Practice round

Rounds like this were used in .303 rifles, Lewis light machine guns and Vickers medium machine guns. The large container is the casing and the small arrow-shaped piece is the bullet. 

Live rounds contain primer in the base, which is struck by the weapon’s firing pin. A spark then ignites the propellant and expanding gases project the bullet out of the weapon.

Practice rounds like those in the First World War Memorial Boxes are used for training and do not contain any explosive material.

Use the Memorial’s website to investigate ‘bullet pencils.’ What were they? Who gave these to the soldiers? Do you think this would have been a valued gift? Why or why not?

Return to Memorial Box 1 object list