8×50mmR Mannlicher

8x50mmR Mannlicher, 8x50mmR M93
Type	Military rifle cartridge
Place of origin	Austria-Hungary
Production history
Designed	1893
Specifications
Bullet diameter	0.323 inches (8.2 mm)
Case length	1.968 inches (50.0 mm)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 244 gr (16 g) RN 1,750 ft/s (530 m/s) 1,658.89 ft⋅lbf (2,249.15 J) 244 gr (16 g) RN 1,950 ft/s (590 m/s) 2,059.74 ft⋅lbf (2,792.63 J) 244 gr (16 g) RN 2,035 ft/s (620 m/s) 2,243.22 ft⋅lbf (3,041.40 J)
Test barrel length: 30

Note: Not to be confused with the more common 8x50R Lebel cartridge.

The Austrian 8x50mmR Mannlicher or 8x50mmR M93 is an old cartridge dating back to the days of blackpowder.

History

M88

The 8x50mmR Mannlicher cartridge was first introduced in 1888 for the Mannlicher Repetier-Gewehr M.88. The rifle was an updated version of the Mannlicher M.86, the M.88 (and later M.88/90 and M.90) used a slightly updated version of the "wedge-lock" bolt system that the earlier M.86 rifle used. Many M.86 rifles were converted to the new cartridge, creating the M.86/88. In its initial incarnation, the round was given the designation 8 mm M.1888 scharfe Patrone. It was loaded with a 244gr round nosed bullet and a 62gr charge of compressed black powder. This gave the bullet an approximate velocity of 1,750 ft/s (530 m/s) out of the M.88's 30" barrel.

M90

In approximately 1890 the Austro-Hungarian empire converted the 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 8 mm M.1890 scharfe Patrone or "Nitro-Patrone". It was loaded with the same 244gr bullet but carried a 43gr charge of "Gewehrpulver" (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 clip of 1,950 ft/s (590 m/s) in the converted M.88/90 and M.86/90 Mannlicher rifles.

M93

In 1893 the loading was once again updated with the perfection of a completely smokeless powder by the Austro-Hungarians. This new loading was designated 8 mm M.1893 scharfe Patrone, it was loaded with the same bullet as the two previous loadings but used a 43gr charge of the new Gewehrepulver M.1892. This improved ballistics slightly to 2,035 ft/s (620 m/s) out of the long M.88/90 and later M.95 long rifles, it was about 200 ft/s (61 m/s) less out of the Repetier-Carabiner M.90 and M.95. It was later replaced (and weapons rechambered for) the 8x56mmR Steyr cartridge.

Current Use

It is possible that the IOF.315 Sporting Rifle uses this cartridge as the .315 as discussed here http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=760&start=240#p39378

Handloading

Reloadable cartridge cases can be produced by reforming and trimming 8x56mmR Mannlicher or 7.62x54mmR Mosin-Nagant Russian brass. Standard .323" 8mm S-bullets are correct for this caliber though best results will be obtained from open-base bullets that can expand to fit the .329" bore. RCBS offers both reforming and reloading matrices.

If reloading for "wedge-lock" Mannlicher rifles such as the M.88, M.86/88, M.86/90 or M.88/90 then 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.