Comments by "Andy Dee" (@AndyViant) on "BFBS Forces News" channel.

  1. There's not a LOT of difference between a .303 Brit and a 7.62x54R. But there is enough that the 7.62x54R is a little bit better. The MK VII ammunition obviously improved the .303 a fair bit, and that didn't come into play until 1910. There was to be a further enhancement of the .303, with the VIIIz, but that caused wear issues and thus was not supposed to be used for the standard SMLE, although it was used in it (of course).
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  2. It's also worth pointing out that it wasn't that long ago that we were not talking about the 7.62x54R being the oldest cartridge in regular service because we were talking about the oldest available round in a conflict in another arena - Afghanistan, which had a great number of British .303 rifles in use because of the British History and Influence in the region. Now that the latest major conflict point is within the (former) Russian sphere, namely Ukraine, then the discussion is about the 7.62x54R. When we next face off against the Taliban in Afghanistan or West Pakistan, or perhaps face insurgency in Malawi or Rwanda or Nepal we'll swing the debate again. Unless you can officially prove the ongoing official use of the Martini-Metford or Martini-Henry post 2011, then the 303 Brit is the oldest ammunition in official service and the Mosin-Nagant is the oldest rifle in official service.
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