.303 Bullet ?

[Weasel]

I have been looking at an old rifle range in Plymouth recently as part of a project i am working on with a friend, the range discontinued use around the turn of the centuary as far as i know when a new bigger purpose built one opened a little further up the cliff. I found .577 Martini Henry, Minie Ball and early Cupro Nickle Jacketed .303, but along with those i also found a streamlined bullet of .303 size (lost my vernier calipers) so cannot measure exactly at the moment but it is shorter than the round nosed cupro nickle one, see attached pictures, can anyone confirm what they are for me please.
Best regards Weasel.

 

[smle2009]

Hi Weasel,
I'm thinking US made .303",they did not use the fibre tip inside the bullet so to keep the bullet weight around the same as the British specs for MkVII ammunition they were made somewhat shorter...

Tony

 

[Weasel]

Hi Tony,
Thank you for your reply, i have also found this illustration from the right time period showing a similar bullet, i may cut one of the more damaged ones to see if it has an aluminium tip as in the picture.
Best regards Weasel.

 

[smle2009]

Hi Weasel,
that would very interesting if they have because the very first batch of MkVII .303" had 160 grain Bullets back in 1910,but failed proof and the 'normal' 174 grain bullet was used from then on....such was the 'cock up' that they didn't advance the Mk number of the 'new' round(with the 174 grain bullet) so not to draw attention to it :wink:

Tony

 

[gravelbelly]

Hi Weasel,
I'm thinking US made .303",they did not use the fibre tip inside the bullet so to keep the bullet weight around the same as the British specs for MkVII ammunition they were made somewhat shorter...

Tony

The bullet looks too blunt and the cannelure is too close to the base to match the U.S. .303 bullet.

gravelbelly