An old .303 Cartridge
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Rifles
Forum Description: Anything that has to do with the great Enfield rifles!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14381
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 4:31pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: An old .303 Cartridge
Posted By: terrylee
Subject: An old .303 Cartridge
Date Posted: January 24 2026 at 11:49pm
 
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Replies:
Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 2:46am
| Nice find from the Royal Laboratory in Woolwich. |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 4:55am
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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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Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 9:10am
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Very cool artifact! ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 9:24am
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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 |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 6:36pm
| yes , very cool , love these old bits you show terry lee |
Posted By: terrylee
Date Posted: January 26 2026 at 12:50am
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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)  |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: January 26 2026 at 2:27am
Terry, I would leave it as it is with the possible exception of a very thin layer of wax for posterity. ------------- Mick |
terrylee wrote:Posted By: terrylee
Date Posted: January 26 2026 at 7:37am
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Thanks for the input. Much appreciated. Terry
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Posted By: A square 10
Date 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 |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: January 26 2026 at 9:14am
| Where did you find it? |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 26 2026 at 10:12am
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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. |
Posted By: terrylee
Date 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. |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: January 26 2026 at 10:52am
| Thanks |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: February 04 2026 at 9:27am
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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 |
Posted By: terrylee
Date Posted: February 06 2026 at 12:31am
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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.      |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: February 06 2026 at 4:23am
| Thanks for sharing! |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: February 06 2026 at 4:26am
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It's interesting that some R /|\ L's are dated and others aren't. ------------- Mick |