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An old .303 Cartridge

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terrylee View Drop Down
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    Posted: January 24 2026 at 11:49pm
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Sapper740 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sapper740 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2026 at 2:46am
Nice find from the Royal Laboratory in Woolwich.          
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2026 at 4:55am
Yes, must be a Mk I Black Powder, Boxer primed, 215 grain cupronickel bullet (though doesn’t look it). 

Mk II introduced 1890. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Canuck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2026 at 9:10am
Very cool artifact!
Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Strangely Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2026 at 9:24am
You could never replicate the load due to the way it was manufactured, i.e. a compressed pellet of black powder dropped into an un-necked case which was necked prior to having a bullet pressed into it.

Nice find; and a particularly good (early) year! 
Mick
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2026 at 6:36pm
yes , very cool , love these old bits you show terry lee 
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terrylee View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote terrylee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 26 2026 at 12:50am
Obviously neglected for many years, but not being a cartridge-collector, I would appreciate opinions as to whether it should be cleaned up or left as is.  I have found information on this Mk I Cartridge in B.A. Temple's book on the .303 British Service Cartridge. (Attached) 




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Strangely Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 26 2026 at 2:27am
Originally posted by terrylee terrylee wrote:

I would appreciate opinions as to whether it should be cleaned up or left as is.

Terry, I would leave it as it is with the possible exception of a very thin layer of wax for posterity.
Mick
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terrylee View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote terrylee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 26 2026 at 7:37am
Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.
  Terry
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 26 2026 at 9:10am
i would make every effort to preserve it just as it is - the wax is a great choice 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote paddyofurniture Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 26 2026 at 9:14am
Where did you find it?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 26 2026 at 10:12am
Having seen this post, I'm going to go thru my Dad's "cartridges for collecting" tin, I think there may be an old black powder .303 cartridge in there.  


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terrylee View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote terrylee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 26 2026 at 10:21am
Found it in a conglomeration of old .303 cartridges that I bought some time back. Only sorted it out quite recently. Obviously, its previous owner was unaware of its significance. Initially, I thought it was just a Mk II or VI which I was weeding out to avoid having to shoot. I know absolutely nothing of its earlier history, but guess that it could have arrived in South Africa during the Boer War, which era cartridges are still not particularly uncommon. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote paddyofurniture Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 26 2026 at 10:52am
Thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Strangely Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2026 at 9:27am
I mentioned this thread today at my weekly clay pigeon shoot when a friend bought along a small selection of early .303 rounds. Nothing as early as Terrylee's 89 dated round but there was a MkVI 1914 dated example and a R /|\ L hollow point .303 which was undated.
Our clay shoot usually had a "show & tell" element to it over a coffee in the clubhouse which sadly seems to have faded out, either that or we have run out of treasures to show.
I do have a drill No.68 grenade I could take next week. 
Mick
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote terrylee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 06 2026 at 12:31am
A range of .303 Cartridges:

Mks. I, II, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII. I do not have a Mk III. These were produced in very limited numbers and not adopted.




 
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