Teaser...

[Balder]

Gentlemen,

 

Tomorrow I am taking my 1942 Enfield Mk I to the range to try out some WW2 ammo that was recovered from a lake a few years ago. I dismantled about 40 rounds to make a display belt, the powder was still good. I set the powder off in a steel wheelbarrow, much to my and my daughter's pleasure - not sure how the hedge-trimming neighbour felt about it though. There were also a few British WW2 rounds in there, with the spaghetti-looking cordite strands. It all burned pretty well. I'll post a range report tomorrow.

 

Balder

[Balder]

Range Report

 

As expected there were quite a few duds, about 10-15 %. The ammo had been parachuted into Norway in 1943 and then stayed at the bottom of a lake until the early 80's.

 

The British WW2 brass was inferior to the Winchester 1942-43, something I have experienced before. Even with good British cartridges that have been properly stored, the brass is thin and brittle and spilts/cracks easily. Probably due to the rather limited supply of brass in the UK during WW2. On the other hand the British primers all went off, this was not the case with the W.R.A. (Winchester) ammo. I had a great day at the range with my son-in-law who never had fired a Bren before. I will dump the rest of this batch of ammo in the ocean. The pictures should speak for themselves.

 

Balder

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1100527.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1100533.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1100531.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1100530.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1060069.jpg

 

Molten brass seems to have fused with the bolt face.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Balder

[OLD RSM]

 

Hi Balder

The Brass looks like Canadian DA Dommion Araenals Cv broad Arrow Canadian ammo supplied under Mutual Aid.

Cheers Gerry

 

 

 

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Bal...EN/P1100527.jpg[/img]

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1100533.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1100531.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1100530.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/Balder_/BREN/P1060069.jpg

 

Molten brass seems to have fused with the bolt face.

 

[bigbore]

Am I correct in assuming its pretty easy and inexpensive to get a Machine Gun in Norway? I cant imagine risking putting ammo like that in a registered Bren here in the states.

[Balder]

Am I correct in assuming its pretty easy and inexpensive to get a Machine Gun in Norway? I cant imagine risking putting ammo like that in a registered Bren here in the states.

 

bigbore,

 

Not at all. Machineguns have always been difficult to obtain a license for, today it is pretty much impossible. They're not inexpensive although probably less expensive than in the US. I fired this ammo because I wanted to see the effects of 40+ years in a lake. I was surprised to see how many actually worked. As for the risk to the gun I was not too concerned since I have experienced cases splitting before; both in the Bren and in my Vickers. They're both sturdy pieces of machinery and can take a beating, but the rest of this particular batch will be dumped in the ocean as soon as I have made an inert display belt for the Vickers. It's about time I start reloading .303 since it is getting harder to find over here.

 

Balder

 

[tor]

Am I correct in assuming its pretty easy and inexpensive to get a Machine Gun in Norway? I cant imagine risking putting ammo like that in a registered Bren here in the states.

 

bigbore,

 

Not at all. Machineguns have always been difficult to obtain a license for, today it is pretty much impossible. They're not inexpensive although probably less expensive than in the US. I fired this ammo because I wanted to see the effects of 40+ years in a lake. I was surprised to see how many actually worked. As for the risk to the gun I was not too concerned since I have experienced cases splitting before; both in the Bren and in my Vickers. They're both sturdy pieces of machinery and can take a beating, but the rest of this particular batch will be dumped in the ocean as soon as I have made an inert display belt for the Vickers. It's about time I start reloading .303 since it is getting harder to find over here.

 

Balder

balder there is still 303 to be found , i buy new ones in cases and the prices is ok. t