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Hi everyone,
I've got old surplus HPX 303 and I noticed that some of them have a weird ring just above the rim and some don't. Is there a reason for this (like easier extraction) or something or a defective case? Already put a few through my gun no worries before I noticed, just never seen them before on rimmed cartridge - not sure if likely to cause any issues reloading or shooting.
Attachment 147220
Cheers
Do you mean the ring just beside where the projectile sits in the case?
Makes no difference simply the way the case was formed
Nah just above the rim there's a groove on one of the cases.
Nothing to worry about. The deeper groove may aid extractor engagement or may not make any difference.
The Greek ammo has a very good reputation for quality.
Have seen some forum postings overseas suggesting that it is hot. Cannot comment from personal use though.
The greek stuff is good but seems very "dirty" when cleaning after even a few rounds.
Greetings All,
I have seen both sides of the coin with the Greek stuff on the range. From excellent accuracy to awful accuracy and some not going of at all. The cleaner stuff seemed best, one would hope that the primers were non corrosive at that date but who would know. The brass seemed to be good quality.
Mmmm wonder where GC sourced theirs?
Both of the above lots were from GC. I did hear the story about it being stored in harsh conditions and the discolouration was from the clips it was stored in. How true this is is anybodies guess. Some had obviously had a harder life though. .303 ammo from the US generally has the groove next to the rim but not commonwealth countries. Perhaps the Greeks had a foot in both camps.Quote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
Grandpamac.
It's interesting Grandpamac but only a few weeks ago I was surfing on the net and looked up HPX Ammo Company.
They have been around a long time.
They were (maybe still are) part of the NATO Procurement Program and Olin assisted with setting up for this.
Their ammo under Olin (Winchester) was said to be non corrosive primed. I would still be using boiling water though.
The worst 303 ammo I ever used was headstamped with what appeared to be Arabic symbols. In my Fulton I got an excellent group up to 10 rounds and then side of barn stuff. The full length of the barrel was very visably plated with cu. It took me days to remove it. Never fired another shot of it.
The HXP ammo was packed ready in 5-round chargers, correct. GC separates the ammo from the chargers and sell separately, in part I'm sure to facilitate them polishing up the ammo for sale. Some feel that is a dubious practice. The HXP chargers have a crumbly phosphate finish. Ammo is usually quite corroded where chargers held cases and where bullets/cases were in touch with the outside of an adjacent charger due galvanic corrosopn set up between the dissimilar metals. The double base ball powder was basically Winchester 760. Does not burn as hot as Cordite though.Quote:
Originally Posted by grandpamac
The stuff ( Greek ammo ) I have shot didnt seem to resemble W760 when shot ( I will be pulling some, sometime ) i have used 760 in a few other rifles and get no where near the residue this stuff gives me.
W760 is a dirty powder though. I shoot it in an Ackley chambering and it's the only powder that has caught me out with the formation of a carbon ring.
I've stuck with it though as it has a lower flame temperature (also read less detectable muzzle flash) and hopefully I will get a slightly extended barrel life.
Sure its a sinner, I've burnt about 6 lbs of it last year in a Creedmoor and .308 I just love the price of it. I was just saying that the Greek stuff seems dirtier. Its no biggy as i poor boiling water down just in case the primers are corrosive.
When I have fired enough cases i will be loading it up with 760 for sure.
The HXP .303 primers are toxic, but they are NON-corrosive.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnd
Ha ha I have 8x 1 pound cans of 760 so you could say I'm a fan. Mind you I think I will take a wee while to consume that.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnd
Ball powder doesn't seem to rate high in accuracy stakes but my AI load is super accurate.
@johnd what is your 308 accuracy like?
Out of curiosity why do ball powders get a bad rep for accuracy?Quote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
@zimmer fine for the slower ranges like 3 and 500 even to 6 its still ok does about 2800 from memory with 51 grains behind HBC 155's
I am still working on the theory its more accurate than I am at TR, so it is a great powder for "practice" which is about my level. I do about 45's to 49's depending on the wind, and my call of it. We only go to 600 here anyways but I use a faster powder usually at 600 to help for when i go away and shoot further.
I try and keep the temp stable through the summer just to keep things on an even keel.
If I do several strings on the shorts I will give it a swab before going back further. I am going to give the Belmont W763 a go if I get a load sorted.
Maybe because they are mil spec powders, militaries like using ball powders. But a lot of mil spec ammo has inconsistent powder charges. Not the powder's fault. Someone may have a better answer, but ball powders meter well when you reload, that is for certain.Quote:
Originally Posted by Russian 22.
I'll be cheeky & take the remainder of the Arabic ammo of your hands if you don't shoot or want it including any other shells including brass or steel of any calibre offf anyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
Cheers.
@Tararua Phil sorry mate I got rid of it.
Might be their rep for being hard to ignite and being dirtier in what is left behind, leading to accuracy issues if not cleaned?Quote:
Originally Posted by Russian 22.
The HXP 303 ammo is relatively very recent manufacture. It is/was all made on machinery from Olin. It is non corrosive primed and I believe it is loaded with some kind of canister grade St. Marks powder. I shot some of it through my Irish No. 4 in a service rifle match recently and thankfully had no hang fires or duds. It shot extremely well. I found that it was a lot softer on the shoulder as opposed to PPU ammo. The brass is either ok or shit, it's not uncommon to split or break. Some people have had very poor luck with this ammo but so far I have had no problems.
Side note - x2 armorers have looked at this ammo (I bought a truckload of it) and it is HOT, do not use in Long Toms. Should be ok in a no4 Enfield. However it is good to pull and reload, cheapest way to get 303 in NZ currently.
I know where there is 17,000 rounds of recent(?) manufacture .303 (recent for .303 anyway, 1980's I think he said. And I think it is Greek - what is another country that manufactures good .303 in that area of the world?)
All in good condition. The guy who owns it only wants to sell it as one lot, and he is pricing it at factory ammo retail,. He is a collector type. (Collectors always think their stuff is worth the same weight in gold.) It's all mark 7 ball.
SO I know where it is and have held some in my hands but you cant really buy it off him.
