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HXP 1970's in bandoliers...
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Shamu View Drop Down
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Points: 20510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 05 2025 at 10:21am
Oh I remember some she!!ac-coated .303 back in the day. I don't recall where it came from, but it was horrible. The rumor was it was "tropicalized" for humid hot places.
With use the stuff plates & builds up on the chamber walls & bonds to the stuff on the next casing loaded on firing.
CensoredPig
IIRC we wiped them & cleaned the chamber thoroughly with alcohol. It dissolved the she!!ac.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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I can remember that. It was a coating to prevent corrosion in high humidity parts of the world.
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Originally posted by Shamu Shamu wrote:

Oh I remember some she!!ac-coated .303 back in the day. I don't recall where it came from, but it was horrible. The rumor was it was "tropicalized" for humid hot places.

If my memory serves me correctly it all came out of South Africa at the same time they sold off their Vickers machine guns. A lot of deactivated Vickers and many spares, dial sights, aiming posts, clinometers etc. appeared at the same time on the UK market.
Some of the 303 ammunition came in bandoleers which were ww1 marked, I did have a 1918 marked one from the ammo I bought.  
Mick
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Hi Mick, 
 
The Headstamp is: "HXP"  "75". 
The bandolier has: "CAL. 303 BALL" 
                            "5 RD CLIPS" 
                            "HPX 47 - 75". 
 
The Charger clips are black with a gritty texture. 
 
A local gunsmith has suggested I try pain thinner on the cases. 
 
Thank you, 
Leo
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If there is some sort of dried coating on the cases, steel wool might remove it. A PITA, but might solve the extraction problem. 

If I had that problem, I would first make sure the chamber is very clean. Also, try breaking the tar seal on the bullets by seating them just a fraction deeper in the case, only a few thousands.  That might lower peak pressures.  I’ll try that next time and see if it lowers the muzzle velocity and reduces ES. 
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Hi Brit, 
 
I have scrubbed the daylights out og the chamber. 
I'll try the steel wool.
 
Thank you,
Leo
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Points: 20510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 06 2025 at 1:03pm
Paint thinner or denatured alcohol. You want a she!!ac solvent.
https://woodworkingclarity.com/how-to-remove-she!!ac/
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Originally posted by Leo303 Leo303 wrote:

Hi Mick, 
 
The Headstamp is: "HXP"  "75". 
The bandolier has: "CAL. 303 BALL" 
                            "5 RD CLIPS" 
                            "HPX 47 - 75".

Leo, ironically I'm currently using a batch of 75 HXP reloads!

The one thing I can confirm is that none of mine originally came coated; my guess is that yours was probably produced as a batch for a tropical country?

To break the seal between case & bullet my method with the South African surplus was to re-seat it in a press by a few thou. Mine made a very audible crack when I did it.  
Mick
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I will have to give that a try, thanks.
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Bringing this back up.  New spam can of HXP arrived from Max Arms. $210 delivered for a spam can of 300.  Ammo looks good.
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Great find and a very wise investment.
Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually
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Originally posted by Leo303 Leo303 wrote:

The Charger clips are black with a gritty texture.

I throw my HXP chargers into my case cleaner with ground walnut nut media.  It remove that grit from them and then they work great.
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Points: 20510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 14 2025 at 12:28pm
Those with the all round holes are a bear to charge & use.
Tumbling helps a little but the spring tension is just way too high.
See if you can find some of the ones with the oval cutouts.Wink
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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