.303 inch Drill - Other Local Pattern & Expedient
In addition to the various dummy drill rounds approved for service in Great Britain, there were a considerable number of Local Pattern and expedient drill rounds made in the Dominions and the United States.
Drill India Pattern Mark I .
"Cartridge S.A. Dummy Drill .303 inch Mark I, India Pattern" was approved to design India 6756 on 27th September 1908. The title was changed in 1918 to "Cartridge S.A. Dummy Drill .303 inch India Pattern No.1"
This was the improved Indian version of the Dummy Drill Mark III. It consisted of a service case with a one piece wood bullet and distance piece, this being a great improvement over the unsupported bullet of the normal Mark III.
The first pattern of this round had a plain brass case with four small holes, but Indian LoC Paragraph 9993 dated 1st August 1919 introduced a second pattern in which the case was blackened.
The case had an empty cap chamber with both anvil and fire holes. Any contemporary Indian ball headstamp may be found.
Drill India Pattern No. II.
"Cartridge S.A. Dummy Drill .303 inch India Pattern No.II" was approved to design India 9602 on 30th July 1918. The title was changed in 1918 to "Cartridge S.A. Dummy Drill .303 inch India Pattern No.2 Mark I".
This round was an improved Indian version of the Drill Mark V. It had a cupro-nickel envelope of Mark VII form over a combined bullet and wood distance piece.
The first pattern of this round had a plain brass case with four small holes, but Indian LoC Paragraph 9993 dated 1st August 1919 introduced a second pattern in which the case was blackened.
The case had an empty cap chamber with both anvil and fire holes. Any contemporary Indian ball headstamp may be found.
Drill Mark II, New Zealand Pattern
This was the New Zealand Local Pattern of the Dummy Drill Mark II. It was introduced about 1900 and differed from the approved British pattern by having a service Ball Mark II bullet instead of an empty envelope soldered to the case. It was made from fired cases and the fired cap remained in place.
The case and bullet were tinned all over and there were no holes in the case.
Any contemporary New Zealand headstamp may be found.
Drill Mark II, New Zealand Pattern (Second type)
Introduced in about 1902, this round was intended to approximate the Drill Mark II. Its construction was unique to New Zealand by utilising converted fired Blank Mark VI cases with a brass mock bullet.
The fired cases were nickel plated and in some cases new mock bullet ferrules were fitted. Others had the petals of the mock bullet pressed flat or removed entirely.
The fired caps were left in place and any contemporary New Zealand headstamp may be found.
Drill Mark III, New Zealand Pattern
Introduced around 1900, this was the New Zealand Local Pattern of the British Dummy Drill Mark III.
It differed from the approved pattern by having a service Ball Mark VI bullet fitted instead of a wooden one. Both fired and new unheadstamped cases were used. Four holes were drilled in the case and the fired primer was left in place. The fired cases may have any contemporary ball headstamp from New Zealand or Australia.
Drill American WWI
During WWI a drill round was produced in the United States that approximated the British Dummy Drill Mark V.
It was fitted with an American Ball Mark VII bullet and was either tinned or blackened overall with four small holes drilled in the case.Those made by the United States Cartridge Company had an empty Boxer cap chamber with fire hole but those from Winchester had a dummy cap fitted.. Headstamps seen were either from the United States Cartridge Company (US 15 VII) which were tinned overall or from Winchester Repeating Arms Company (W 15) which were blackened.
It is possible that these were locally produced for British inspectors working in America and used to inspect Pattern '14 rifles being made at Winchester, Remington and Eddystone.
Australian Local Pattern Mark I
The date of approval (if any) of "Cartridge S.A. Drill .303 inch Local Pattern Mark I" is not known, but was some time in WW2.
The Australian Local Pattern Mark I consisted of a one piece die cast body and bullet fitted to a steel base. There were three flutes in the case painted red and a blind cap chamber without anvil or fire holes, also painted red.
Two companies produced these in Australia, with slight differences in manufacturing technique. Those made by K.B.Carmichael Ltd have the flutes cast into the body and a headstamp "LP1 KBC" whilst those produced by Die-casters Ltd have the flutes milled after casting and are without headstamp.
Drill D.1942 Canadian Pattern
"Cartridge S.A. Drill D 1942 Canadian Pattern" was approved in 1942 but not shown in Lists of Changes. Strictly speaking, although produced in Canada this was a British issue round.
It approximated the D Mark VI but used a standard 174 grain Ball Mark VII bullet. The case was chrome plated with three flutes which may or may not be painted red. The empty cap chamber retained the anvil and fire holes and was not painted red. The headstamp was "DAC 1942 VII". Unplated cases are also known.
Canada D Mark VII L.P.
The Canadian "Cartridge S.A. .303 inch Drill D Mark VII Local Pattern" is a combination of both types of British D Mark VII.
The case is a chrome plated ball case without cap but with anvil and fire holes. It has both red painted flutes and four small holes drilled in the case. Headstamps are generally from the late 1920s and early 1930s.
The bullet is a standard Ball Mark VII supported on a wood distance piece.
Drill American WW2
During WW2 Winchester Repeating Arms Co. made many million ball rounds on british contract. They also made drill rounds in both .303 inch and 9mm calibres.
The .303 inch drill rounds supplied by Winchester were essentially their commercial offering but with a military contract headstamp. The case had a blind Boxer primer pocket and the headstanp "WRA 1942 .303".
The bullet was a normal Winchester ball bullet and the round was blackened all over.
Drill New Zealand Local Pattern
The date of approval of the New Zealand "Cartridge S.A. Drill .303 inch Local Pattern" round is unknown but was about 1940 and the exact nomenclature is uncertain. It is unlike British drill rounds and does not conform to any other approved type.
It consists of a brass service case and bullet blackened all over, with six long tapering flutes in the case. The bullet is secured by three heavy neck crimps. It has an empty cap chamber but retains the anvil and fire holes. The headstamp is "CAC 42 VII".
Drill New Zealand Local Pattern, D10 type
This is the above blackened WW2 Local Pattern drill round brought up to an approximation of the British Drill D Mark 10. The date of approval and exact nomenclature is unknown.
It consists of a brass service case and bullet chrome plated all over with the six long tapered flutes of the parent round. Some are found with red painted flutes. The headstamp is "CAC 42 VII" and the cap chamber has been bored out..
