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Once deliveries of American small arms, aircraft and vehicles began large quantities of drill rounds were required. Later when the decision was made to arm the Local Defence Volunteers (Later the Home Guard) with .30 inch weapons the demands increased further.
Drill D Mark I
"Cartridge S.A. Drill .30 inch D Mark I" was approved to design DD/L/12689 DI in October 1941 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph B.7186 dated December 1942.
The case was a fired capped U.S. case fitted with either a ball or AP service bullet. Two pairs of holes were drilled in the case and the bullet was soldered to the case at the neck. Some examples have a wood distance piece fitted.
Drill D Mark II
"Cartridge S.A. Drill .30 inch D Mark II" was approved to design DD/L/12689 DI in October 1941 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph B.7186 dated December 1942.
The case was a fired capped U.S. case with two pairs of holes drilled through it. A combined one piece wood distance piece and bullet was stained red and cemented into the case.
It proved too delicate in service and the wood bullet broke too easily, so it was soon replaced in the UK.
Meanwhile, a further drill round was approved in India.
Drill D Mark III
"Cartridge S.A. Drill .30 inch D Mark III" was approved to design I.A.172 and shown in Indian Army Lists of Changes Paragraph A.9126 dated October 1942.
According to the Indian LoC paragraph it consisted of a service case with a service or defective bullet resting on a wood distance piece. The case had two holes drilled near the base and six vertical flutes painted red.
It was also shown in the Kirkee Ammunition Publications of January 1945 but the drawing there contradicts certain features in the Lists of Changes. This shows a case without cap, fire holes or anvil with either six flutes or four holes. The headstamp included the code "D" and the mark number together with manufacturer's initials and last two digits of the date. It also states that the round was also to be used as an inspection round by armourers and inspectors.
No actual examples are known.
Drill D Mark IV
"Cartridge S.A. Drill .30 inch D Mark IV" was approved to design DD/L/12689 D4 in February 1943 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph B.7989 dated July 1943.
The case was a fired capped U.S. case with two pairs of holes drilled through it. A combined one piece wood distance piece and bullet was used with the bullet portion covered with a CN or CNCS envelope. The wood distance piece was stained red. Rounds with chromium plated cases also exist.
Left: Plain brass case. Right; plated case.
Drill D Mark 5
"Cartridge S.A. Drill .30 inch D Mark 5" was approved to design DD/L/12689 D5 in August 1951 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph C.4701 dated October 1951. The Drawing Reference was QV3A.
The case was of chromed brass with either a bright or satin finish. It had three vertical flutes painted red and usually had fire holes and anvil but no cap. A 150 grain ball bullet was fitted resting on a wood distance piece and a normal ball headstamp was used. The bullet was crimped of coned at the neck.
Four other drill rounds were approved for British service, two British, one Canadian and the other American.
Expedient Drill - Cast Metal and plastic
The formal title of this die cast metal expedient drill round is not known, but it was one of a series of cast metal drill rounds manufactured by Lines Brothers of Wimbledon that included 9mm and .45 ACP.
Lines Brothers were the manufacturers of Tri-ang toys and had a great deal of experience in zinc casting. During the war they also made huge quantities of munitions including 750,000 Mark III Sten guns.
The one piece casting had the overall dimensions of the .30 cartridge with three vertical flutes and a slight indentation in the base for the firing pin.
The second British expedient drill round consisted of a standard fired U.S. case fitted with a red plastic bullet. Similar expedient drill rounds are also found in .303 inch calibre. The origins of these rounds is not known and it is unlikely that they actually received formal approval.
Drill D.1942
"Cartridge S.A. Drill .30 inch D.1942 Canadian Pattern" was not shown as approved nor in Lists of Changes.
The case was supposed to be a standard service ball case chromed with three vertical flutes. However most examples seen have had plain brass cases and a commercial Dominion Cartridge Company headstamp of "D.C.Co .30 SPG." Both red painted and unpainted flutes have been noted.
A standard 150 grain ball bullet was fitted.
Cal. .300 Cartridge Dummy
Strictly speaking this was a drill cartridge not a dummy made on contract by Remington Arms Co. in the United States. It consisted of a chromed service contract case with service headstamp, typically "R A 40", with firehole but no cap.
The case had three flutes, unusually painted green, A 150 grain ball bullet was fitted.
Packaging used the British contract nomenclature of "Cal. .300"
Left: Top and side label for .30 inch Remington dummy round.
Right: Remington dummy round.
Inspection Cartridge.
No Inspection cartridge was approved for the .30 inch calibre but an inspection type cartridge was made and used in the 1950s and 1960s.
The case was a standard ball case chromed without flutes. No cap was fitted but it had fire holes and anvil and a normal 150 grain ball bullet was fitted on a wood distance piece and coned at the neck. The headstamp was that of the ball round.
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