.303 British Service Cartridge WW1 & WW2 Headstamps Markings

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If anyone is interested, I found the following. The link is ©Patrice COLMANT 2003... www.303 British Manuf. & Colour Codes

/|\	Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, Cheshire, U.K. (1940 - 1942)
A F	Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
A /|\ F	Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
B	Birmingham Metals & Munitions Co. Ltd., Birmingham, U.K.
BE	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Blackpool, Worcestershire, U.K.
B /|\ E	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Blackpool, Worcestershire, U.K.
BM	British Munitions Co. Ltd., Millwall, London, U.K.
CAC	Colonial Ammunition Co., Melbourne, Australia
CAC	Colonial Ammunition Co., Auckland, New Zealand
CP	Crompton Parkinson Co. Ltd, Guiseley, Yorkshire, U.K. (1939-1945)
C-P	Crompton Parkinson Co. Ltd, Doncaster, Yorkshire, U.K.
D	Dominion Cartridge Co., Brownsburg, Quebec, Canada
DA	Dominion Arsenal, Montreal, Canada
DAC	Dominion Arsenal, Quebec, Canada
DAL	Dominion Arsenal, Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
DAQ	Dominion Arsenal, Quebec, Canada
DC	Dominion Cartridge Co., Canada
D /|\ C	Defense Industries, Brownsburg, Quebec, Canada
DF Î	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, India
DI	Defence Industries, Inc., Verdun, Canada
D Î	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, India
E	Eley Brothers, Ltd., Edmonton, London, U.K.
EB	Eley Brothers, Ltd., Edmonton, London, U.K.
F	Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
G	Greenwood & Batley, Ltd., Leeds, U.K.
GA	Grenfell & Accles, Ltd., Perry Barr, Birmingham, U.K.
GB	Greenwood & Batley, Ltd., Leeds, U.K.
GBF	Greenwood & Batley, Ltd., Leeds, U.K.
GKB	George Kynoch, Birmingham, U.K.
G 18 F.1	Government Cartridge Factory N°1, Blackheath, Staffordshire, U.K., 1918
G 18 F.3	Government Cartridge Factory N°3, Blackpool, Worcestershire, U.K., 1918
H /|\ N	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Hirwaun, South Wales, U.K. (1939-1945)
J	Birmingham Metals & Munitions Co. Ltd./Nobel, Birmingham, U.K.
K	Kynoch & Co. (Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.), Birmingham, U.K.
K2	Kynoch (I.C.I.), Standish, Lancastershire, U.K. (1943-1944)
K4	Kynoch (I.C.I.), Yeading, Hayes, Middlesex, U.K. (1942-1944)
K5	Kynoch (I.C.I.), Kidderminster, Worcestershire, U.K. (1944)
KH	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Khamaria Arsenal, Jubbulpore, India
K Î F	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Kirkee Arsenal, India (1940-1945)
KN	Kings Norton Metal Co. Ltd., Birmingham, U.K..
KYNOCH	Kynoch & Co. Ltd. (Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.), Birmingham, U.K.
L	Lorenz Ammunition & Ordnance Co., Millwall, London, U.K.
LAC	Dominion Arsenal, Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
M	Nobel Explosives Co. Ltd.., Manchester, U.K.
MAXIM	Maxim Arms Co., London, U.K.
MF	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°1, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
MG	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°2; Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
MH	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°3, Hendon, Australia
MJ	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°4, Hendon, Australia
MQ	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°5, Rocklea, Australia
MS	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°7, Salisbury, Australia
MW	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°6, Welchpool, Australia
NA	National Arms & Ammunition Co., Birmingham
N Î	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum Arsenal, Calcutta, India
P	Peters Cartridge Co., Kings Mills, Ohio, U.S.A.
PC	Peters Cartridge Co., Kings Mills, Ohio, U.S.A.
RA	Remington Arms Co., Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.A.
RG	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Radway Green, Cheshire, U.K.
R /|\ G	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Radway Green, Cheshire, U.K.
RH	Raleigh Cycle Co., Nottingham, U.K.
RL	Royal Laboratory, Woolwich Arsenal, Kent, U.K.
R /|\ L	Royal Laboratory, Woolwich Arsenal, Kent, U.K.,
ROF.B	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Blackburn
RR Co	Ross Rifle Co., Montreal, Canada
RW	Rudge Withworth Co., Nottingham (1914-1918)
SAAF	Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, Austrralia
S Î	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum Arsenal, Calcutta, India
SR	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Spennymoor, Durham, U.K.
S /|\ R	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Spennymoor, Durham, U.K.
TR	Dominion Rubber & Munitions Co., Three Rivers, Quebec, Canada
U	South African Mint, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
U <>	South African Mint, Kimberley, Republic of South Africa
US	US Cartridge Company, Lowell, Mass., U.S.A.
VC	Defence Industries, Ltd., Verdun, Quebec, Canada
W	Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.
WCC	Western Cartridge Co., East Alton, Illinois, U.S.A.
WRA	Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

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Colour coding

Headstamp ID	Primer annulus color	Bullet tip color	Other feature	Functional type
VII or VIIZ	Purple	None	None	Light ball
VIIIZ	Purple	None	None	Heavy ball
G1, G2, G3, G7 or G8	Red	None	None	Tracer
G4, G4Z, G6 or G6Z	Red	White	None	Tracer
G5 or G5Z	Red	Gray	None	Tracer
W1 or W1Z	Green	None	None	AP
B4 or B4Z	Blue	None	Step in bullet jacket	Incendiary
B6 or B6Z	Blue	None	None	Incendiary
B7 or B7Z	Blue	Blue	None	Incendiary
O.1	Black	Black	None	Observing
PG1 or PG1Z	Red	None	Blue band on case base	Practice-tracer
H1Z	None	None	Front half of case blackened	Grenade-launching
H2	None	None	Entire case blackened	Grenade-launching
H4	None	None	Case blackened 3/4-inch from each end	Grenade-launching
H7Z	None	None	Rear half of case blackened	Grenade-launching

The suffix "Z" indicates that graphite-glazed, single-base nitrocellulose propellant was used ; the absence of the suffix "Z" means that the propellant is unglazed, double-base cordite.

©Patrice COLMANT 2003

/|\	Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, Cheshire, U.K. (1940 - 1942)
A F	Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
A /|\ F	Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
B	Birmingham Metals & Munitions Co. Ltd., Birmingham, U.K.
BE	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Blackpool, Worcestershire, U.K.
B /|\ E	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Blackpool, Worcestershire, U.K.
BM	British Munitions Co. Ltd., Millwall, London, U.K.
CAC	Colonial Ammunition Co., Melbourne, Australia
CAC	Colonial Ammunition Co., Auckland, New Zealand
CP	Crompton Parkinson Co. Ltd, Guiseley, Yorkshire, U.K. (1939-1945)
C-P	Crompton Parkinson Co. Ltd, Doncaster, Yorkshire, U.K.
D	Dominion Cartridge Co., Brownsburg, Quebec, Canada
DA	Dominion Arsenal, Montreal, Canada
DAC	Dominion Arsenal, Quebec, Canada
DAL	Dominion Arsenal, Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
DAQ	Dominion Arsenal, Quebec, Canada
DC	Dominion Cartridge Co., Canada
D /|\ C	Defense Industries, Brownsburg, Quebec, Canada
DF Î	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, India
DI	Defence Industries, Inc., Verdun, Canada
D Î	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum, Calcutta, India
E	Eley Brothers, Ltd., Edmonton, London, U.K.
EB	Eley Brothers, Ltd., Edmonton, London, U.K.
F	Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
G	Greenwood & Batley, Ltd., Leeds, U.K.
GA	Grenfell & Accles, Ltd., Perry Barr, Birmingham, U.K.
GB	Greenwood & Batley, Ltd., Leeds, U.K.
GBF	Greenwood & Batley, Ltd., Leeds, U.K.
GKB	George Kynoch, Birmingham, U.K.
G 18 F.1	Government Cartridge Factory N°1, Blackheath, Staffordshire, U.K., 1918
G 18 F.3	Government Cartridge Factory N°3, Blackpool, Worcestershire, U.K., 1918
H /|\ N	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Hirwaun, South Wales, U.K. (1939-1945)
J	Birmingham Metals & Munitions Co. Ltd./Nobel, Birmingham, U.K.
K	Kynoch & Co. (Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.), Birmingham, U.K.
K2	Kynoch (I.C.I.), Standish, Lancastershire, U.K. (1943-1944)
K4	Kynoch (I.C.I.), Yeading, Hayes, Middlesex, U.K. (1942-1944)
K5	Kynoch (I.C.I.), Kidderminster, Worcestershire, U.K. (1944)
KH	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Khamaria Arsenal, Jubbulpore, India
K Î F	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Kirkee Arsenal, India (1940-1945)
KN	Kings Norton Metal Co. Ltd., Birmingham, U.K..
KYNOCH	Kynoch & Co. Ltd. (Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.), Birmingham, U.K.
L	Lorenz Ammunition & Ordnance Co., Millwall, London, U.K.
LAC	Dominion Arsenal, Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
M	Nobel Explosives Co. Ltd.., Manchester, U.K.
MAXIM	Maxim Arms Co., London, U.K.
MF	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°1, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
MG	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°2; Footscray, Melbourne, Australia
MH	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°3, Hendon, Australia
MJ	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°4, Hendon, Australia
MQ	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°5, Rocklea, Australia
MS	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°7, Salisbury, Australia
MW	Small Arms Ammunition Factory N°6, Welchpool, Australia
NA	National Arms & Ammunition Co., Birmingham
N Î	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum Arsenal, Calcutta, India
P	Peters Cartridge Co., Kings Mills, Ohio, U.S.A.
PC	Peters Cartridge Co., Kings Mills, Ohio, U.S.A.
RA	Remington Arms Co., Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.A.
RG	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Radway Green, Cheshire, U.K.
R /|\ G	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Radway Green, Cheshire, U.K.
RH	Raleigh Cycle Co., Nottingham, U.K.
RL	Royal Laboratory, Woolwich Arsenal, Kent, U.K.
R /|\ L	Royal Laboratory, Woolwich Arsenal, Kent, U.K.,
ROF.B	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Blackburn
RR Co	Ross Rifle Co., Montreal, Canada
RW	Rudge Withworth Co., Nottingham (1914-1918)
SAAF	Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray, Melbourne, Austrralia
S Î	Indian Government Ammunition Factory, Dum Dum Arsenal, Calcutta, India
SR	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Spennymoor, Durham, U.K.
S /|\ R	Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Spennymoor, Durham, U.K.
TR	Dominion Rubber & Munitions Co., Three Rivers, Quebec, Canada
U	South African Mint, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
U <>	South African Mint, Kimberley, Republic of South Africa
US	US Cartridge Company, Lowell, Mass., U.S.A.
VC	Defence Industries, Ltd., Verdun, Quebec, Canada
W	Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.
WCC	Western Cartridge Co., East Alton, Illinois, U.S.A.
WRA	Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

---

Colour coding

Headstamp ID	Primer annulus color	Bullet tip color	Other feature	Functional type
VII or VIIZ	Purple	None	None	Light ball
VIIIZ	Purple	None	None	Heavy ball
G1, G2, G3, G7 or G8	Red	None	None	Tracer
G4, G4Z, G6 or G6Z	Red	White	None	Tracer
G5 or G5Z	Red	Gray	None	Tracer
W1 or W1Z	Green	None	None	AP
B4 or B4Z	Blue	None	Step in bullet jacket	Incendiary
B6 or B6Z	Blue	None	None	Incendiary
B7 or B7Z	Blue	Blue	None	Incendiary
O.1	Black	Black	None	Observing
PG1 or PG1Z	Red	None	Blue band on case base	Practice-tracer
H1Z	None	None	Front half of case blackened	Grenade-launching
H2	None	None	Entire case blackened	Grenade-launching
H4	None	None	Case blackened 3/4-inch from each end	Grenade-launching
H7Z	None	None	Rear half of case blackened	Grenade-launching

The suffix "Z" indicates that graphite-glazed, single-base nitrocellulose propellant was used ; the absence of the suffix "Z" means that the propellant is unglazed, double-base cordite.