.303 British dummy clip

[dano1917]

I saw on Specialist auctions there is a 5 shot clip with 5 .303 "dummy" rounds. the bullets are wooden inside the brass cartridge. It further states that these were made from 1903 - 1910. It is an impressive looking clip of bullets. Is it correct that the bullets are wooden? How common or un-common are these. I'm debating on whether or not to buy it and any useful informationon this round would be greatly appreciated. I don't know much about small arms ammo but thought it may look good in trench. Just looking to get some info on these little jewels...Dano

 

[staples57]

Hi Dano,

I saw the same clip of drill rounds... Nice! It looks like they're also in an original pre WW1 .303 stripper clip.
Drill rounds with wooden bullets in brass casings are typically pre WW1 in vintage. Normally, the wooden bullets are dyed/painted red to indicate drill rounds. Over the past two years I've only found one drill round like that at the Military shows. I snapped it up right away, they are fairly rare. If it's any help, I paid $15 CDN for a single wooden drill round. Take a look at my B.O.C.N. photo album and you'll see a few different variations of .303 drill rounds.

If I'm looking at the same SA listing, 15.00 "Snap it Up" is a good deal.
I'd be bidding on it myself if Canada Customs wasn't so strict.

Go for it!

Cheers,
Brad

I saw on Specialist auctions there is a 5 shot clip with 5 .303 "dummy" rounds. the bullets are wooden inside the brass cartridge. It further states that these were made from 1903 - 1910. It is an impressive looking clip of bullets. Is it correct that the bullets are wooden? How common or un-common are these. I'm debating on whether or not to buy it and any useful informationon this round would be greatly appreciated. I don't know much about small arms ammo but thought it may look good in trench. Just looking to get some info on these little jewels...Dano

 

[dano1917]

Appreciate it Brad

Thanks Brad for the info, the ad states that were made between 1903 and 1910 so indeed they're pre WW1. I'm still trying to make up my mind as to whether I want them. Thanks again and i'm off to your photo album to check out those rounds. Dano (just checked out your .303 rounds in your album, very nice assortment..Dano)

 

[TonyE]

Drill Mark III

This is only part of the story.

The Drill Mark III as originally introduced in 1903 had a tinned case without holes and a plain boxwood bullet. In 1905 it was ordered that four holes be drilled and that future production not be tinned.From 1907 the bullets were ordered to be dyed red and stores in the field modified accordingly. Plain wood bullets are hard to find these days.

When the round nosed Mark VI ball round was replaced by the pointed Mark VII in 1910 a new drill round, the Mark IV was introduced with a ponted red wood bullet. In service this was found to be too fragile so it was made obsolete in 1913 and production reverted to the Mark III. This continued through WWI until the introduction of the Drill Mark V in 1917 which had a blackened case and a jacketed bullet. This was not successful either so the familiar Drill Mark VI with the silvered case was introduced in July 1917 and continued right through to WW2.

Pictures show round nosed Drill Mark III and (l. to r.) Drill Mark IV, V and early issue Mark VI. All are WWI vintage.

Regards
TonyE

 

[dano1917]

excellent

Thanks Tony, Great information, let me add all 5 cases are brass - headstamps
RL14VII
RLVII
E.10VII
E.14VII
G.15VII
Charger is marked PII

 

[TonyE]

D.iii

Fairly representative set of headstamps

R^L is Royal laboratory, Woolwich, London
E is Eley Brothers, Edmonton, London
G is Greenwood & Batley Ltd., Albion Works, Leeds, Yorkshire

Charger is a Mark II, introduced 24th April 1906 and made by C.H.Pugh Ltd., Whitworth Works, Tilton Road, Birmingham.

Regards
TonyE

 

[dano1917]

cracking

Thankyou so much again Tony, you sir, are just awesome. Joining BOCN was a great move on my part, so many different people have been so helpful. I kind of feel like an idiot sometimes with all my questions, but my pop always said the only stupid questions are those unasked! I do so appreciate it Tony and thanks again...Dano

 

[TonyE]

British military

You are most welcome. You just happened to hit on the one subject I do know something about, British military small arms and ammunition.

As for all these bombs, fuzes and other dark arts, I know nothing...

Regards
TonyE

 

[dano1917]

WW1 German grenades

I know what you mean Tony, My main area is German WW1 grenades and in that department I am fairly well versed, but when it comes to other stuff i'm pretty much lost, hence all the questions...Dano

 

[RNLMC]

hi all. here is a pic. of a couple of my dummy rounds. these are all .303`s.
the one with the wooden bullet is not heaving any headstamps,non.
from left to >.

FN *
760 `90 (made of one piece stainless steel ?)
BE1941 U V (roman 5)
RG 51 D10
WRA 303 british
RL 1943 U V (roman 5)
brass, no markings.

any info on the stainless steel one? the person who sold it was having
some 30+ of these rounds so i don`t think it was home made.

regards werner.

 

[TonyE]

Dutch .303 Drill

The turned steel inspector's round is Dutch, made in the 1970s for use by the National Reserves with the Bren gun that they still had in service.

The two UV rounds are Inspector's Mark V rounds and the RG 51 D10 is a drill Mark 10, the last .303 drill round in service.

The WRA Co. dummy is a US commercial round and the FN* is a typical FN contract drill round, customer unknown but possibly Eire, who were buying .303 ball from FN about that time (1970s).

The wood bullet round with no headstamp is a British drill Mark VIII, an early WW2 expedient drill. It seems they learnt no lessons from WWI with the Drill mark IV and the Mark VIII proved too fragile and was replaced by the metal jacketed Drill Mark IX.

Regards
TonyE

 

[RNLMC]

cheers tony. I think the turnt round is beautifuly made. i have a small collection of drill rounds. they are quite a collectable item. my main
interest is british .303 rounds.

regards werner