Cartridge headstock codes?

[Hitcher]

Here's a project that some of you Gun Porn(TM) chaps may be able to help me with.

My Grandfather was a "marksman" in the Wellington Mounted Rifles in WWI. One day, while out stalking a Turkish sniper, his prey got the drop on him and got a clean shot on Grandpa's heart from a range of about 600 yards. Grandpa was in awe of this, because he reckoned his adversary had less than 3 seconds to get this shot away, not to mention the heat haze distortion and a bit of a cross-wind to add a bit of complexity.

The reason he survived was because the incoming shell collided with two rounds in Grandpa's bandolier. The two shells in question got quite badly munted. I have them in front of me. They're family heirlooms.

I don't have a micrometer and am guessing that they're .303, largely based on what shape I can recognise and the tail-heavy shape.

The headstocks are stamped with the following four codes: KF; VI; 3-13 and what appears to be a military broad arrow over an H. After this time there are no colour codes apparent.

If these are .303 shells, I'm guessing that they're Indian Government-manufactured Mark VI rounds made in March 1913?

Am I reading these codes correctly?

What does the H mean?

I wish I'd had these bullets when Grandpa was alive as he would have given me chapter and verse. He taught me how to shoot and was way better at it than I was, although I fancied myself.

[SPman]

Letter codes other than Manufacture’s Codes on .303 Headstamp
AA Pomeroy explosive Incendiary Mk 2 Bullet (circa 1917)
B Incendiary Bullet
C Cordite Propellant charge(pre 1912)
D Drill Round
E Smoke Bomb Projector
F Semi Armour Piercing
FG Semi Armout Piercing Tracer
G Tracer bullet

H Grenade Discharger

J Illuminating
K Brock explosaive incendiary bullet (circa 1918)
L Blank
O Observation Bullet
P Practice Round
PG Practice Tracer
Q Proof Round
R Explosive Bullet
SPG Tracer made before 1927
U Dummy Round
W Armour piercing bullet
WG Armour Piercing Tracer
Z Nitrocellulose Propellant Charge

Did they have grenade launchers in 1915?

[scumdog]

Google is your friend.
Search '303 cartidge headstamps'.

IF you haven't already that is....

[Hitcher]

Did they have grenade launchers in 1915?

Unlikely in Palestine, and not the sort of shell a sniper would have in their bandolier, I would have thought.

[scumdog]

Unlikely in Palestine, and not the sort of shell a sniper would have in their bandolier, I would have thought.

Hmm the old man was in Palestine in the mid/late 40's - then want onto Malaya.

His 'team' used grenade launchers a bit - especially in Malaya.

[Kickaha]

Hmm the old man was in Palestine in the mid/late 40's - then want onto Malaya.

His 'team' used grenade launchers a bit - especially in Malaya.

With First Battalion?

Dad was there in the late Fifties with them, but they were using the L1A1 by then and Brens chambered for 7.62

[scumdog]

With First Battalion?

Dad was there in the late Fifties with them, but they were using the L1A1 by then and Brens chambered for 7.62

Nah, Palestine Police, mainly 303s, Thompsons, Brens etc

[oldrider]

The projectile that almost killed him was most probably American ... what calibre was it? (God save our soldiers from "friendly" fire!)

[Hitcher]

The projectile that almost killed him was most probably American ... what calibre was it?

God knows. Rick O'Shea took care of it. Would the Turks really have been using American ammo in WWI?

[Swoop]

It seems highly unlikely.
Mauser rifles and German ammunition would be the best guess for the Galipoli campaign.
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/otto...ottoman-empire

Still unsure of the broad arrow over an "H". I have encountered broad arrow marks on .303 cases before but this calibre is not one of my favourites and one I know much about. There is a certain chap at IMAS who would give chapter and verse on this. Around 10 years ago he had over 70 different types of .303 rifles in his collection.

[oldrider]

I have shot a lot of animals with various powered / calibre projectiles.

None have ever come back in any shape or form to recommend or complain about one calibre's advantages over any other!

All the science and discussion points are only for the living to amuse themselves with!

Funny that!