aiming Tube" and rifles which have been fitted with such sometimes will be found marked "A.T.". A Morris Tube, complete, is worth many rounds of ammo, believe me!

You can make brass up from Hornet. Fair bit of trouble but definitely WORTH IT.

Powder charge in the Short was 3-1/4 grains of Black for an MV of 875 ft/sec and an ME of a whacking great 63 ft/lbs. The Long, though, that was the real killer: Long charge was 5-1/2 grains, MV 1200 ft/sec and a ME of 120 ft/lbs and so ideal for very small dinosaurs (chicken size). Slugs for Long and Short both were 37 grains, fairly soft Lead.

Both cartridges served in the British Army (and the Canadian) into the 1920s. Most military ammo was the Short, as it was considerably cheaper than the Long.

There also exist Rook and Rabbit Rifles chambered for these.

Legally, this is a .23"-calibre, which makes it legal for hunting deer in places (such as Saskatchewan, formerly.... I don't know about now) which have a "no-.22" law but let anything BIGGER into the field. I don't think anyone has ever tried it, but, you never know.

It is also the smallest CENTREFIRE military round used by the British Commonwealth.... or anywhere else that I have heard of. Believe it or not, the Army used to reload these!

A real little cutie!

Hope this helps.
.

 

[Ar180shooter]

^^^

Thanks, there were a few things in there that I was unaware of.

It's an interesting story how I found this cartridge... Well... It isn't actually mine, it belongs to a customer. He brought in a box of old cartridges, some really interesting stuff, but I'd seen most of it before, so I could at least tell him about them. Among the more interesting pieces was an excellent condition 450/577 Martini-Henry cartridge with the original rolled brass casing and a .280 Ross cartridge. Also a few .25 and .32 RF, and a couple of old obsolete revolver cartridges too. Next time I see him, I'll ask if I can borrow the collection to take a few pictures... there were some interesting and old military rounds there... But the 297/230 Morris Short was the only one that I had trouble identifying.