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7.92×57mm Mauser

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8x57 I and 8x57 IS
From left to right 9.3x62mm, .30-06 Springfield, 8x57 IS, 6.5x55mm and 7.62x51mm NATO cartridges
TypeRifle
Place of origin Germany
Service history
In serviceI-variant 1888-1905; IS-variant 1905-present
Used byGermany, Britain, Spain, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, The Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Iran, China, and other middle eastern countries
WarsWorld War I, World War II and others
Production history
DesignerGerman Rifle Testing Commission
Designed1888
Variants8x57mm IR and 8x57mm IRS (rimmed)
Specifications
Case typeRimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter8.08mm / .318 (I) and 8.20 / .323" (IS)
Neck diameter9.08 mm (0.357 in)
Shoulder diameter10.95 mm (0.431 in)
Base diameter11.94 mm (0.470 in)
Rim diameter11.95 mm (0.470 in)
Rim thickness1.30 mm (0.051 in)
Case length57.00 mm (2.244 in)
Overall length82.00 mm (3.228 in)
Case capacity4.09 cm3 (63.1 gr H2O)
Rifling twist240 mm (1 in 9.45 in)
Primer typeLarge rifle
Maximum pressure390 MPa (57,000 psi)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
11.7 g (181 gr) RWS DK 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) 3,934 J (2,902 ft⋅lbf)
12.1 g (187 gr) RWS HMK 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) 4,068 J (3,000 ft⋅lbf)
12.7 g (196 gr) RWS TMR 800 m/s (2,600 ft/s) 4,064 J (2,997 ft⋅lbf)
12.8 g (198 gr) RWS ID Classic 800 m/s (2,600 ft/s) 4,096 J (3,021 ft⋅lbf)
Test barrel length: 600 mm (23.62 in)
Source(s): RWS / RUAG Ammotech [1][dead link‍]

The 8x57mm I cartridge was designed by the German Gewehr-Prüfungskommission (G.P.K.) ("Rifle Testing Commission") for the Gewehr 1888 and later used in Mauser bolt-action rifles, machine guns, and other ordnance weapons. This cartridge was originally adopted by Germany in 1888 as the M/88 8x57 I (I stands for Infanterie or "Infantry").

Germany adopted a new version of the M/88 cartridge in 1905 as the 8x57mm IS (IS stands for Infanterie, Spitz(geschoß) or "Infantry, Pointed (projectile)"). The 1905 pattern cartridge was the German service cartridge in both World Wars and is now known in Europe as the 8x57 IS (C.I.P. designation) and in the USA as the 7.92x57mm IS or 8 mm Mauser (the widespread use in German military Mauser rifles caused the "Mauser" tag, though Mauser had nothing to do with the development of this cartridge). Some sources list it also as "8x57 JS", as capital letters I and J were interchangable in abbreviations at this time.

Development of the IS variant

The government-developed 8x57mm IS cartridge was a further development of the M/88 8x57mm I - which used a round-nosed (ogive) bullet, and was developed to be top-loaded into a rifle's magazine via charger clip in the Gewehr 1888 (or Rifle 88) rifle. The 8x57mm IS bullet was lighter, pointed, and 8.2 mm (0.323 in) in diameter instead of 8.08 mm (0.318 in) with an improved ballistic coefficient.[2] The new IS cartridge had a flatter trajectory, and was therefore less critical of range estimation. It was mainly used in the Gewehr 98 and the later Karabiner 98k rifles and medium machine guns. The rimless cartridge cases have been used as parent cases for several other necked down and necked up cartridges. Also rimmed 8x57mm IR and 8x57mm IRS variants were developed for break barrel type rifles and combination guns.Template:Http://www.intermin.fi/intermin/images.nsf/files/B0E765375DA00143C2256FBE0032DD2A/$file/TABIIcal.pdf pp. 31f.

Military use

Due to the cartridge's high performance and versatility it was adopted by the armed forces of various governments, including Turkey, China, Egypt, former German African colonies, and early Bundeswehr of Germany. Its military use continues today in the former Yugoslavia in weapons like the Zastava M76 sniper rifle and the license-built MG 42, the SARAC M53 machine gun.[3]

During World War II it was one of the few cartridges used by both the Axis and Allied powers, a distinction it shared with the 9x19mm Parabellum pistol round. Apart from being the standard rifle cartridge of the German armed forces, it was also used by the armed forces of Great Britain in the Besa machine gun, which was mounted in some of their tanks and other armoured vehicles - it was known as "Cartridge, SA, 7.92"[4] Chinese forces used it in their standard Mauser 98-pattern rifles.

Civil use

8x57mm IS (above) and the rimmed 8x57mm IRS cartridges loaded with TIG hunting bullets

It is tremendously popular among European sportsmen[citation needed], and especially with German and Austrian shooters, alongside broadly similar cartridges such as the 5.6x57mm, 6.5x55mm, 6.5x57mm, 7x57mm Mauser and the 6.5x68mm and 8x68mm S magnum hunting cartridges. The 8x57mm S cartridge's performance makes it well suited to the shooting of all large European game such as deer, chamois, mouflon, wild Boar and bears.[citation needed]

It cannot be used in countries which ban civil use of former or current military rifle cartridges, like France or Italy, however.

Beside the 8x57mm IS rifle cartridge also a rimmed version for break-action rifles exist.[citation needed] The rimmed 8x57mm IRS variant is offered as a chambering option in European break-action rifles.[citation needed]

Cartridge naming

European designations

The mainly European arms standards body Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives ("Permanent International Commission for portable firearms testing") - an organisation for standards in ammuntion for civilian use - currently designates two 8 mm cartridges of 57 mm case length. Following the original military nomenclature C.I.P. assigned the 8x57 I and 8x57 IS civil nomenclature to these cartridges.

American designations

The American standardizing body for sporting cartridges Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) designates the IS cartridge as the 8 mm Mauser, also known as 8x57mm JS. However, the SAAMI pressure limitation for this cartridge is taken from the older 8x57mm I and is limited to (Piezo SAAMI Pmax = 241.317 MPa [35,000 psi]) or 37,500 CUP.[citation needed] This is done for safety, in case the modern cartridge is fired in an 'I' bore rifle that has a narrower throat diameter, to avoid excess pressure in that area. European manufacturers generally only load to the lower pressure limit for 'I' bore cartridges; and the US based manufacturer Hornady followed their lead in their (now discontinued) EuroSpec brand 8x57 JS load.

Sometimes, the cartridge is called 7.92x57mm IS; this, however, seems to be a misnomer as no sources can be traced to Germany.

The letter 'J' is actually an 'I' for Infanterie (infantry). As a stamped "I" at the cartridge bottom could be mistaken, even today the "I" is substituted by a "J" and the cartridges are normally stamped "JS". The letter 'S' stands for Spitzgeschoß ("pointed bullet"), and the English word "spitzer" is derived from this German term.

German military ammunition

Name Year Caliber Bullet weight Length Rim Base Shoulder Neck OAL Muzzle velocity Muzzle energy
8x57mm I 1888 8.07 millimetres (0.318 in) 14.6 g (226 gr) 57 millimetres (2.2 in) 11.95 millimetres (0.470 in) 11.94 millimetres (0.470 in) 10.95 millimetres (0.431 in) 8.99 millimetres (0.354 in) 80.5 millimetres (3.17 in) 639 metres per second (2,100 ft/s) 2,983 joules (2,200 ft⋅lbf)
8x57mm IS 1905 8.2 millimetres (0.32 in) 9.9 g (154 gr) 57 millimetres (2.2 in) 11.95 millimetres (0.470 in) 11.94 millimetres (0.470 in) 10.95 millimetres (0.431 in) 9.08 millimetres (0.357 in) 80.5 millimetres (3.17 in) 878 metres per second (2,880 ft/s) 3,857 joules (2,845 ft⋅lbf)
8x57mm IS 1934 8.2 millimetres (0.32 in) 12.8 g (197 gr) 57 millimetres (2.2 in) 11.95 millimetres (0.470 in) 11.94 millimetres (0.470 in) 10.95 millimetres (0.431 in) 9.08 millimetres (0.357 in) 80.5 millimetres (3.17 in) 760 metres per second (2,500 ft/s) 3,697 joules (2,727 ft⋅lbf)
  • The data for the 8x57mm I and the 8x57mm IS of 1905 is for Gewehr 98 rifles with 740 millimetres (29 in) barrel length.[5]
  • The data for the 8x57mm IS of 1934 is for Karabiner 98k rifles with 600 millimetres (24 in) barrel length.[6]
A German Stripper clip with five 8x57mm IS cartridges for the Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98k German rifles.

Cartridge drawings and dimensions

7,92x57 I / 8x57 I

The 8x57mm I cartridge has 4.03 ml (62 grains) H2O cartridge case capacity. The exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction in bolt action rifles and machine guns alike, under extreme conditions.

8x57mm I maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters

Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 ≈ 19.1 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 240 mm (1 in 9.45 in), 4 grooves, Ø lands = 7.80 mm, Ø grooves = 8.07 mm, land width = 4.40 mm and the primer type is large rifle.

According to the official C.I.P. guidelines the 8 x 57 I case can handle up to 380 MPa (55114 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P. regulated countries every rifle and cartridge combination has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers.

7,92x57 IS / 8 x 57 IS

The 8 x 57 IS cartridge has 4.09 ml (63 grains) H2O cartridge case capacity. The exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction in bolt action rifles and machine guns alike, under extreme conditions.

8x57mm IS maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters.

Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 ≈ 19.1 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 240 mm (1 in 9.45 in), 4 grooves, Ø lands = 7.89 mm, Ø grooves = 8.20 mm, land width = 4.40 mm and the primer type is large rifle.

According to the official C.I.P. guidelines the 8x57mm IS case can handle up to 390 MPa (56564 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P. regulated countries every rifle cartridge combination has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers.

Additional information

In 7.9 mm caliber, "there were many German military versions of the cartridge, and Germany never stopped its development of different variations until the end" of World War II. "The bullet lengths varied a great deal through the different types, but all were loaded to an overall length" of 80.5 mm (3.17 in). The Germans had started using steel cases in World War I, "and by the end of 1943, most German ammunition had that type of case."[7]

Cartridge variants during World War II

German 7.92 mm sS 12.8 g (198 gr) Full Metal Jacket Boat-Tail round.

The German standard sS (schweres Spitzgeschoß - "heavy pointed bullet") ball bullet was 35.3 mm (1.39 in) long, boat-tailed, and very well made.[7] It was lead filled, had a gilding-metal-plated jacket, and weighed 12.8 grams (198 grains). It offered the best aerodynamic efficiency and external ballistic performance of any standard rifle bullet used during World War II with a G1 ballistic coefficient between 0.593 and 0.557 (ballistic coefficients are somewhat debatable). When fired at the typical muzzle velocity of 760 m/s (2,493 ft/s) out of a 600 mm (23.6 in) barrel the sS bullet retained supersonic velocity up to and past 1,000 m (1,094 yd) (V1000 ≈ Mach 1.07) under International Standard Atmosphere conditions at sea level (air density ρ = 1.225 kg/m3). Even by contemporary (2010) standards 1000+ m (1,094+ yards) effective range is quite remarkable for a standard military rifle round.[nb 1] For recognition the circular groove between cap and brass was green, and it had a yellow colored bullet.

Special ammunition included: [8]

  • [SmK L'spur - Leuchtspur] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (SmK tracer) - red circular groove, black bullet point

German tracer bullets "were the best put out by any country — streamlined and with excellent ballistics".[7]

  • [SmK-Geschoß - Spitz mit Kern] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) ("Spitzer with Core") - steel cored projectile for use against targets behind thick covers, tanks, or airplanes. Red circular groove (cap-groove?), yellow bullet.
German Spitzgeschoss mit Kern armor piercing bullets were also very good, being very stable and accurate at long ranges.[7] The most common type of armor piercing round had a hardened-steel core with plated-steel jacket and weighed 11.5 grams (177 gr). Other types appeared which used tungsten carbide and combinations for cores. Sintered iron and mild steel cores also came into use in ball ammunition.
  • [PmK-Geschoß - (Phosphor mit Stahlkern)] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) ("phosphorus with steel core") and [B-Geschoß - (Beobachtung)] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) ("observation")
German Luftwaffe (Air force) 7.9 mm high velocity machine gun ammunition loaded with the 10.15 grams (156.6 gr) PmK (Phosphor mit Stahlkern - "phosphorus with steel core") ball bullets or the 10.85 grams (167.4 gr) B (Beobachtung - "observation") ball bullets, featured a 15% higher muzzle velocity than standard ammunition due to a more powerful smokeless powder charge. These rounds were designated as V-patronen, with 'V' being short for improved (Template:Lang-de). The PmK ball bullets were armour-piercing incendiary bullets; the HE incendiary B ball bullets contained phosphorus and "had a pellet in it which exploded on contact with any target, however frail".[7] The B ball bullet was like any other high explosive or incendiary bullet, illegal for anti-personnel use according to the Hague Conventions. "The Germans maintained that it was used mainly for observation and range-finding, but observers report having seen them in rifle clips and machine gun belts".[7] The regular German infantry units were not allowed to use this round; however German snipers sometimes used this high velocity round to gain an extra 150 m (160 yards) effective range and cause horrendous wounds. The standard issue Karabiner 98k rifles handled these higher pressure cartridges without issues.[9]
  • [SPr-Geschoß - S-Phosphor] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (S incendiary) - black circular groove, clear or black bullet
  • [Platzpatrone] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (blank cartridge) - two cannelures in the brass, red wood- or cardboard-bullet, cardboard plug (Fließpappe-Pfropfen) between bullet and propellant powder. Safe distance given at 25m.
  • [Exerzierpatrone] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) ("drill cartridge") - two variants: S-Punkt ("S-dot") with vertical grooves in the brass for aiming exercises; Werkzeug ("tool") with the same weight as a sS ball cartridge for examining the functioning of firearms action. A horizontal ring of small holes above the extractor grooves differentiated the Werkzeug round from the sS ball cartridge.

British cartridges

British cartridges included "Ball", "Armour-Piercing", "Tracer", and "Incendiary". Blanks and a Drill round were also available for instruction purposes. The Drill round was an aluminium bullet fixed in a chromium-plated case which had three deep lengthwise recesses painted red to indentify it. Ammunition was supplied in belted form 225 rounds per belt.[4]

Designation Marks Annulus colour Notes
Cartridge, SA, Ball, 7.92mm Mark I.Z, Mark II.Z dark purple if present Mark II.Z bullet has "flatter" nose and longer parallel portion to engage with rifling
Cartridge, SA, Armour-piercing, 7.92mm Mark I.Z, Mark II.Z Green hard steel core, lead-antimony sleeve, steel envelope
Cartridge, SA, Tracer, 7.92mm Mark I.Z, Mark II.Z Red red tracer composition in unstreamlined bullet. Effective for 900 yards.
Cartridge, SA, Incendiary, 7.92mm Mark I Blue

The Ball case was filled with a charge of around 45 grains of nitro-cellulose.[10]

The British cartridge was used in only one weapon - the "7.92 mm BESA machine gun". This was a Czech design adopted shortly before the war as a move towards rimless ammunition. The BESA was only fitted to tanks and armoured cars of British design (the original Czech design was also produced for German use following the occupation of Czechoslovakia) and captured German ammunition was used when available.

8 mm cartridges compared

Maximum muzzle velocity comparison in % of the probably most proliferated European and American 8 mm rifle cartridges out of 650 mm (25.59 in) long barrels loaded with relatively light to heavy 8 mm bullets to their C.I.P. or SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute) sanctioned maximum pressures.[citation needed]

Bullet weight gram (grain) 8.23 g (127 gr) 9.72 g (150 gr) 11.34 g (175 gr) 12.96 g (200 gr) 14.26 g (220 gr) Case capacity (%)
7.92x57mm Mauser (8x57mm IS) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
8x64mm S 102.7 102.7 102.8 102.9 102.9 110.3
.325 WSM 108.7 109.1 109.0 109.3 111.1 131.7
8x68mm S 108.4 108.5 108.7 110.5 112.3 136.5
8 mm Rem. Mag. 111.9 112.3 114.5 115.3 116.0 157.1

This comparison is not totally objective since the 8 mm Remington Magnum and .325 WSM operate at 448.16 MPa (65000 psi), the 8x68mm S at 440 MPa (63817 psi), the 8x64mm S at 405 MPa (58740 psi) and the 7.92x57mm Mauser at 390 MPa (56564 psi) maximum chamber pressure. Higher chamber pressure results in higher muzzle velocities.

The 8x57mm as parent case

This was the parent case for many other later cartridges, such as:

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ see Sniper rifle#Maximum effective range
Citations
  1. ^ RWS Ammunition Ballistic Data & Application Consultant
  2. ^ The 8mm (7,92X57) Mauser Cartridge
  3. ^ Machine Gun 42
  4. ^ a b Churchill Tank - Vehicle History and Specifications 1983 HMSO ISBN 0 11 290404 1 pages 100-102
  5. ^ French Gewehr 98 and 8x57mm website - use the index to choose a particulare rifle variant or the 8x57mm cartridgeTemplate:Fr icon
  6. ^ French Gewehr 98 and 8x57mm website - use the index to choose a particulare rifle variant or the 8x57mm cartridgeTemplate:Fr icon
  7. ^ a b c d e f Maj. James C. Beyer, MC, Maj. James K. Arima, MSC, and Doris W. Johnson. "Enemy Ordnance Materiel". WOUND BALLISTICS. pp. 52–53. {{cite web}}: |chapter= ignored (help); Missing pipe in: |chapter= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ W.Reibert, Der Dienst-Unterricht im Heere, Ausgabe für den Schützen der Schützenkompanie, edition 1940, pp. 169f.
  9. ^ Im Auge des Jägers: der Wehrmachts-Scharfschütze Franz Karner; (eine biographische Studie) by Albrecht Wacker ISBN 3-932077-12-1
  10. ^ Churchill tank p100
Bibliography
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