FN .303 ammo from 1950

Seraphim

Seraphim

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Jointing a local gun club, and pulled out my Lee Enfield No4 Mk1, and found about 10 cartons of FN .303 rounds I bought for $6 a carton, and they're headstamped F N 50. Packaged in '51.

Nitrocellulose propellant and cordite primer, so I'm going to have to clean it well after firing these rounds. Curious if the cases are suitable for reloading. Probably shouldn't risk it. Looking at one on the photo, they're brass clad steel. In excellent shape, though.

So's the Enfield. An early production model from the BSA plant - serial M6166. Paid $45 for it some time ago.

Didn't know if we had any Enfield fans, here.
 

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Cordite is but one form of a nitro cellulose propellant, IIRC. This site implies some form of more regular powder, NOT cordite. http://www.dave-cushman.net/shot/303headstamps.html

Looks in good shape. I'd probably shoot it. The primer is likely a corrosive Berdan type, so it's probably NOT reloadable unless you have a line on Berdan primers. You will have to do a hot water flush after firing this stuff.
 
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I've only fired a few rounds through it, then put it away without cleaning it. A year later I pulled it out and found some fine orange dust n the chamber. Cleaned it out and had the chamber and the barrel checked - no damage - but I learned my lesson there.

Considering removing the MkII sights and putting a low power scope on it. I can post a few photos tomorrow, if anyone's interested.
 
I checked the Cushman site earlier, but found another Enfield site which mentioned the nitrocellulose as propellant and cordite in the primers. The historical stuff is new to me, but I'm finding it interesting.
 
Please post the pics.

My first rifle, age 13, was a No. 4 MK I*, Savage-made.

Now have a No. 4 MK 2 from Fazakerly in 1952. Nice condition, too.

The Lee-Enfield series are my favorite bolt-action battle rifles. I wish that I had a .303 sporter, too, and they were once offered by BSA, LSA, and most of the high-end custom makers, like Holland & Holland or Rigby. Parker-Hale sold a lot, too.

I'd leave that rear sight alone. You'll mess something up if you fool with it and the rifle needs to remain in original condition, I think.

Do you practice working the bolt with the rifle at your shoulder? I used to enjoy shocking people by showing a higher rate of fire than they thought that a bolt-action could manage.
 
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LVSteve said:
Can you post a link, that sounds a bit twisted to me. Never heard of cordite primers. Cordite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pics of the rifle would be great.
Click to expand...

I went back through my history files, and I can't locate the paragraph I remember reading. It was an article, not a forum post somewhere. It may have been a misunderstanding on my part. IIRC, it stated that, in 1945, the FN rounds (I believe the article was about the FN manufactured ammo) went to nitrocellulose. Maybe I made some bad inferrences. I'll keep looking.
 
Texas Star said:
Please post the pics.

My first rifle, age 13, was a No. 4 MK I*, Savage-made.

Now have a No. 4 MK 2 from Fazakerly in 1952. Nice condition, too.

The Lee-Enfield series are my favorite bolt-action battle rifles. I wish that I had a .303 sporter, too, and they were once offered by BSA, LSA, and most of the high-end custom makers, like Holland & Holland or Rigby. Parker-Hale sold a lot, too.

I'd leave that rear sight alone. You'll mess something up if you fool with it and the rifle needs to remain in original condition, I think.

Do you practice working the bolt with the rifle at your shoulder? I used to enjoy shocking people by showing a higher rate of fire than they thought that a bolt-action could manage.
Click to expand...

I've only fired the rifle once. It's been in a gun safe in a case for as long as I've had it. It never occurred to me it would have much collector value. Haven't seen any unit markings on it anywhere, only manufacturer markings. Haven't checked for matching numbers, either. Wouldn't know where to look.

The rear sight is marked in yards (to 1300), and doesn't have the knob for fine tuning. Again, it's stamped MkII. Just two nuts hold it in place.

I recall taking some of the wood off the top once, to look at the barrel. No rusting or pitting, I think. Maybe a good examination tomorrow is in order.

I'm not a collector, but now you've really got me curious.

Just an auction site which apparently sold the same FN ammo I have for about $18 a box in 2014.
 
It doesn't need to have matching# or unit markings to be valuable. Of course that is always a plus but not the only factor. Many people collect them for their history. Their use in armies and conflicts around the world from the late 1800s to the 60s.

MK4 go for around $350 - $500 depending on condition and rarity. Soon as you put that scope on you have a $150 rifle. If you are contemplating using a rifle with optics sell this one and buy something modern. The advantage there is that you'll get more for your rifle as it is now and modern rifles in common calibers are cheaper to shoot.

That ammo isn't that expensive. $18 dollars for a box? Someone was smoking some good stuff! I but the same ammo for $0.50 a round or $5 for 10
 
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Thanks Arik.

I think I'll start another thread this afternoon for just the rifle and post some detailed photos. Since there are knowledgeable people here, I'll take advantage of everyone's experience to learn a few things.
 
And I'll hold off on a scope. Since adding a scope mount was merely a matter of unscrewing the the rear sigh and screwing the mount into its place - no modifications to the rifle - I thought the sight could easily replaced with no damage. But I'll wait until I know more.
 
I totally think you need to get over to the Lee-Enfield forum on Gunboards.

The ammo boxes are marked for use in Bren guns. I hope this lot was the same as normal .303 rifle ammo. The Bren was a rifle-caliber light MG. I have no idea if Belgium loaded any Bren ammo hotter than that for .303 rifles.

Is there any marking under the bolt handle, on the stock band? Show sharp and clear markings on the left of the receiver. Your other thread shows a lot of tool marks on the safety and the stock band shows a date of 1942, stamped crudely. This looks like a wartime rush job. My 1952 example is better made, as was a Savage-Stevens one I once had.

That arrowhead mark is the Broad Arrow, indicating Crown property.
 
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I'll check under the bolt handle. Thanks for the info...

From what I read, the only ammo I have to be concerned with was that made for the Vickers. Then Bren used the same ammo as the Enfields. I'll take a photo of the side of the receiver and post it.
 
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HOLY COW !
First Glock Owners and now Enfields !
Closet Jimmy has three SMLE, a Mk III, a Mk IV, and a Mk V (along with "Glocks").
I will post photos and markings of these SMLE in hopes that I can find information on them.
If the S&W Forum Members don't have the info, then its not available any where.
Jimmy
 
I have one sealed wooden crate of 303 Britt left. I better open it.

The 303 Britt has the fastest bolt action on the planet.
 
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