Engineering:8×50mmR Mannlicher
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| 8×50mmR Mannlicher | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Type | Rifle cartridge | |||||||||||
| Place of origin | Austria-Hungary | |||||||||||
| Service history | ||||||||||||
| Used by | Austria-Hungary Kingdom of Bulgaria Kingdom of Italy | |||||||||||
| Wars | World War I World War II | |||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||
| Designed | 1890 (M. 90) | |||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||
| Parent case | 8×52mmR Mannlicher | |||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed, bottleneck | |||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | 8.22 (C.I.P.) | |||||||||||
| Neck diameter | 9.03 mm (0.356 in) | |||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | 12.01 mm (0.473 in) | |||||||||||
| Base diameter | 12.48 mm (0.491 in) | |||||||||||
| Rim diameter | 14.11 mm (0.556 in) | |||||||||||
| Rim thickness | 1.38 mm (0.054 in) | |||||||||||
| Case length | 50.38 mm (1.983 in) | |||||||||||
| Overall length | 76.21 mm (3.000 in) | |||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| Test barrel length: 30 | ||||||||||||
The Austro-Hungarian 8×50mmR Mannlicher or 8×50mmR M93 is a service cartridge dating back to the days of semi-smokeless powder. It was later replaced by (and many weapons were rechambered for) the 8×56mmR cartridge.[1][2] It is also known as the caliber .315 Indian.
History
M90
In approximately 1890, the Austro-Hungarian Empire converted the older, black powder filled 8×52mmR Mannlicher round into a semi-smokeless cartridge, following upon the heels of France's 8 mm Lebel cartridge, the first smokeless military round. This new round was designated 8mm M.1890 scharfe Patrone or "nitro-Patrone". It was loaded with the same 244 gr bullet but carried a 43 gr charge of "Gewehrpulver" ("rifle powder", Austria-Hungary's name for their version of smokeless powder, which was actually a "semi-smokeless" powder. The new semi-smokeless loading pushed the bullet to a velocity of 1,950 ft/s (590 m/s) in the converted M.88/90 and M.86/90 Mannlicher rifles.[3]
M93
Upon perfection of a completely smokeless powder by the Austro-Hungarians in 1893, the loading was again updated and thus re-designated as the "8mm M.1893 scharfe Patrone". It used the same bullet as the two previous loadings with a 43 gr charge of the new Gewehrpulver M.1892. This improved ballistics slightly, which had been about 200 ft/s (61 m/s) less out of the "repetier-carabiner" Mannlicher M1890 carbine, to 2,035 ft/s (620 m/s) out of the M.88/90 and later Mannlicher M1895 Rifles.[4]
Current use
The 8×50mmR Mannlicher cartridge has a long history of sporting use in India, as it was a simple matter to modify the Lee–Enfield action to accommodate the 8×50mmR in place of the .303 inch cartridge, thus providing a solution to the British colonial administration's 1907 ban on civilians possessing rifles chambered in British military calibres while offering a cartridge of similar capabilities. The IOF.315 Sporting Rifle uses this cartridge under the title of .315 (also .315 Indian).[5][6][7]
As of 2024, the cartridge is still being produced by some specialty manufacturers such as Milsurp Munitions of Florida.[8]
Handloading
Reloadable cartridge cases can be produced by reforming and trimming 8×56mmR Mannlicher or 7.62×54mmR Mosin–Nagant Russian brass. Standard .323" 8mm S-bullets are correct for this caliber though best results are obtained from open-base bullets that can expand to fit the .329" bore.[9] RCBS offers both reforming and reloading dies.
When reloading for "wedge-lock" Mannlicher rifles such as the M.88, M.86/88, M.86/90 or M.88/90 chamber pressures should be kept low for safety. Rifles such as the Mannlicher M.95 using a stronger rotating-bolt design can be loaded to higher pressures.
See also
- List of rimmed cartridges
References
- ↑ John, Jeff (2023-08-25). "Steyr 95/30 8x56R Straight-Pull Action Rifle" (in en). https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/steyr-95-30-8x56r-straight-pull-action-carbine/480716.
- ↑ "Mannlicher M95/30 Rifles and Carbines in Austria Hungary". http://www.hungariae.com/Mann9530.htm.
- ↑ Scarlata, Paul S. (2004). Mannlicher Military Rifles: Straight Pull and Turn Bolt Designs. Rhode Island, USA: Andrew Mowbray Publishers. p. 57. ISBN 1931464146.
- ↑ Scarlata, Paul S. (2004). Mannlicher Military Rifles: Straight Pull and Turn Bolt Designs. Rhode Island, USA: Andrew Mowbray Publishers. p. 74. ISBN 1931464146.
- ↑ Miles (2016-02-10). "Bringing the Lee Enfield into the 21st Century, Indian style" (in en). https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/10/bringing-the-lee-enfield-into-the-21st-century-indian-style/.
- ↑ Foss, Paul-Martin (2022-07-26). "Survival Ammunition: 8x50R Mannlicher" (in en-US). https://redtea.com/survival-ammunition-8x50r-mannlicher/.
- ↑ "0.315" Sporting Rifle | Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services) | Government of India" (in en). https://ddpdoo.gov.in/product/products/product-details/0-315-quot-sporting-rifle.
- ↑ "8x50R Mannlicher Ammo" (in en-US). 2024-12-20. https://milsurpmunitions.com/product/8x50r-mannlicher/.
- ↑ Foss, Paul-Martin (2022-07-26). "Survival Ammunition: 8x50R Mannlicher" (in en-US). https://redtea.com/survival-ammunition-8x50r-mannlicher/.
- "8 x 50 R Mannlicher - MUNICION.ORG". municion.org. http://www.municion.org/8mann/8mann.htm.

