Copyright International Ammunition Association, 2010. All rights
reserved.
Cartridge of the Month
August 2010
British 7mm series Bullet Types
Specimens and photos courtesy of Paul
Smith
Following WWII (1947-1951) Britain developed spent a number of years working to develop a short cased assault rifle round in 7mm caliber. Within this series of rounds a large number of projectile types were developed.
Below are some examples. Many of these projectiles can be loaded into more than one case type from the series.
#1 .280/30 - This round is loaded with the Type C ball projectile which has a pointed mild steel core with lead tip filler and base pad and is identified by a salmon pink tip. This round is headstamped RG 49 280/30
#2 .280/30 – This round is loaded with the Type AA ball projectile which has a pointed mild steel core with boat-tailed base and lead tip filler and base pad and is identified by a brown tip. This round is headstamped RG 50 280/30
#3 .280/30 – This round is loaded with an AP projectile which has a blunt hardened steel core with lead tip filler and base pad and is identified by an eggshell blue tip. Bullet drawing number D6/L/761. This round is headstamped RG 49 280/30
#4 .280/30 – This round is loaded with the Type A ball projectile which has a GM jacket, mild steel core and lead tip filler and base pad. There is no tip colour. This round is headstamped RG 49 280/30
#5 7 mm Second Optimum. This ball round uses the Belgian S12 ball projectile with CNCS jacket and lead core. This round is headstamped FN 55
#6 7 mm Mark 1Z. The projectile is the same as #5, but some were painted with yellow tips. This was the final version of this caliber. This ball round is loaded with the S12 Belgian projectile which has a CNCS jacket and lead core. This round is headstamped RG 51 280/30
#7 7mm High Velocity. This round uses the Type B ball projectile with has a GMCS jacket, lead core and paper tip filler, as indicated by the yellow tip. This round is headstamped RG 52 7 M/M H.V.
References:
Peter Labbett and P.J.F. Mead, British 7mm Ammunition, TAG 2/1.