bigedp51
08-09-2011, 02:14 PM
Didn't they stop using cordite in 303 about 1915 or so? I have a Lee Metford with a real slick bore for the first 4" or so from cordite but don't see anything more than normal long european miltary throat (same as mausers etc.) on my 1917 and later Enfields.
.303 ammunition was loaded with cordite powder until after WWII, cordite ammunition was a early smokeless powder that used double base nitroglycerin powder. BUT it contained more nitroglycerin than what the majority of "pistol" powders use today. Early cordite powder was hot and erosive but later types of cordite powder had additives added to reduce the peak flame temperature. BUT again it was hotter than a single base powder but served the British well through two wars.
Your metford rifle had "metford rifling" designed for black powder and eroded quickly with smokless cordite powder. The British enfield rifling was a deep five groove pattern designed for the hotter cordite powder.
"Text Book of Ammunition" dated 1936
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/001.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/216ab.jpg
Army Ordinance Services small arms ammunition dated 1945.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/Img001.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/PagesfromPam-11-2a-1.jpg
.303 ammunition was loaded with cordite powder until after WWII, cordite ammunition was a early smokeless powder that used double base nitroglycerin powder. BUT it contained more nitroglycerin than what the majority of "pistol" powders use today. Early cordite powder was hot and erosive but later types of cordite powder had additives added to reduce the peak flame temperature. BUT again it was hotter than a single base powder but served the British well through two wars.
Your metford rifle had "metford rifling" designed for black powder and eroded quickly with smokless cordite powder. The British enfield rifling was a deep five groove pattern designed for the hotter cordite powder.
"Text Book of Ammunition" dated 1936
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/001.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/216ab.jpg
Army Ordinance Services small arms ammunition dated 1945.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/Img001.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/PagesfromPam-11-2a-1.jpg