Rifle · CIP
8x56mmR
Interwar replacement for the 8x50mmR Mannlicher, adopted to convert existing M1895 straight-pull rifles to a more powerful cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.3287″ · 8.35 mm
- Introduced
- 1930
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- 8x50mmR Mannlicher
- Primary use
- Military, Hunting
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1930
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- Austria
- Inventor
- Hungarian military
- Manufacturer
- Hungarian Military / Steyr
- Standard
- CIP
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 62 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:10
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 52,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 550 yd
- Max range
- 1500 yd
- Recoil
- 14–18 ft·lb
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for 8x56mmR.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 8.35 | 0.329 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 9.20 | 0.362 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 12.00 | 0.472 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 7° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 12.47 | 0.491 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 14.05 | 0.553 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.37 | 0.054 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 6.22 | 0.245 | ≈ |
| Case length | 55.63 | 2.190 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 75.91 | 2.989 | ✓ |
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. 8x56mmR is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
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 8x56mmR
3 models in the database chamber 8x56mmR. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Developed in the early 1930s to upgrade the aging Austro-Hungarian Mannlicher M1895 rifles to a more powerful cartridge. The new case was longer and used a larger-diameter bullet, requiring a barrel liner conversion on M1895 rifles. Hungary adopted it as the standard rifle cartridge and fielded it through WWII. Hungarian military surplus ammunition in 8x56mmR is the most commonly encountered today. Sellier & Bellot and Hornady produce factory ammunition.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 8x56mmR use?
- 8x56mmR typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 8x56mmR?
- 8x56mmR uses a 0.3287″ (8.35 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 8x56mmR still in production?
- 8x56mmR is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is 8x56mmR used for?
- 8x56mmR is primarily used for military, hunting.
Sources & provenance
- Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
- Standard C.I.P. — TDCC Tab. II — 8 x 56 R M30S · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Prvi Partizan (PPU USA) — 8x56 RS Mannlicher — PPU USA Ammunition · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Prvi Partizan (Serbia) — PPU 2018 Catalog (prvipartizan.com) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 11 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →