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 the 8×56mmR cartridge. Note: This cartridge should not be confused with the French8×50mmR Lebel cartridge.
History
M90
In approximately 1890, the Austro-Hungarian Empire converted the older, black powder filled 8×52mmR Mannlicherround 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". The new semi-smokeless loading pushed the bullet to a velocity of 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 "8mm M.1893 scharfe Patrone", it was loaded with the same bullet as the two previous loadings but used a 43 gr charge of the new Gewehrpulver M.1892. This improved ballistics slightly to out of the M.88/90 and later M.95 long rifles, it was about less out of the repetier-carabiner M.90 and M.95.
Current use
The IOF.315 Sporting Rifle uses this cartridge under the title of.315. 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 ban on civilians possessing rifles chambering British military cartridges while offering a cartridge of similar capabilities. British gunmakers BSA produced sporting versions of the Lee–Enfield military rifle, chambered in "8mm " 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.
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.
