Bulleted blanks

[TonyE]

Here are some interesting British bulleted blanks.

From the introduction of the machine gun, efforts have been made to find a blank that would function the weapon automatically. The very first .303 rifle blank was the rolled case Mark I, which was made as an economy measure. (Picture 1 right) There is a full length experimental blank constructed in a similar way that appears to have been probably made for the Maxim gun. Little is known about this blank (Picture 1 left) and AFAIK there is only one other unloaded example known.

Picture 2 L. to R.

R^L 39 LVII, wood bullet filled with copper oxide dust, to be used in Vickers and Brens with special barrels. It was not very successful.

R^L 39 LVII, as above but with spitzer bullet in an attempt to improve feeding.

No headstamp. Experimental L Mark 8 made by Radway Green c. 1948-50.

RG 51 .303. Experimental L.Mark 10z

RG 54 L10Z. Early production L.10z. The bullet appears to have been originally stained red.


Picture 3 L. to R.

Interwar year experimentals. Very little is known of the details of these blanks other than they were attempts by Kynoch and Royal Labs to make a successful blank for automatic weapons.

K 24 VII

K 1931 VII

K 28 VII

R^L 36 VII

Regards
TonyE

 

[kajn65]

.303 British Wooden Blanks

Hi TonyE,

Happy New Year! Pleased to meet you.

Thanks for the information. Very interesting indeed.

I've seen these around at various gun shows here on Canada's Eastern Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia); and had no idea what I was looking at. I thought it was strange to see a rifle cartridge with a wooden projectile, especially during WW2.

Would these also have been used in the No.4 rifles Canadian and Commonwealth Troops during WW2? If so, I may add these to my wish list of .303 British ammo to collect and display while participating with my WW2 Re-Enactment Unit.

Where else would one be able to obtain (Candain/British manufacturers) these wooden blanks?

Thanks again.

Rgs...Keyan (kajn65)

 

[TonyE]

Blanks

Hi Keyan

See my other post to you regardsing obtaining examples of .303 ammo in Canada.

The L10z bulleted blank was introduced in 1954 for use in Bren guns fitted with special barrels and was not suthorised for use in rifles.

There was little use of bulleted blanks during WW2, as the previous type, The L Mark VII, was not very successful.

Regards
TonyE