Hello Geno,
The term 'Coiled' refers to the manufacture of the Boxer design of cartridge case which was made of coiled brass sheet (foil) that was reinforced at the basal end and rivetted to an iron base by the use of a holllow rivet into which the primer was inserted.
A peculiarly 'British' form of cartridge manufacture which was used in the early days of breechloading. The British service cartridges .577 Snider and the .577/450 Martini-Henry rounds were made this way for several years before solid drawn brass cases became the norm. Many early British sporting cartridges were also manufactured this way.
Catridges made in this manner were rather weak in construction and very easily damaged, fouling in rifles often meant that the base of the cartridge were pulled off the case during extraction and the rifle was effectively useless until the remains of the case was removed. (rather difficult to do under battle conditions). Despite these disadvantages, the coiled cartridge case rounds were used for many years before being withdrawn. The Zulu Wars were fought using this type of ammunition including the battle at Rourk's Drift.
Withdrawn ball ammunition of this form was converted to 'Blank' rounds and was used in ceremonial and training purposes.
Harry
