Patrone 88 | ||||||||
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![]() Five-round clip with 1888 pattern M/88 ammunition | ||||||||
Type | Rifle | |||||||
Place of origin | German Empire | |||||||
Service history | ||||||||
In service | 1888–1918 | |||||||
Used by | German Empire | |||||||
Wars | Boxer Rebellion
World War I | |||||||
Production history | ||||||||
Designer | German Rifle Testing Commission | |||||||
Designed | 1888 | |||||||
Produced | 1888–present as 8×57mm I | |||||||
Variants | 8×57mm I and 8×57mm IR (rimmed) | |||||||
Specifications | ||||||||
Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||
Bullet diameter | 8.09 mm (0.319 in) | |||||||
Neck diameter | 8.99 mm (0.354 in) | |||||||
Shoulder diameter | 10.95 mm (0.431 in) | |||||||
Base diameter | 11.94 mm (0.470 in) | |||||||
Rim diameter | 11.95 mm (0.470 in) | |||||||
Rim thickness | 1.30 mm (0.051 in) | |||||||
Case length | 57.00 mm (2.244 in) | |||||||
Overall length | 82.00 mm (3.228 in) | |||||||
Case capacity | 4.03 cm3 (62.2 gr H2O) | |||||||
Rifling twist | 240 mm (1 in 9.45 in) | |||||||
Primer type | Large rifle | |||||||
Maximum pressure (C.I.P.) | 380.00 MPa (55,114 psi) | |||||||
Filling weight | 2.75 g (42.4 gr) | |||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||
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Test barrel length: 740 mm (29.1 in) |
The Patrone 88 (cartridge 88) or M/88 is a rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. It was a first-generation smokeless propellant cartridge designed by the German Gewehr-Prüfungskommission (G.P.K.) (Rifle Testing Commission) as the then new smokeless propellant introduced as Poudre B in the 1886 pattern 8×50mmR Lebel started a military rifle ammunition revolution.
The Patrone 88 cartridge was loaded with 2.75 g (42.4 gr) of single-base (based on nitrocellulose) smokeless powder. The cartridge was based on a Swiss design and was loaded with a 8.08 mm (0.318 in) diameter 14.6 g (225 gr) round-nose full metal jacket bullet that was cupronickel plated and reached a muzzle velocity of 620 m/s (2,034 ft/s). The bullet core consisted of 95% lead and 5% antimony. It served as parent cartridge of several 8×57mm rimless and rimmed rifle cartridges.