Help with identification of a .303 round

[crabwise]

Firstly hello all, I've been a member for a few years but first time post-er.

I'm trying to find some more info on a possible Czechoslovakian .303 round.

I'm unable to measure accurately but case type and dimensions are near identical to a British .303.

Headstamp markings are approximately as follows:

12 o'clock: zV
2 o'clock: 56
6 o'clock: Z
8 o'clock: VIII

From the texts I have avaliable ZV would be Czech Zbrojovka Brno?
Theres no mention of their producing the 8z.
If this is Czech does anyone have any info as to the differences (if any) to a British 8z?

Many thanks in advance!
Apologies for the amatuer drawing:

 

[TonyE]

You are quite right, this is Czech .303 Ball Mark VIIIZ produced for export to countries still using Vickers guns. Egypt was certainly one customer, (note date of 1956, the year of the Suez crisis).

AFAIK, these are pretty well identical to the British round although the bullet weight may be 195 grains as opposed to the British 175 grains. I will check my break down notes in a moment and confirm weight.

Regards
TonyE

EDIT: Just checked my notes and the bullet weight is 175 grains.

 

[Jimiles]

Crabwise, why the apology? I think your drawing is excellent! What software did you use?
Jim

 

[crabwise]

Many thanks for the fast replies - the suez crisis is an interesting connection I wouldn't have considered.
TonyE: Britmilammo is a fantastic site, is that yours?

Jim: The drawing was done in OpenOffice 'impress' and copied to MSpaint, No expense spared here.

Regards,
crabwise

 

[TonyE]

Egypt purchased considerable quantities of .303 inch ammunition about this time, probably the best known being the ball and tracer from Bombrini Parodi Delfino (BPD) and given the clandestine headstamp "AOC", each letter one forward from "BPD". It also had a false Muslim date of 1320. Some appear to have been chemically aged to further the impression they were not newly produced.

Yes, for my sins that is my website. There is still quite a lot of work to be done, for example I still need to add 5.56mm and .338LM. After that I have to decide whether to include experimental ammo or not as that will be a major task. My health has not been good lately either which has been another factor. Thanks though for your kind words.

If one is drawing a lot of headstamps it is worth investing in a piece of software called Headstamp Designer. I did over one thousand headstamps for my .303 book and it was well worth it.

Regards
TonyE