Never know what you will find

[Allen in MT]

Was pulling some mis-fire bullets from some shells I gathered at the range. All of the shells appeared to be older type 303 British, some had silver colored bullets and some were the copper color. All had the regular type powder that you are used to seeing when loading.
this last bulled was a stuborn one and took some doing to get the bullet out, No powder came out. When looking in the throat of the case I saw a paper wad stuck in it. so with tweezers I started pulling the wad out and looked down in the case and saw what appeared to be the ends of spagetti staring back at me. Couldn't believe what I saw. Took it to the local gun shop to have it verified. A bunch of guys verified it for me but had never seen it in person. Real interesting.
It is Cordite and early form of powder produced and used in the British 303 cartridge. Well now I have a sample to show and talk about. Can just imagine what it was like loading these shells with this stuff.
more info here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordite

 

[EmbarkChief]

I've never seen it in person either. Cool find!

 

[kerreckt]

I came across the same thing with a .303 years ago when I was a kid and I was pulling apart bullets to light the powder on fire. The cordite did not disappoint me. I also, have some 30.03 that have cordite in them. I got a box of stuff in a trade and found some 30.30 in it. I pulled one apart and found cordite. I have saved the others. I was told that it is very unusual to find it in a USA rounds. Whether, this is true I have no idea.

 

[gahunter12]

Well I just looked in the Lyman manual. They say use 15 noodles as a min charge, and 25 noodles as a max charge. Thats cool! I never seen or heard of such! Learn something new every day!

 

[Icky The Great]

Semolina Go Boom

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Where's the meatballs?


That's pretty cool though

 

[ReloaderFred]

In the .303, the Cordite was placed in the case prior to the neck being formed. That way, there was no problem getting into the case, and no wasted space. The strands of Cordite were cut to the proper length to reach the base of the bullet, just below the shoulder.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Vacek]

I have quite a few of these. I didn't realize that they were not that well known. As I understand it, the cordite was placed into the case then the neck was formed.

 

[gamestalker]

Until now I never knew what that was called. But back when I was a kid as well, I pulled a 303 and found the same thing. So now I know, thanks!

GS

 

[MtnCreek]

I pulled a 7.5 swiss apart that had similar powder in it, but it was more of a charcoal color like normal smokeless powder.

Anyone know if that powder was always that color or is that just from decomposition?

 

[cpileri]

i have some too

and the bullet, if sectioned, may turn out to be the Mk VII version: the kind w the wooden tip that was supposedly so damageing.
C-

 

[Honest John]

Very interesting, thanks!

 

[Bill Jones]

Thanks for showing us the picture. It is the first time I have saw any.

WP

 

[ReloaderFred]

The light color is normal for British Cordite. There was no retardant coating applied to it.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[flashhole]

I would put that in a small display case.

 

[Kernel]

Wouldn't that be cool if you could buy Cordite today, just like any other commercial powder. It could be sold by strand length, like Mauser actions: mini, medium, long, and magnum - to fit perfectly in the corresponding family of cases. Instead of weighting, just count the strands.

In retrospect, it would probably be a major PITA.

 

[homatok]

Quote: "In retrospect, it would probably be a major PITA."

That's why the original loading was performed before the taper was squeezed on the case.

 

[DaNang67]

Unless I'm mistaken, I seem to recall reading that the grey/black color of most smokeless powder is a coating of graphite which is added to improve the flow of the powder through loading equipment.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

cordite was and still is the propellant for large bore cannon.
graphite reduces the friction to prevent static or so I was told