French military service revolver cartridge adopted for the Lebel Model 1892 revolver. Standard French sidearm through both World Wars, unusual for its semi-rimmed case that would function in either revolver or early semi-automatic configurations.
Type: Revolver
Introduced: 1892, France
Parent case: None
Standardization: None
Bullet diameter: 0.323" (8.2 mm)
Case length: 1.07" (27.18 mm)
Overall length: 1.44" (36.58 mm)
Max pressure: 18,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimmed
Primer: Berdan Small Pistol
Typical twist rate: 1:20
Muzzle velocity: 740–755 fps
Muzzle energy: 146–152 ft-lbs
Effective range: 40 yd
Common bullet weights: 120 gr
Primary use: Military
Production status: Discontinued
Also known as: 8mm French Ordnance · 8x27mmR Lebel
History: Adopted with the Model 1892 revolver, the 8mm Lebel remained the standard French military sidearm cartridge through WWII — a remarkably long service life for a 19th-century design. The Model 1892 revolvers were issued to French forces and resistance fighters into the 1940s. Factory ammunition production ended post-WWII, but the cartridges are commonly found in collections from WWII French…
Notable firearms: Lebel Model 1892 Revolver, Saint-Étienne Model 1892
Military use: France
Similar cartridges: 8mm Rast-Gasser, 7.5mm Swiss Revolver