Info needed on surplus .303 ammo |
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jdgiii
Newbie Joined: February 27 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14 |
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Posted: March 14 2006 at 6:26am |
I purchased a box of .303 British Saturday. I would like info regarding the markings on the box. It is in a light cardboard box with a brown paper seal glued vertically around it. the seal is printed in green type with the following info: 32 CARTRIDGES .303 INCH Mk 7 ^ (this represents the broad arrow) C.I.A (P) P.O.F. P.A.8 It also has the date 21 JUL 1957 stamped on it as well as symbol that looks like bowling pin with a numeral one beside itinside a 1/2" circle. There is also "No. 23 1967" stamped into the cardboard. Any help with this is most appreciated. Joel |
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Ed Hill
Special Member Donating Member Joined: February 06 2006 Location: Northern PRK Status: Offline Points: 1394 |
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POF = Pakistan Ordnance Factory, Pakistan. The MK 7 is the
standard 174 grn 303 cartridge. I'm not an expert. so maybe someone
else will fill us in on the C.I.A. and P.A. 8. The 57 stamp is
probably the manufacture date, and should match the headstamp on the
cartridges, the '67 date is probably an inspection date.
All of the surplus ( except the later Greek stuff) I'm aware of is corrosive, so wash the bore with hot water after you shoot. Ed |
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jdgiii
Newbie Joined: February 27 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14 |
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Thanks Ed. I'll probably put this up on a shelf since it's a sealed box. I'd prefer to just shoot UMC. Easier cleanup. JDGIII
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Ed Hill
Special Member Donating Member Joined: February 06 2006 Location: Northern PRK Status: Offline Points: 1394 |
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The POF stuff doesn't have the best reputation, but I wouldn't shy away
from shooting surplus corrosive ammo. I have over a thousand rounds of
8mm corrosive because I got it for 4 or 5 cents a round. I wish I could
find 303 for three times that price!
I use standard 303 surplus to check my sights, and see how well handloads compare to the original ammo. The corrosive component is salt, usually caused by the primers. Since alcohol, ammonia, and oil won't dissolve salts, plain old water is what the military has always used, and works fine. I carry a small bottle of windex, and put two or three soaked patches through the barrel while it is still warm. A clean patch after and I'm good to go home, where I clean as normal. Ed |
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ledom daor
Groupie Joined: March 26 2006 Status: Offline Points: 52 |
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I got some yesterday that says
Mk7 L.S.A.A GBF 21 10 44 It fired fine Can anyone tell me about this stuff paid $3.18 for 32 rounds |
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303carbine
Senior Member Joined: January 29 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 329 |
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I heard that CIA stood for Century International Arms, I know its not the American firm of the same name as I don't believe they advertise like that.
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Ed Hill
Special Member Donating Member Joined: February 06 2006 Location: Northern PRK Status: Offline Points: 1394 |
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The MK 7 is the regular 174 grn ammo, GB or GBF is Greenwood & Batley, Leeds,
and I assume the 21 10 44 is the date. Don't know about the LSAA, does it look like the same script? Maybe an importers mark? Ed |
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Lithgow
Senior Member Joined: October 25 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 1417 |
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GBF is Greenwood & Batley (farnham) Ltd. GB is Greenwood & Batley Ltd , Leeds |
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ledom daor
Groupie Joined: March 26 2006 Status: Offline Points: 52 |
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Sorry the L.S.A.A. Is really I.S.A.A. It is the same script.
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Ed Hill
Special Member Donating Member Joined: February 06 2006 Location: Northern PRK Status: Offline Points: 1394 |
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JDGIII, I just looked at a box of '51 RL headstamped ammo I have, and
it also is marked I.S.A.A. under the broad arrow. Acceptance mark
of some time?
Jump in, anyone! Ed |
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N/I\Z
Groupie Joined: February 18 2006 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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ISAA - Inspector Small Arms Ammunition
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Ed Hill
Special Member Donating Member Joined: February 06 2006 Location: Northern PRK Status: Offline Points: 1394 |
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Thanks, N/I\Z, I knew someone on here would have it.
Ed |
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ledom daor
Groupie Joined: March 26 2006 Status: Offline Points: 52 |
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Thank you for the info that is fun to hear all these things
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Governments are like Dogs. The bigger they are, the more poo they leave for you to clean up!
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TomcatPC
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 335 |
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In regards to the Pakistani Ord. Fact. surplus Mk.7 rounds mentioned at the start of this thread...LOL... A few years back I bought two 32 round boxes of POF in Anchorage for around $5 a box. When I fired that ammo...LOL...I guess the best way to describe it is to imagine firing a matchlock from the English Civil War. Every round a hang fire, could hear the striker hit the primer and there was a time lapse...then boom...LOL.
Later, at another gunstore in Anchorage I bought 150 rounds of 1950 headstamped Mk.7 rounds made by F.N. in Belgium, not one hang fire or miss fire, good stuff. And better yet it came on chargers in bandoliers. After I came back to the lower 48 I found some South African made .303" Ball made around 1980 that was also on par with the F.N. made ammunition. I still have a 50 round bandolier that I refuse to burn up until I find more surplus...or at least cheaper commercial ammunition. Mark |
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The .303" Cartridge, Helping Englishmen express their emotions since 1888.
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esoxhunter
Newbie Joined: November 15 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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too much knowledge here
you guys scare me sometimes :)
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