.303 Britrish ammo - Possibly Proof?

Bob Thomasser · October 15, 1999, 02:24 PM

I have 3,900 rds of .303 British ammo. I have been told that this ammo may possibly be proof ammo and I am trying to find out if this is so.

The Head Stamp is:

RG 59 Q3

It is brass cased with a copper FMJ & the propellant charge is Cordite. I have contacted H.P. White Laboratory in Maryland but unfortunately they do not have a Hi -pressure test barrel for the .303 British rd.

I was wondering if anybody knew how else I could find out if it is proof ammo.

------------------
BT

brianj · June 9, 2005, 04:56 PM

Bob
The 'Q' in the headstamp of British .303 of that age shows it is definitely aProof Cartridge. There were four marks, often with Roman numerals but the 3 inthe headstamp almost certainly means it is a mark 3. My information, from a French book, is that the bullet is 212 grains and the charge is 41 grains of cordite. It is a nitroglycerine based propellant in long thin tubes. It is quite hard on barrels but stores well and is not too temperature sensitive.
Quite what you do with nearly 4,000 rounds of it, I am not sure!
brianj

Edward429451 · June 9, 2005, 05:44 PM

You could pull them all down and recover at least the bullets for reloading.

Running them through the tumbler will make em look like new.

**Mike Irwin** · June 10, 2005, 09:09 AM

Where did you get 4,000 rounds of this?

How was it packaged?

Proof loads generally came in packets of 10, IIRC, and distribution was TIGHTLY controlled for obvious reasons.

RG is the Royal Ordinance Factory at Radway Green.

jonathon · June 10, 2005, 06:59 PM

Is proof ammo what they used to make sure rifles would take max loadings?

Or.. am I missing something?

June 9, 2005, 04:56 PM	#2
brianj Junior Member Join Date: June 9, 2005 Posts: 1	.303 British Ammo-Possibly Proof Bob The 'Q' in the headstamp of British .303 of that age shows it is definitely aProof Cartridge. There were four marks, often with Roman numerals but the 3 inthe headstamp almost certainly means it is a mark 3. My information, from a French book, is that the bullet is 212 grains and the charge is 41 grains of cordite. It is a nitroglycerine based propellant in long thin tubes. It is quite hard on barrels but stores well and is not too temperature sensitive. Quite what you do with nearly 4,000 rounds of it, I am not sure! brianj

June 10, 2005, 06:59 PM	#5
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,872	Is proof ammo what they used to make sure rifles would take max loadings? Or.. am I missing something? __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

October 15, 1999, 02:24 PM	#1
Bob Thomasser Junior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Posts: 2	I have 3,900 rds of .303 British ammo. I have been told that this ammo may possibly be proof ammo and I am trying to find out if this is so. The Head Stamp is: RG 59 Q3 It is brass cased with a copper FMJ & the propellant charge is Cordite. I have contacted H.P. White Laboratory in Maryland but unfortunately they do not have a Hi -pressure test barrel for the .303 British rd. I was wondering if anybody knew how else I could find out if it is proof ammo. ------------------ BT

June 9, 2005, 05:44 PM	#3
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	You could pull them all down and recover at least the bullets for reloading. Running them through the tumbler will make em look like new.

June 10, 2005, 09:09 AM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	Where did you get 4,000 rounds of this? How was it packaged? Proof loads generally came in packets of 10, IIRC, and distribution was TIGHTLY controlled for obvious reasons. RG is the Royal Ordinance Factory at Radway Green.