doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Finally ready for Tsavo

Thanks, Mike,

31 O S is the code for 31st August 1944.

Evidently Kynoch were still able to fit in some civilian production, no doubt to meet the need to maintain animal control in the Colonies and to harvest venison in Scotland (although the Army was no doubt doing a fair bit with .303” Mark 7 Ball in the Battle Training Areas).

This Eley-Kynoch colour catalogue was a happy find at a Charity Shop.

It think it dates between 1957 and 1963 (surprisingly they were not yet offering .410 Extra Long 3” cartridges).

Intriguing selection of bullet weights for .303 British Sporting cartilages. I anticipated 215, 174 and 150 grains, but not the 210 or 192 grain loadings.

Parabola, it is interesting that Kynoch made special 303 V1 cartridges in addition to the VI ones. Do you suppose they were for taking pot shots at buzz bombs (V1)? I wonder how many years they marked the boxes as V1 instead of VI for the Mark 6? Does that make those boxes collectors' items?

Well spotted!

I hadn’t noticed, but the box with the V1 marking is of fairly recent Kynamco production.

I am sure that David Little, who founded Kynamco after he left Eley-Kynoch, was fully conversant with Latin numbers.

Whoever did the typing (they used self adhesive labels I believe they printed on the premises) probably thought it was V1 for Version 1 instead of VI for 6.

I have mentioned before that I knew an old boy who as a teenage gunner in a Home Guard Anti-Aircraft Battery in 1944 shot down a V1.

The doodlebug plummeted to earth to land just in front of their gun-pit. They made it into the shelter in time, but when they emerged found that the force of the blast had bent the barrel of their 3.7” gun.

I don't think there is any significance in the V1 vs VI marking. Just typing issue as Parabola says. I just received a box yesterday made in 1961 marked: 303" BRITISH (MARK 6z TYPE) CARTRIDGES. They are Metal Covered Solid Bullet 215 GRNs. No reference at all to roman numerals. Along with that box I received another made in 1963 which again all 303" BRITISH CARTRIDGES that are Metal Covered Soft Point Bullets 215 GRNs, with no reference at all to any Mark number.

Damn, Hello, That could wake you up

I wanted to update Mike and Parabola concerning this particular box of Kynoch box of 303's. I bought the box however UPS lose the package in shipping. A real shame since these are quite rare here in the states. The dealer, AmmoGuy, has been first class and refunded my money and I have to say a real gem of a guy. I would definitely recommend dealing with him if you have the occasion to do so.
Well back to search mode.

I will have some 215 grain vintage Kynoch after my next shipment arrives.

Well there is a further update to the saga of the lost UPS box of Kynoch 303 ammo, today it was delivered to my front door. I about fell over. No damage at all in fact looks like it had just shipped yesterday. Where it has been no one is saying of course. Just happy it is here. Called up John at AmmoGuy and he is also happy and repaid now. All is right in the world. (at least with 303 bullets)

There are a lot of variations of Sporting 303, vary hard to come by. Photo coming soon of boxes.