Lindcott Armory Pistol · Obsolete
7.65mm Borchardt
The cartridge that started it all — designed for the C-93 Borchardt, the first successful commercially produced semi-automatic pistol.
- Caliber
- 0.309″ · 7.849 mm
- Introduced
- 1893
- Case
- Rimless
- Primary use
- Military, Self Defense
- Status
- Discontinued
- Introduced
- 1893
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- Germany
- Inventor
- Hugo Borchardt / DWM
- Manufacturer
- Ludwig Loewe & Company (DWM)
- Standard
- Obsolete
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Antique
- Case capacity
- 17 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:9.9
- Primer
- Small Pistol
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 29,008 psi
- Eff. range
- 75 yd
- Max range
- 200 yd
- Recoil
- 3.5–5.5 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 1,200–1,300 fps · 8 loads
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Wikipedia · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 7.85 | 0.309 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 8.43 | 0.332 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 9.60 | 0.378 | ~ |
| Shoulder angle | — | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 9.89 | 0.389 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 9.98 | 0.393 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.22 | 0.048 | ~ |
| Neck length | — | — | |
| Case length | 25.15 | 0.990 | · |
| Overall length | 34.04 | 1.340 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 7.65mm Borchardt is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for 7.65mm Borchardt? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
Factory loads
In production — 8 active loads across 6 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 20 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiocchi | Range | 88 | FMJ | 1,300 | 330 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | Sport | 86 | FMJ | 1,300 | 323 | — |
| PPU | Range | 85 | FMJ | 1,300 | 319 | — |
| Norma | Safeguard | 88 | FMJ | 1,300 | 330 | — |
| Kynoch | Standard | 85 | FMJ | 1,300 | 319 | — |
| Fiocchi | FMJ | 86 | FMJ | 1,200 | 275 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | FMJ | 86 | FMJ | 1,200 | 275 | — |
| Graf & Sons | FMJ Reproduction | 86 | FMJ | 1,200 | 275 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Custom | 85 | FMJ | 1,350 | 344 | — |
| Norma | Classic | 85 | FMJ | 1,350 | 344 | — |
| PPU | Standard | 85 | FMJ | 1,350 | 344 | — |
| Wolf | FMJ | 85 | FMJ | 1,350 | 344 | — |
| RWS | Classic | 85 | FMJ | 1,350 | 344 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | SP | 85 | FMJ | 1,350 | 344 | — |
| Armscor | Standard | 85 | FMJ | 1,350 | 344 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in 7.65mm Borchardt
5 models in the database chamber 7.65mm Borchardt. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Hugo Borchardt designed the C-93 pistol and its cartridge in 1893 while working for Ludwig Loewe & Company in Berlin. The C-93 was the first semi-automatic pistol to achieve commercial production. Georg Luger was tasked with improving the design — his refinements shortened the case and straightened the taper, creating the 7.65mm Parabellum, and later the 9mm Parabellum. Without the Borchardt cartridge, the entire lineage of modern semi-automatic pistols would have a different origin point.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 7.65mm Borchardt use?
- 7.65mm Borchardt typically uses a 1:9.9 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 7.65mm Borchardt?
- 7.65mm Borchardt uses a 0.309″ (7.849 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 7.65mm Borchardt still in production?
- 7.65mm Borchardt is discontinued; typical availability is antique.
- What is 7.65mm Borchardt used for?
- 7.65mm Borchardt is primarily used for military, self defense.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 8 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →