TonyE
HONOURED MEMBER RIP
This post appeared on one of the sniper boards in the U.S.
Originally Posted By: Dr Don Heath D.Sc.
Probably doesn't apply to too many members of this forum, but recently Zimbabwe defence co sold a whole heap of old .303 ammo onto the world market...
problem is some of our 'special' ammo is unaccounted for and may well be in that batch.
Cartridges are old 67 dated PMP millitary rounds with a scratched DH or NWB on the primer. They contain...5grns black, D8 det, and as much PE4 (british equivalent of C4) as could be stuffed in the case.
there are also some hundreds of rounds - also PMP 67 filled with MS200 (eqivalent of US bullseye). Primers marked with an X. We know from tests that the rounds filled with pistol powder will blow a rifle and probably take the firers fingers off the suporting hand. The PE4 filled rounds may well kill the man who pulls the trigger.
Of course, the ammo should have been destroyed...but Zimbabwe has seen such a turn over of staff in the last 20 years in all government departments ...institutional memory is missing.
Again, no US importer should have been alowed to have anything to do with ZDI...but it is only the USA and a few ex brit collonies that substantial numbers of .303 rifles still exist.
I obviously cannot vouch for the content, but it is interesting in one respect. Whilst stories abound about booby trapped ammo, ranging from the partizans of the Eastern Front to Vietnam, this is the first time I have seen anybody give precise details of the contents and markings of such rounds.
It may be just fantasyland, but at least worth noting.
Regards
TonyE
Originally Posted By: Dr Don Heath D.Sc.
Probably doesn't apply to too many members of this forum, but recently Zimbabwe defence co sold a whole heap of old .303 ammo onto the world market...
problem is some of our 'special' ammo is unaccounted for and may well be in that batch.
Cartridges are old 67 dated PMP millitary rounds with a scratched DH or NWB on the primer. They contain...5grns black, D8 det, and as much PE4 (british equivalent of C4) as could be stuffed in the case.
there are also some hundreds of rounds - also PMP 67 filled with MS200 (eqivalent of US bullseye). Primers marked with an X. We know from tests that the rounds filled with pistol powder will blow a rifle and probably take the firers fingers off the suporting hand. The PE4 filled rounds may well kill the man who pulls the trigger.
Of course, the ammo should have been destroyed...but Zimbabwe has seen such a turn over of staff in the last 20 years in all government departments ...institutional memory is missing.
Again, no US importer should have been alowed to have anything to do with ZDI...but it is only the USA and a few ex brit collonies that substantial numbers of .303 rifles still exist.
I obviously cannot vouch for the content, but it is interesting in one respect. Whilst stories abound about booby trapped ammo, ranging from the partizans of the Eastern Front to Vietnam, this is the first time I have seen anybody give precise details of the contents and markings of such rounds.
It may be just fantasyland, but at least worth noting.
Regards
TonyE