8×50mmR Mannlicher

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 in the converted M.88/90 and M.86/90 Mannlicher rifles.

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 less out of the "repetier-carabiner" Mannlicher M1890 carbine, to 2035 ft/s out of the M.88/90 and later Mannlicher M1895 Rifles.

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).

British gunmakers BSA produced sporting versions of the Lee–Enfield military rifle, chambered in "8mm (.315")" from well before World War I until at least the 1930s. The British-founded "Rifle Factory Ishapore" continues to manufacture Lee–Enfield sporting rifles in this chambering.

As of 2024, the cartridge is still being produced by some specialty manufacturers such as Milsurp Munitions of Florida.

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. 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.

References

References

1. John, Jeff. (2023-08-25). "Steyr 95/30 8x56R Straight-Pull Action Rifle".
2. "Mannlicher M95/30 Rifles and Carbines in Austria Hungary".
3. Scarlata, Paul S.. (2004). "Mannlicher Military Rifles: Straight Pull and Turn Bolt Designs". Andrew Mowbray Publishers.
4. Scarlata, Paul S.. (2004). "Mannlicher Military Rifles: Straight Pull and Turn Bolt Designs". Andrew Mowbray Publishers.
5. Miles. (2016-02-10). "Bringing the Lee Enfield into the 21st Century, Indian style".
6. Foss, Paul-Martin. (2022-07-26). "Survival Ammunition: 8x50R Mannlicher".
7. "0.315" Sporting Rifle {{!}} Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services) {{!}} Government of India".
8. (2024-12-20). "8x50R Mannlicher Ammo".
9. Foss, Paul-Martin. (2022-07-26). "Survival Ammunition: 8x50R Mannlicher".