What is it?
- Thread starter hogpatrol
- Start date
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
Pretty sure Bc’s is right uncooked pasta. Once that stuff is cooked it looks different.
The requisite number of strands were tied up as bundles and lines of female workers in ordnance factories inserted them into cases by hand. Because it would have taken forever to do this with finished brass, the cases were tapered straight-wall at this point with necks and shoulders still to be formed, a job done after charge insertion. For obvious reasons, charged cases couldn't have the necks and shoulders annealed afterwards, so the brass was left work-hardened. Over long term storage, necks would split purely from the tension imparted on holding the bullet. A friend who bought a sealed case of ca. 1,000 303 Mk VII rounds that were maybe 30 or 40 years old showed me this. Around a quarter to third of the cases had neck splits and those without split on firing, despite the rounds being in pristine condition. (He wasn't pleased - not the bargain he thought he was getting!)
Old surplus .303 cordite Mk VII / Mk7 rifle ammunition was very common in the UK as late as the 80s and 90s, the last batches to turn up manufactured in South Africa IIRC. It created a very distinctive white smoke and smell on firing, and was of course a well known barrel-killer. Despite that, many British Historic Arms shooters preferred it to the cooler burning 'nitrocellulose' grades (Mk 7z), and would buy thousands of rounds of Cordite ammo whenever a batch appeared on the market.
Old surplus .303 cordite Mk VII / Mk7 rifle ammunition was very common in the UK as late as the 80s and 90s, the last batches to turn up manufactured in South Africa IIRC. It created a very distinctive white smoke and smell on firing, and was of course a well known barrel-killer. Despite that, many British Historic Arms shooters preferred it to the cooler burning 'nitrocellulose' grades (Mk 7z), and would buy thousands of rounds of Cordite ammo whenever a batch appeared on the market.
I collected some partly corroded 303 rounds in Delville Wood, on the Somme. It's amazing that after 100 years of European weather, WW2 and tourists, you can still find unfired, albeit corroded through, ammo left behind from WW1.
The cases had holes - the cordite could be seen and it burned easily when lit.
Belgian and French farmers still occasionally turn up unexploded ordnance. While in most countries it would involve sirens and bomb disposal experts, the procedure is to put the shells near a tree on the roadside and paint a yellow patch on the tree to indicate to local council workers who carry it away. Until about 10 years ago, the UX shells were taken to a wetland area on the coast for burning, but environmental concerns stopped the practice. The are thousands of tons of ordnance and ammo in tunnels under the Western Front -authorities won't confirm - but local workers suggest many sealed off tunnels considered too dangerous to enter.
The cases had holes - the cordite could be seen and it burned easily when lit.
Belgian and French farmers still occasionally turn up unexploded ordnance. While in most countries it would involve sirens and bomb disposal experts, the procedure is to put the shells near a tree on the roadside and paint a yellow patch on the tree to indicate to local council workers who carry it away. Until about 10 years ago, the UX shells were taken to a wetland area on the coast for burning, but environmental concerns stopped the practice. The are thousands of tons of ordnance and ammo in tunnels under the Western Front -authorities won't confirm - but local workers suggest many sealed off tunnels considered too dangerous to enter.
I had 400 rounds of old Boar War 303 British, my boy and I pulled the bulletts as the Cordite had deteriorated the cases.I'm sure the old timers know but let the youngsters guess. There's a hint in the photo.
View attachment 1573256
Had it outside in a pile and lit it, WOW, hot, hot, hot!
Sandstorm
Gold $$ Contributor
Pull the bullets first however...lol
See me if you want pine straw. I'm the Saudi Arabia of pine straw. I have 42 pine trees on my lot and this ain't it....
PS. That's cordite.
After Hoggie’s comments I’m glad to be a 60-something “youngster”!I'm sure the old timers know but let the youngsters guess. There's a hint in the photo.
View attachment 1573256
I’m on V4 of AutoTrickler now but I’ll have to wait for another upgrade before it can handle that stuff.
Maybe that cigarette trick would encourage my daughter to quit, but most likely she would just get even somehow.
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