someone on another forum is trying to identify a round, can anyone help?
I think his confusion is in the DI. I think he thinks this is a Roman Numeral for 501 but I'm not sure. Could it be a manufacturers initials?
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identifying a 303 round
- Thread starter LCplCombat
- Start date
someone on another forum is trying to identify a round, can anyone help?
I think his confusion is in the DI. I think he thinks this is a Roman Numeral for 501 but I'm not sure. Could it be a manufacturers initials?
Falcon
Well-Known Member
This is a .303 round made in 1943 by Defence Industries Ltd., Canadian Industries Ltd, Park Avenue Plant, Montreal, Canada. The "Z" indicates that it used a nitrocellulose powder instead of cordite. The other one is made by the same company, but the "VII" indicates it used a British style Mark 7 bullet.
MissingSomething
Well-Known Member
What you have is standard Canadian issue ball ammo.
DI = Defence Industries, Verdun Canada
VII = Mark 7 ball
Z= Nitro Cellulose powder
1942 = year of manufacture.
DI = Defence Industries, Verdun Canada
VII = Mark 7 ball
Z= Nitro Cellulose powder
1942 = year of manufacture.
Many thanks chaps, I shall pass on your info to the OP.
Not just Ball Ammo. I have seen regular DI cases used for G MkII Tracer and W MkI Armour Piercing. Rather have differing headstamps for each variation of .303, for a time at least Defence Industries used one common case.
Attachments
TonyE
HONOURED MEMBER RIP
Universal headstamp
The use of the Defence Industries headstamp with simply the manufacturer, date and "Z" for nitrocellulose was an attempt to improve production by using a "universal" headstamp that could be used for any load, with a tip colour to indicate special loadings. The practice seems to have started in 1942 and carried on until 1945.
I have ball, tracer (red tip) and grenade discharger (blackened case), but have never seen an AP.
303gunner - Does the AP have a green tip? Are they relatively common your way?
Regards
TonyE
The use of the Defence Industries headstamp with simply the manufacturer, date and "Z" for nitrocellulose was an attempt to improve production by using a "universal" headstamp that could be used for any load, with a tip colour to indicate special loadings. The practice seems to have started in 1942 and carried on until 1945.
I have ball, tracer (red tip) and grenade discharger (blackened case), but have never seen an AP.
303gunner - Does the AP have a green tip? Are they relatively common your way?
Regards
TonyE
The AP have a Green Tip and no colour in the Primer Annulus. They are not common here at all, in fact the only pack I have seen is in a friend's collection. I'll try to get a pic next time we catch up.
