Wanted loose .303BR nickel-plated bullets

maple_leaf_eh

maple_leaf_eh

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Who amongst the collective wisdom has a stash of pulled wartime .303BR bullets? A WWII reenactor I know is looking for loose bullets to be loaded into old and empty cases for his kit setup.

If old bullets can't be found, what is an equivalent commercial bullet? This is not for shooting, only for visual resemblance.
 
Those bullets weren't nickle plated. They were actually a Cupro Nickle jacket over a lead core. Some may even have steel cores and others may incorporate a bit of wood in the nose.
 
Or plastic in the nose; approved sealed pattern used a 3-grain aluminum plug in the nose to rebalance the bullet. This is the Mark VII specification from 1910, lasted until the .303 went out of service.

Your buddy should have proper drill rounds made up so that he can put them into a rifle for show as well. Army used a wooden plus inside the casing.

I made up 15 functioning drill rounds for a friend in Nfld a number of years ago. He wanted to give his rifle (which he stole from the Nfld Army in 1919) to his son, who had never been 'properly trained'. So I made him up 15 so he could demonstrate the Mad Minute, put them on DI-Z casings, primers removed, crimped in with sidecutters and a wooden dowel (5/16") in the casings so the slug seated on them gently. Looked right good, too.

How many is the guy looking for? Me, I wouldn't mind another 1248.... could load up another crate of ammo!

Have fun!
 
BTW, if he is doing a War Two kit, the gildingmetal-plated bullet also was in use, especially on Canadian ammo. For War One, the cupronickel jacket was universal and that includes all 3 Canadian arsenals and all British arsenals for which I have been able to obtain specimens..... also includes the short-lived 'P' armour-piercing round.

Settle the PERIOD first, then look to make up dummies.
 
smellie said:
... This is the Mark VII specification from 1910, lasted until the .303 went out of service.

....

How many is the guy looking for? Me, I wouldn't mind another 1248.... could load up another crate of ammo!

Have fun!
Click to expand...

From an email exchange:

Can you also recommend what is commercially available as a good substitute for the Sevice Issue Mk7 Spritzer FMJ bullet ..... ?

He is a WWII reenactor. How many? A few hundred for himself and his pals. And he did mention that he needs dummy rounds for basic small arms familiarization of non-firearms trained group members.

I found that a dowel and JB Weld or 2-pt epoxy reliably kept bullets from creeping out of the cases. A small "breathing" hole in the case helps the glue settle nicely in the necks.
 
Good way to get rid of all that Berdan-primed brass that clutters up the range. Pull out the caps with a Lachmiller tool and you have your vent holes already drilled.

I crimped the necks into the bullet cannelures in order to restore original 'unfired' appearance, followed the original markings.
 
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