The original cartridge for the Mauser C96 'Broomhandle' — one of the most influential semi-automatic pistols in history. Nearly dimensionally identical to the later 7.62x25mm Tokarev, which was derived from it. High velocity for its era and strong penetration.
Type: Pistol
Introduced: 1896, Germany
Parent case: None
Standardization: None
Bullet diameter: 0.308" (7.82 mm)
Case length: 0.99" (25.15 mm)
Overall length: 1.36" (34.54 mm)
Max pressure: 25,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimless
Primer: Small Pistol
Typical twist rate: 1:9.9
Muzzle velocity: 1350–1475 fps
Muzzle energy: 344–413 ft-lbs
Effective range: 75 yd
Common bullet weights: 85, 86 gr
Primary use: Military, Self Defense
Production status: Discontinued
Also known as: 7.63x25mm Mauser · .30 Mauser · 7.63 Mauser
History: Developed by Mauser in 1896 for the C96 pistol. The bottlenecked case and high velocity (over 1,400 fps) made it one of the most powerful pistol cartridges of its era. Used across WWI and WWII by multiple nations. Winston Churchill carried a C96 in the Mahdist War. The Soviet Union copied the cartridge dimensions nearly exactly when developing the 7.62x25mm Tokarev in the 1930s. Original 7.63mm…
Notable firearms: Mauser C96 Broomhandle, Astra 900, Various Spanish Mauser copies
Military use: Germany, China, Ottoman Empire, Various
Similar cartridges: 7.62x25mm Tokarev, 7.65x21mm Parabellum