![]() After tests determined that the service bullet had too thin a jacket when used with cordite, the Mk II bullet was introduced, with a flat base and thicker copper-nickel jacket. 303 Mark I and Mk II service cartridges used a 215-grain (13.9 g), round-nosed, copper-nickel full metal jacketed bullet with a lead core. After extensive testing, the Committee on Explosives selected Cordite for use in the Mark II. Excessive wear of the shallow Metford rifling with all smokeless powders then available caused ordnance authorities to institute a new type of barrel rifling designed by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, to increase barrel life the redesigned rifle introduced in 1895 as the Lee–Enfield. Unlike Cordite, Rifleite was a flake powder, and contained no nitroglycerine. Cordite was a stick-type or 'chopped' smokeless gunpowder composed of nitroglycerine, gun-cotton, and mineral jelly, while Rifleite was a true nitrocellulose powder, composed of soluble and insoluble nitrocellulose, phenyl amidazobense, and volatiles similar to French smokeless powders. Ballistite was a stick-type smokeless powder composed of soluble nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine. The Lee–Metford was used as a trial platform by the British Committee on Explosives to experiment with many different smokeless powders then coming to market, including Ballistite, Cordite, and Rifleite. Some Martini-Henrys were rebarrelled to use the new. 303 British service cartridge employed black powder as a propellant, and was adopted for the Lee–Metford rifle, which had rifling designed to lessen fouling from this propellant, which replaced the Martini-Henry rifle in 1888. 303 British is relatively low compared to many other service rounds used in the early 20th century. 303-inch (7.7 mm) cartridge in its ball pattern progressed through ten marks which eventually extended to a total of about 26 variations. Military use History and development ĭuring a service life of over 70 years with the British Commonwealth armed forces the. Recommended bullet diameter for standard. 303 military surplus rifles are often found ranging from around. Measured between the grooves, the nominal size of the bore is. 303-inch (7.70 mm) is the nominal size of the bore measured between the lands which follows the older black powder nomenclature. The SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) maximum average pressure (MAP) for this cartridge is 49,000 psi (337.84 MPa) piezo pressure (45,000 CUP). regulated countries are currently (2014) proof tested at 456.00 MPa (66,137 psi) PE piezo pressure. pressure to certify for sale to consumers. regulated countries every rifle cartridge combo has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. 303 British can handle up to 365.00 MPa (52,939 psi) P max piezo pressure. (Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives), the. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 254 mm (10.0 in) 10 in), 5 grooves, Ø lands = 7.70 millimetres (0.303 in), Ø grooves = 7.92 millimetres (0.312 in), land width = 2.12 millimetres (0.083 in) and the primer type is Berdan or Boxer (in large rifle size).Īccording to official rulings of the C.I.P. All sizes in millimeters (mm).Īmericans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 ≈ 17 degrees. The pronounced tapering exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction in bolt-action rifles and machine guns alike, under challenging conditions. ![]() ![]() 303 British has 3.64 ml (56 grains H 2O) cartridge case capacity. It was the standard British and Commonwealth military cartridge for rifles and machine guns from 1889 until it was replaced by the 7.62×51mm NATO. From 1891 the cartridge used smokeless powder which had been the intention from the outset, but the decision on which smokeless powder to adopt had been delayed. It was first manufactured in Britain as a stop-gap black powder round put into service in December 1888 for the Lee–Metford rifle. 303 inch bore diameter is measured between rifling lands as is the common practice in Europe which follows the traditional black powder convention. 303-inch (7.7 mm) calibre rimmed rifle cartridge. 303 British (designated as the 303 British by the C.I.P. ![]()
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