Cybershooters

NeilMac · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 981 Location: UK Midlands

Anyone any experience with the MKVIIIz mg ammunition in rifles?

In theory the difference is a boat tailed bullet (Maybe 1 grain heavier depending who you believe) and an extra 60 fps. Any practical observations?

This lot is Yugoslavian 1981 manufacture in disintegrating link. Incidentally it has a red ring round the primer which I take to be sealant. Anybody seen red sealant before? I've only ever seen blue/black. I assume Yugoslavia had some ex RAF Colt or Browning machineguns as I can't imagine anything else that fired it.

I don't imagine it's going to be particularly accurate but it should do for the rapid fire events!

Incidentally, I picked up some 303 in Winchester boxes with 1941 dates. Boxes are marked "Not for use in Bren Gun" and "For Rifle Practice Only". Lend Lease Lawyers at work?

Does anyone collect this sort of stuff?

Best wishes,

Neil Mac'

cybershooters · Site Admin Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 4613

I dimly recall tale that the Yugoslavian MG ball was too hot for use in SMLEs. There was something of a scandal surrounding it about ten years ago.
_________________
Steve.

Only three things are certain: death, taxes and stupid gun laws.

NeilMac · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 981 Location: UK Midlands

Used most of the Yugo MkVIII ball now. Goes very nicely in the No.4. No signs of overpressure.

Richard Loweth · Joined: 25 Feb 2007 Posts: 94

Not for use in Bren Gun may mean that there is some "DEFECT" in the loading that means it won't work the action reliably. Or it may be oversize. Sometimes, also, ammunition is marked "Not for Overhead Fire".

MkV11 · Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: South Wales

Richard

I've only just picked this up so I'm sorry its so late I remember a warning being issued by MOD when I was an ACF instructor back in the 70's.

Basically while MKV111z .303 can be used in rifles it uses a nitro rather than cordite propellant so it has a different pressure wave. The effects of which are that barrel life is around 6000 rounds rather than 12000 and if MKV11 and MkV111z are interchanged in the same weapon it should in the case of machine guns not be used for overhead fire or flanking fire during training. This was due to cordite eroding from the lead whilst nitro erodes the length of the barrel and there is a risk the bullet will not upset into the rifling.

I hope this helps.

Regards

H