Intersting ammo from a not-too-clever place

[Rayleigh_Scattering]

I bought an old Enfield a while back (1918 Lithgow), and today I happened to look down the back of the stock with a flashlight to see if there was any trace of the cleaning kit left up there, and found these glued in there with old oil/grease.

I am assuming they'd been there a while, given the strangely polymerized grease on the heads.

The thing that I thought was interesting was this one:

Part of the tip had been cut away to expose the aluminum head. The cut is good, but not totally symmetrical.

I don't believe it was a reload, because it still has the crimping on the case neck and primer pocket.

The subject "Can I cut the tips off FMJ to make soft points?" comes up fairly regularly, so when I came across this I thought I'd post it. Although I'm not sure whether I should have posted it in the reloading, pre-loaded, or bullet making sub-forums. It kind of covers all three.

Also, why do people do this? Jam rounds into the butt-stock and then leave them there?

 

[deagle2008]

That round is from 1943 . Probably saved a few for him self.

 

[beltfed]

I suspect the tip was flattened to prevent primer detonation, and based on the quality of cut it was field improvised.
As to why one would have a couple of rounds stuffed in the butt...nothing wrong with having a bit of ammo with you, even when you are on exercise.

 

[Rayleigh_Scattering]

I should mention that judging from the wear marks, this thing was sporterized a long time ago and then hunted with for many seasons.

Also, the were in there nose-beside-nose.

 

[Juster]

Maybe field expedient Dum-Dum. An exciting blast from the past in any event.

 

[Gatehouse]

It's not really an uncommon thing to place a couple of rounds somewhere that if you needed ammo you had it. Cutting off the tip to make a "hunting load" wasn't uncommon either, although it can end up being dangerous.

 

[claw808]

At the Dauphin gun show, there was a lee enfield with a couple of rounds stuck inside as well.

 

[j_06]

Those two rounds could have saved a hunt at one point in time. That's the original butt stock shell holder. I had some matches, about 10 yds of fishing line and a hook in mine.

I should mention that judging from the wear marks, this thing was sporterized a long time ago and then hunted with for many seasons.

Also, the were in there nose-beside-nose.

 

[Eagleye]

At one time, it was not uncommon for guys with 303 British rifles to modify military ammo
by cutting off the tip like the one shown. The thought was it would now likely expand as
does regular hunting ammo.
A small problem reared it's head occasionally. since the military ammo is hollow at the base also,
the bullet would travel up the bore a couple of inches,
and then the pressure would blow the lead core out of the modified bullet, leaving the jacket in the bore.
You can imagine the result when another round was chambered and fired.
I personally know of 2 - 303 Lee-Enfields that were disassembled suddenly by this very practice. Fortunately,
The shooter was not seriously injured in either event.
In each case, the shooter had been using these modified military rounds.
In a third case, the shooter was a bit more fortunate. After firing one round, he could not chamber the next round.
On examination, the jacket from the previous bullet was seen lodged in the throat of the rifle, preventing the next
round from chambering. We pushed the jacket out of that rifle, and I still have it in my possession somewhere.
Regards, Dave.