Originally Posted by
texasnative46
Ballistics in Scotland,
I don't believe that I said that there was a "large contract" to do what was done to my P17. - Nonetheless, a former (& now passed away) member of the Home Guard in 1973 told me that .303 bullets were available & (at least where he was) .30-06 M2 Ball was NOT available, so at least some P-17 were "field modified" to use what was AVAILABLE.
As to "red-banded rifles", the truth is that MANY or even a large MAJORITY of P17 rifles were "red-banded" though any number of P-17 rifles were NOT "banded", as there are numerous reports of "incorrect ammunition" being received for "un-banded" rifles that were received/issued for use in .30-06 caliber.
(Roger L________ said that the "field modified" rifles were SOMETIMES fired with M2 Ball ammo but that accuracy was "inadequate".)
The former SGT, British Home Guard, said that "- - - - early in the World War we had all sorts of donated shotguns, sporting rifles, assorted handguns & any other weapon that was available. We even received a few Tommy-guns from America but those were received without ammunition."
He also told me that after American USAAC personnel "arrived in our area" that we got "by various means" some American-made ammunition & equipment.
ADDENDA: One "well-to-do" retired American COL, who was living in London & married to a British lady, organized an "All American" Home Guard unit & bought/paid for (out of his own pocket) enough TSMG to outfit the whole company. - He also privately bought uniforms/equipment for the whole "American" HG unit.
yours, tex