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8mm Ammo Identification?

Discussion in 'Small Arms and Edged Weapons' started by Totenkoph, Nov 13, 2009.

  1. Totenkoph

    Totenkoph Member

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    Bisecting perpindicular lines on each side of primer forming four quadrants. In the top quadrant is the Roman Numeral VIII. In the left one 19 and in the right 38. In the bottom one is what looks to be a Nazi eagle; but if it's holding the swastika it is to tiny to see even with moderate magnification. Cartridge is brass 2.190" overall length, .490" chamber dia. necking down to .365". It has a single ridge for a rim (like a giant .22 round) that is .050" wide and .550" OD. Taper length is .450". Projectile sleeve length approx. .280" Can someone please tell me what it's likely to be for? Curiosity is killing me.
     
  2. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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    welcome,a pic or 2 will also help totenkoph..:)
     
  3. Totenkoph

    Totenkoph Member

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    After an hour of experimenting with different light sources and a couple of sets of AA batteries: Tah Da!
     

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  4. Erich

    Erich Alte Hase

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    obviously pre -war as it does not have the colured primer fitted for 8mm., also none of the Ww 2 ammo had the cross - X on the bottom of the casing
     
  5. luketdrifter

    luketdrifter Ace

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    Where did you get it? I have about 300 rounds of 8mm and I just looked at them all and none look like this, but mine are new. I bought them from cheaper than dirt.
     
  6. Totenkoph

    Totenkoph Member

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    Some guy that use to work where I do just happened to drop by and gave it to me. He said he bought a german rifle and about 200 of these rounds from somebody for $250. When he told me he had been shooting these rounds I about fell out. I told him I didn't think it wise for him to expend any more of them. He also said he would bring the rifle by for me to look at Mon. He's usually out of work so I wanted to be prepared to make him an offer on the spot. Only other things I can remember him saying of interest were that the end of the rounds were soft enough to scar with a fingernail and that he thought the name of the rifle started with an "S". You can be sure I'll bring my camera Mon. 1938 is certainly what I'd consider prewar; but that eagle at the bottom has got me really intrigued.
     
  7. Erich

    Erich Alte Hase

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    I am only familiar with WW 2 ammo not pre-war. I had a small box of 8mm years ago and a friend and I fired them all off in our K 98's at the local range.
     
  8. sf_cwo2

    sf_cwo2 Member

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    That looks like 8x56R.
     
  9. Totenkoph

    Totenkoph Member

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    sf cwo2 I thank you and salute you. With that info I was able to find a 2001 post where Otto IDs the weapon for that ammo as a M95/34 Steyr Mannlicher Carbine. Found another post where said rifle was refered to as a sniper rifle; but thats all. Dare I ask for more info on the rifle in this thread?
     
  10. brndirt1

    brndirt1 Saddle Tramp

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    This site has a pretty good description/history of the Steyr-Mannlicher M95, if that is any help?

    Goto:

    Modern Firearms - Steyr Mannlicher M95 (M1895) rifle
     
  11. Matsopo

    Matsopo recruit

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    The 8mm are very common in France in the pre WWII . France used this ammunition in her colonial wars and his colonnial troops are armored with rifles of this caliber . France start whith this caliber in dates post French-Prussians war when passed the guns of muzzleloader to guns of metal cartidge . In middle used the Chassepaux with paper cartidge in this war .
     
  12. zippo

    zippo Member

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  13. sf_cwo2

    sf_cwo2 Member

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    How much are you finding it for? You can get non-Nazi made ammo for much less than Nazi marked. Do you recall the ammo prices when they first came up for sale ~ '93? I don't recall the exact price but it was insane and you could only buy so many rounds per rifle. I think I still have the old SOG flyer.
     
  14. Totenkoph

    Totenkoph Member

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    It was $200 for both the rifle and 200 rounds of the ammo still in 5 round clips (two each packed side by side in a irregularly shaped thin cardboard box with a paper lable on the top). I didn't get any of it. It wasn't reloading my own that discouraged me; but that it wasn't a front-line weapon or even semi-auto. Friend who did buy it cleaned the barrel bore with Hoppes. What a mess. I've been informed the primers for that ammo are very corrosive and that certainly appears to be the case. Still an interesting find. Had me really going there for a bit.
     

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