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Two marks of 7.92mm proof ammunition were approved for the BESA plus some contract proof rounds from Winchester in the United States. It is notable that the British proof cartridges were filled with cordite, whilst all other 7.92mm ammunition was nitrocellulose filled.
Proof Q Mark I
"Cartridge S.A. Proof 7.92mm Q Mark I" was approved to design DD/L/9842 in late 1939 and not shown in Lists of Changes.
The case was as for the Ball Mark I but was copper washed for identification. It had a yellow primer annulus and the headstamp included the code "Q I". Caps were ringed in.
The bullet was the 198 grain ball bullet.
The propellant charge was 45 grains of Cordite MDT 5-2 with one wad. Some official documents quote the charge as 47.5 grains of Cordite MDT 5-2.
Pressure was set between 26 and 28 tsi, about 25% above service pressure.
Proof Q Mark II
Why it was necessary for the Q Mark I to be replaced is not known.
"Cartridge S.A. Proof 7.92mm Q Mark II" was approved to design DD/L/12611 in September 1941 and not shown in Lists of Changes.
The case was as for the Ball Mark I but was copper washed for identification. It had a yellow primer annulus and the headstamp included the code "Q II". In some cases the caps were ringed in whilst in others the caps were secured by burring.
The bullet was the 198 grain ball bullet.
The propellant charge was 47.5 grains of Cordite. Originally this was Cordite MDT 5-2 with one wad but in 1945 Cordite Size 3 was also authorised.
Pressure was set between 26 and 28 tsi, about 25% above service pressure.
Winchester Proof
Small quantities of 7.92mm proof ammunition were imported form Winchester in the United States
The cases were tinned and headstamped "W.R.A.CO 8M/M".
The bullet weighed 154 grains and was flat based.
The propellant charge was 40 grains of flake nitrocellulose and it is presumed to have given a similar pressure to the Q Mark I and II.
Blank
No blank was formally approved for the 7.92mm BESA but some experimental production took place. This included plastic bullets, wood bullets and rosette crimped blanks, but most of this is believed to have been for the experimental 7.92mm SLEM rifle and is covered elsewhere.
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