Hi Tim,
Found by a metal detector enthusiast. Doesn't know what they are. impression I've got secondhand is that they are .303, but he doesn't know and wants to know what they are.
IF they are .303 then they are a low risk, but I found this
http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/26-1.htm from the UK Health & Safely Executive worth sharing. Yes - it's a low risk. But not one we need to have. Best dealt with!
EXTRACT:
AMMUNITION KEPT AS SAMPLES, SOUVENIRS, PATTERNS OR IN MUSEUMS
INTRODUCTION
1 The purpose of this circular is to advise enforcement officers of the possible dangers associated with ammunition kept as samples, souvenirs, patterns or in museums.
BACKGROUND
2 An incident occurred in an MOD unit in 1990 when a small mortar round of World War 1 origin fired whilst being handled causing serious injuries. Previously the mortar had been thought to be explosively inert as the percussion cap showed an indent where it had apparently been struck correctly by the firing pin at some time in the past.
3 Examination of similar items from other sources indicated that a contributing factor to the ignition of the propelling charge was the deterioration of the percussion cap casing allowing the chlorate ingredient of the cap to make contact with the sulphur ingredient of the gunpowder propellant. As such mixtures age they tend to become exceedingly sensitive to ignition by friction or impact and may explode with far greater violence than gunpowder alone.
MOD GUIDANCE
4 Many otherwise stable explosive mixtures can become sensitive with age or if they make contact with incompatible materials due to deterioration of their immediate containers. Such items may not only become more sensitive to impact but are also liable to spontaneous initiation, especially in the case of old or badly stored propellants. MOD guidance is that all ammunition kept as samples, souvenirs, patterns or in museums should be examined by competent personnel to ensure that all components of the ammunition are free from explosives of all types.
5 Whenever possible each item of ammunition should be individually referenced and traceable to a “free-from-explosives” register identifying who certified the ammunition as inert and when. If possible it should be made self-evident that the explosives have been removed from inert rounds eg by drilling a hole in cartridge cases once the propellant has been removed. Items should be indelibly marked as having been checked. The markings should be unique to the establishment /museum/ pattern room concerned. Where items are generally available to persons other than the keeper, a record of "free from explosives" certificates should be maintained.
6 It is recommended that all ammunition is checked again by a competent person immediately prior to disposal. All ammunition sent for disposal should be accompanied by a statement from the consignor that it has been checked and is free from explosives.
7 It is understood that the above information has been circulated to all relevant personnel within the MOD. Museums, especially small private museums, may not be aware of the dangers detailed above. Annex 1 contains a draft letter which could be used by enforcement officers, if they think it appropriate, to alert museums to this problem.
8 As stated above, the preferred method of keeping examples of ammunition is to render them free from explosives. However there may be certain institutions who wish to store live ammunition. If so, then the keeper will need to ensure storage complies with the requirements of the Explosives Act 1875 and other explosives legislation. Where explosives are being kept for a long time the keeper needs to be aware that they can degrade with time and become more sensitive, and periodic checking of the stability of explosives and the integrity of any safety devices is advisable. Checking should be undertaken by a competent person (at an explosives factory if any breaking down is undertaken).
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