South African surplus .303 coming?

nelly

nelly

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I heard a rumour somewhere a few years ago that South Africa still has plenty of .303 ammo, as they still have Brens in war stocks.... BUT, the Brens are due to be retired permanently "soon", and then the last of the world's quality surplus .303 ammo will be released for sale.

Anybody got anything more firm on this? I would love to lay my hands on a case or two, when and / or if it comes true? That PMP shoots pretty darned goodly!

Neal
 
I've used that South African surplus before and always had great results with it.
If this turns out to be true then this would be great! :D :D :D
 
I think that your a few years behind. The story as I heard it was that the SA Penitentury service retired their Vickers MGs a few years ago & that is where all the 7.7rm came from which washed over the US & Canada about 5 years ago.

If there was more I'd be first in line. Not quite as nice as the FNB but close...

D
 
Lee Enfield said:
I think that your a few years behind. The story as I heard it was that the SA Penitentury service retired their Vickers MGs a few years ago & that is where all the 7.7rm came from which washed over the US & Canada about 5 years ago.

If there was more I'd be first in line. Not quite as nice as the FNB but close...

D
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Unfortunately they retired their Vickers and a lot of Brens and Lee Enfields to the bottom of the South Atlantic.........Heartbreaking!:eek: :( :( :(
 
It is very unlikely that we will see SA surplus for some time, if ever again. They were caught in a scandle where huge quantities were sold for dirt cheap and against their rules. They have clamped down and are demilling it all now.
 
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Ah, more's the pity!

I guess "we" need to convince one of the reputable ammunition companies to start making fmj milspec loads for us, so I can stop spending my unborn children's inheritance on hunting ammo at Crappy Tire!

:)

Thanks fer all yer replies!

Neal
 
nelly said:
Ah, more's the pity!

I guess "we" need to convince one of the reputable ammunition companies to start making fmj milspec loads for us, so I can stop spending my unborn children's inheritance on hunting ammo at Crappy Tire!

:)

Thanks fer all yer replies!

Neal
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Indep the pork and cheese ammo company using the FNM headstamp have been producing a reasonable 174 gn NC load for about 10 years now. It is Boxer primed and on par with the HXP ammo!
 
nelly said:
Ah, more's the pity!

I guess "we" need to convince one of the reputable ammunition companies to start making fmj milspec loads for us, so I can stop spending my unborn children's inheritance on hunting ammo at Crappy Tire!
Click to expand...


Indeed! :D
Do you reload yet?

My friends tell me that they are amazed at my ability to catch the spent brass falling out of the rifle before the bullet hits my target. :D
 
CanAm said:
Indep closed 3 years ago. The FNM name is now owned by Coles in the US and is produced by PPU in Serbia.
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UK NRA issue it out at classic and historic comps and its still sold under the same label, so we are getting the same gear unless they change it. Took indep ages to get the 7.5 MAS ammo right but finally they did! Good gear now!
 
So far I've only tried reloading .303 with a Lee Loader, just for fun.... but I haven't yet had much luck in getting the powder / primer / projectile mix right for the old dipper technique!

Will have to try another propellant, as I've found the Accurate Arms 2700 (one of the only dipper measure's worth that was good for 123, 125, 150 and 174 gr projectiles) is unreliable for ignition with CCI large rifle primers... seemed to go bang okay with magnum primers, but my shoulder was done by then, and I couldn't get it to group.

Still an inexact science!

If anyone has a good Lee Loader recipe for .303, I'd love to hear it!

:)

Neal
 
Invest in scales and a powder measure. I bought mine at the gun club shop when someone upgraded to electronic. I need more powder throwers or just a digital one with in built scales. I use IMR 4895 or Vhit N140. Both give great loads and the IMR is available in 8lb tubs well worth the buy as I use it for 223, 303, 6.5 swede, 762 x 39, 308 and 22-250. I'm sure there are more but I am restricted somewhat in the UK! I also have loads of part used tubs that seem to sit once tried never to be used again until a friend begs me to develop a load for them. Nine timesout of ten its to replicate a factory load that is unavailable here now. That happens too often!
 
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