PPU 303 Brit Mk VIII Ammo?

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Fox

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I found a number of these in a bunch of stuff I picked up a while back, about 15rds. I heard that Mk 8 should not be shot in the SMLE so I decided to break one down and see what was actually in there.

The bullet is a 190gr boat tail and the load was about 43gr of a shiny stick powder.

I have read that some of this PPU Mk 8 stuff was say too stout for the SMLE and stretched the action but could be shot in a No 4.

Anyone know about this stuff?

I would have no problem pulling the bullets and putting in a load of IMR4895 just to make them go boom but there is no data for a 190gr jacketed bullet.

Thanks
 
I can't see a CIP approved load stretching any action - never mind the SMLE action. It's heavy ball, probably intended for Vickers guns, but there's no way that shooting a reasonable amount of it will damage an SMLE. The only folks who buy that stuff about LE's being delicate are the same folks who think that 303 loads are "just like a 30-40 Krag" for power. It isn't, it's just like M118LR in 7.62 NATO. There's a ton of crap out there about LE rifles, so much that dispelling all of the myths takes over an hour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nRVr4ft1wQ
 
Generally speaking, in Commonwealth service, issued rifles were to be shot with Mk7 ball ammo, Cordite loaded 174 grain flat based bullet with an aluminum, or wood, insert in the nose. Mk 8 referred to ammo that was cordite loaded with a 174 grain boat tailed bullet. Mk8z referred to the same round loaded with nitrocelulose. The boat tailed bullet extended the range of the bullet and was intended for use in machine guns for area fire, as it didn't have the same accuracy as the Mk7 and was less likely to 'upset' when it hit something/someone. I don't know where Prvi got the idea to load 190's, but folks have been shooting "heavy" bullets in the 303 since day one. As noted, if it's a CIP round, it will not be unsafe and the Lee action is not as fragile as American liability lawyers want you to believe. The original load was a 215 grain bullet over 70 grains of black powder and companies like Lapua (200 grain) and Woodleigh (210 grain) still make heavier bullets. I'd be interested to see what the mv of the Prvi stuff is, as I've seen some "interesting" loads cooked up with the Woodleigh bullets over the years, but I've never seen a Lee explode. I have seen some WW1 era Lees with stretched actions, but not many and most were beaten to hell. I've actually seen a No.1 with a "banana peel" barrel from firing with an obstructed bore, but the receiver was not stretched. It was checked, cut and turned into a full (modified) wood carbine, and is still shot regularly.
 
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I just happened to measure the velocity of 5 of the Yugoslavian 303 yesterday. Head stamp is PP 60 VIII.

Muzzle velocities were 2437, 2389, 2398, 2419 and 2380 fps.

I've fired lots of this ammo over the years and it has always been good for me. It even used to be inexpensive.
 
37patt said:
I just happened to measure the velocity of 5 of the Yugoslavian 303 yesterday. Head stamp is PP 60 VIII.

Muzzle velocities were 2437, 2389, 2398, 2419 and 2380 fps.

I've fired lots of this ammo over the years and it has always been good for me. It even used to be inexpensive.
Click to expand...

This stuff is PP-73, the primer has a red sealant on it, looks like boxer primed but when I shine a light inside it is berdan primed.

So I would be good to shoot this with the No 4 or No 5 for sure and the No 1 Mk III should be fine as well.
 
I've used this ammo in #1's, #4's my Ross Mk II and a LEC with no problems and if I do my part it should be fairly accurate. Enjoy it and go blasting.

It is Berdan primed but that just means its scrap brass for Cohen and Cohen (yea I'm old) later.
 
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