8×50mmR Mannlicher
8x50mmR Mannlicher, 8x50mmR M93 | ||||||||||||||||
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Type | Military rifle cartridge | |||||||||||||||
Place of origin | ![]() | |||||||||||||||
Production history | ||||||||||||||||
Designed | 1893 | |||||||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||||||
Bullet diameter | 0.323 inches (8.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||
Case length | 1.968 inches (50.0 mm) | |||||||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||
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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) used a slightly updated version of the "wedge-lock" bolt system that the earlier M.86 rifle used. 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.[1]
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. RCBS offers both reforming and reloading matrices.