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Cartridges for Instruction were a Naval store designed for training. They consisted of an inert representation of the service ball round complete with dummy cap and were normally issued in a wooden box with other types of service ammunition. Usually a sectioned example of each type was also included. They will be found in all the marks of Ball round approved and the following are just two examples.
Early marks usually had a white paper label stating either "DUMMY" or "COAL DUST" but later examples had four large holes drilled in the case.
Instruction Mark I
"Cartridge for Instruction S.A. Ball Magazine Rifle Mark I" was approved about 1890 but not shown in Lists of Changes.
The case was a brass service case with Boxer cap and fitted with a dummy primer. A paper label was pasted to the base marked "DUMMY"
A normal 215 grain Mark I bullet was fitted and the case was filled with coal dust.
Left: cartridge for Instruction Mark I. Right: headstamp showing paper "DUMMY" label.
Instruction Mark VI
"Cartridge for Instruction S.A. Ball .303 inch Cordite Mark VI" was approved in September 1907 and shown in Lists of Changes
Paragraph 14107. This was the Instruction version of the Ball Mark VI.
The case was the service Berdan primed case with four large holes drilled.
The bullet was a normal Ball Mark VI and there was no distance piece.
No Coal dust dummy propellant was fitted due to the case holes.
This was the last version of the Cartridge for Instruction to be produced. Earlier version corresponding to the various marks of ball will be found.
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