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Identification help needed Re: 310 A Eley

dhooghe

Active Member
Have a cartridge case with the following headstamp: 310 A Eley

Case length is 22mm or .865 inch. Outside case diameter, at the opening, is 7.85mm

This could be the .310 Cadet, or the '.310 Cattle Killer?

One reference that I was able to find made the following comment: "The '.310 Catttle Killer' (based on the '7.5mm Nagant' case) is .865" caselength."

Unfortunately, I have been unable to find out what the 'A' refers to in the headstamp 310 A Eley

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
 
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.310 Cadet - case length 28.6mm (there appears to be a bit of a debate on the length)

.310 Cattle Killer - case length - 22.4mm

TimG
 
Hi TimG,
I’ve now added several more .310 cases to my collection:

(i) Brass with what appears to be a black lacquer, case length 22mm.
Headstamp: .310 CK W.W.G
(Cattle Killer. W. W. Greener, Birmingham, England).

(ii) What appears to be either Copper, or a higher copper content brass, case length 22mm. There is a trace of green-blue copper oxide on the base of the case.
Headstamp: .310 CK W.W.G
(Cattle Killer. W. W. Greener, Birmingham, England).


(iii) Headstamp: ELEY .310 A
(Eley Brothers, Ltd., London, England)
Case length 22mm brass (my first acquisition).


(iv) Headstamp: ELEY .310 brass case length 27.7mm.
(Eley Brothers, Ltd., London, England)


The longer case (iv), as you mentioned, is most likely the .310 Cadet.

I have still not managed to find out what the ‘A’ in; ELEY .310 A refers to.
The dimensions of this case are the same as the other cases (i) and (ii) that have CK (Cattle Killer) on the headstamp.

Tim; many thanks again for your assistance.

If anyone can provide any manufacturing date information it would be greatly appreciated.
 
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There is also a 310/300 Rook cartridge which has different dimensions. I'll have a look when I get home and see if I have a drawing.
 
I have some Bertram and some Super brass in .310 Cadet

The Bertram is 1.085" (27.6mm) and the Super is 1.075" (27.3mm)

27.7 is 1.090" so is likely to be 310 Cadet

I believe that there is information on the 310/300 Rook Cartridge in "The History and Development of Small Arms Ammunition, Volume 3, British Sporting Rifle" by George Hoyem.

I do not have a copy to confirm this. I thought i had more information, but couldn't find it.
 
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my .310 case headstamped K .310 is 27,52 long which equates to 1.083'' , Cartridges of the World, Barnes, gives length as 1.020 and 1.125'', a couple of reloading items give 1.100'' and another factory round is 1.090''. A lot of reloaders try different lengths to see which works best in their rifle which might hint at different gun makers using different chambers but commercial ammo of the time {its obsolete now} having a short but safe length.
 
The following may be of interest:

From 'Eley Cartridges' by C. W. Harding
Appendix A
List of Cartridges in Metallic Loading Book Upon the Closure of Eley Brothers Ltd Factory in London

Title .310" Cattle Killer Propellants SP No. of bullet & load variants 1 Case length 0.865"

Title .310" Cattle Killer for Pigs Propellants SP No. of bullets & load variants 1 Case length 0.75"

Title .310" Cattle Killer for Sheep -Spherical Ball Propellants SP No. of bullet & load variants 1 Case length 0.865"

Title .310" Cadet Propellants SP & BP No. of bullet & load variants 9 Case length 1.095"

Title .310" Cadet Shot Propellants SP & BP No. of bullet & load variants 2

Title .310" Cadet Blank Propellants BP No. of bullet & load variants 1

Title .310" Commonwealth Pattern Propellants SP No. of bullet & load variants 1 Case length 1.04685"


From 'Eley Cartridges' by C. W. Harding
Appendix E
Metallic Cartridges Produced by Eley Bros Ltd Between 1885 and 1919

Calibre .310" Cadet Rifle Listed from/to 1904-1919

Calibre .310" Commonwealth Listed from/to 1914-1919

From 'The Birmingham Cartridge Manufacturers' by C W Harding

Kynoch Drawing BK/251/92 Calibre .310" ICI ANZ Date 17.6.1948

British Calibre Sporting Rifle Ammunition Produced Bearing the Kynoch Name Which Appears in the Company Catalogues and Lists
.310" Cadet Rifle Listed 1900-1966 Bullet/Powder weight in grains 126 grn bullet. Cordite load not quoted


From 'The Greener Story' by Graham Greener

Cordite Cartridges

Bore .310 Length of Case 1.09 inches Weight of Cartridge 195gr Charge of Cordite 6.5gr Weight of Bullet 125 grains Muzzle Velocity 1,500 ft/sec. Trajectory at 100 yards over 200 yards 13.0 inches Striking Energy at 100 yards 429 ft.lbs

Bore .310 Length of Case 1.09 inches Weight of Cartridge 192.5gr Charge of Cordite 5.5gr Weight of Bullet 125 grains Muzzle Velocity 1,250 ft/sec. Trajectory at 100 yards over 200 yards 17.0 inches Striking Energy at 100 yards 315 ft.lbs

Bore .310 Length of Case 1.09 inches Weight of Cartridge 148.5gr Charge of Cordite 2.5gr Weight of Bullet 84 grains Muzzle Velocity 1,050 ft/sec. Trajectory at 100 yards over 200 yards 25.0 inches Striking Energy at 100 yards 155 ft.lbs

Small Bore Rifle Ammunition
Central Fire

Calibre .310 Weight of Powder 5 1/2 Weight of Bullet 120 grs. Muzzle Velocity 1,320 Trajectory at 1/2 range 50 yards 3.25 ins.

Calibre .310 Weight of Powder 6 1/2 Weight of Bullet 125 grs. Muzzle Velocity 1,500 Trajectory at 1/2 range 50 yards 13.0 insThe photos are from 'The Greener Story' by Graham Greener
 

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Many thanks to: TimG, glevum, 2pounder and reccetrooper.
I am indebted and very grateful for all of your efforts…….. and the fascinating insight!
 
Could you please tell me where the pictures of the 310 cartridges came from. Also the 2nd picture with the 310 cartridge on the top with on cannelures on the projectile I would information on the manufacture and headstamp, manufacturer. This may be the first 310 cadet made. Thank you in advance.
 
Could you please tell me where the pictures of the 310 cartridges came from. Also the 2nd picture with the 310 cartridge on the top with on cannelures on the projectile I would information on the manufacture and headstamp, manufacturer. This may be the first 310 cadet made. Thank you in advance.
As acknowledged in my post, the photos are from 'The Greener Story' by Graham Greener.

Graham does not acknowledge the source of these illustrations in his book, so I assume they are either from Greener records or from his family members. You could contact Graham via his company and ask him for the original source. http://www.wwgreener.com/#contact

The book is available from WW Greener http://www.wwgreener.com/shop.html or you might find a copy elsewhere. The ISBN is 1 899163 54 9

Below are the photos in full, which also show the illustration numbers so you can cite them if contacting Graham.
 

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Thanks for the email information. I have requested the information from Graham Greener. Hoping to get an answer.
 
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