Market for original military .303 ammo?
- Thread starter Tuffcity
- Start date
The problem with that ammo is, it's too good and valuable for casual plinking. Probably too expensive too.
What I want to find is, cheap .303 ammo that I can burn through at a high rate without breaking the bank.
Seems reloading is the only way.
What I want to find is, cheap .303 ammo that I can burn through at a high rate without breaking the bank.
Seems reloading is the only way.
Well, this is what I have:
Five full boxes (of 48) and a partial with 18 in it. Two boxes have never been opened - the top 2 on the left. Three of the boxes are date stamped with a 1950 year but contain 1944 & 45 head stamped cartridges. I'm assuming that the unopened 1950 box also has 1944/45 stamped cartidges. All the rounds are also stamped DAC with the broad arrow (?) inside the 'C'.
The other unopened box is stamped 1942. The fifth box is stamped '44.
No signs of green anywhere.
Five full boxes (of 48) and a partial with 18 in it. Two boxes have never been opened - the top 2 on the left. Three of the boxes are date stamped with a 1950 year but contain 1944 & 45 head stamped cartridges. I'm assuming that the unopened 1950 box also has 1944/45 stamped cartidges. All the rounds are also stamped DAC with the broad arrow (?) inside the 'C'.
The other unopened box is stamped 1942. The fifth box is stamped '44.
No signs of green anywhere.
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If I recall correctly, those dirty big Berdan primers are corrosive; they were made to the British specs.
The stuff with the smaller Boxer primers and the DIZ headstamp is NCNM.
EITHER is a good collector's item and would sure look good in a display, say, with a couple of full chargers casually lying on top.
The stuff with the smaller Boxer primers and the DIZ headstamp is NCNM.
EITHER is a good collector's item and would sure look good in a display, say, with a couple of full chargers casually lying on top.
The only .303 that I can seem to find it Winchester Super-X at Walmart and the 1944 DIZ head stamped stuff from a local hunting store (why a hunting store sells FMJs is beyond me). I have no problem paying $1 a round for the surplus .303 because its still 10 cents cheaper then the Winchester and shoots much better.
I'm not sure what the market value is in Vancouver, but it looks like you could fund a couple range days with the profit from those.
Cantom, reloading is the only way to shoot .303 affordably as far as I'm concerned. If you're just looking to do some plinking at less then 100m I could suggest a possible solution. Using cast .32 caliber bullets (.312 dia) and fairly light loads a person can plink without spending very much on the bullets or powder. I would also think that the reduced loads would help increase brass life. I haven't done this myself as I'm totally involved in reloading for .223 right now so I can't offer any load data.
I'm not sure what the market value is in Vancouver, but it looks like you could fund a couple range days with the profit from those.
Cantom, reloading is the only way to shoot .303 affordably as far as I'm concerned. If you're just looking to do some plinking at less then 100m I could suggest a possible solution. Using cast .32 caliber bullets (.312 dia) and fairly light loads a person can plink without spending very much on the bullets or powder. I would also think that the reduced loads would help increase brass life. I haven't done this myself as I'm totally involved in reloading for .223 right now so I can't offer any load data.
#1bcshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- North Of The DMZ (US border)
There is a lot of surplus WW2 303 ammo showing up state side but I have read lots of complaints about hang fires up to 30 seconds , and many dud's , these are all from cordite load's
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
For "cheap" blasting .303 you need a TIME MACHINE to go back about 20+ years.
Out here on the West Coast some of us make these loads for grouse while on Deer hunts and clearly marking the bases of the cartridges so as to not use them on Deer by accident.
If I recall Approx 8 grains of unique is used, but this is from my fuzzy memory so apply some caution to this.
Also one might need some gun cotton spacer.
I know this topic has come up in the reloading section a few times over the years as well so try a search there.
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You've really peaked my interest, I could probably load some up for exactly the same purpose. Could you give me an idea of within which range they would be accurate enough to hit a grouse-sized target? I'd sooner buy 500 cast .32 bullets to plink then $1/round FMJ or Super-X.
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dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
I'd ask my shop to order in some Remington UMC .303 FMJ. It's cheaper than both prices you're paying. ~$16/20 locally.
Doesn't Walmart have .303 for ~$18? Remington maybe?
Thanks again Calum! Now that I can shoot so cheap I'm going to have to go out and buy myself an original No.4 now instead of using my sportered one.
Wholesale Sports lists Remington UMC at $24.99 per box
I can't imagine any of my local shops getting it any cheaper then that, or in a timely manner.
All I can find at Walmart is the aforementioned Super-X which is about $22 per box after taxes, yuck.
Wholesale Sports lists Remington UMC at $24.99 per box
I can't imagine any of my local shops getting it any cheaper then that, or in a timely manner.All I can find at Walmart is the aforementioned Super-X which is about $22 per box after taxes, yuck.
