Patrone 88

Patrone 88
Five-round clip with 1888 pattern M/88 ammunition
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	German Empire
Service history
In service	1888–1918
Used by	German Empire
Wars	Boxer Rebellion
Production history
Designer	German Rifle Testing Commission
Designed	1888
Produced	1888–present as 8×57mm I
Variants	8×57mm I and 8×57mm IR (rimmed)
Specifications
Case type	Rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter	8.09 mm (0.319 in)
Neck diameter	8.99 mm (0.354 in)
Shoulder diameter	10.95 mm (0.431 in)
Base diameter	11.94 mm (0.470 in)
Rim diameter	11.95 mm (0.470 in)
Rim thickness	1.30 mm (0.051 in)
Case length	57.00 mm (2.244 in)
Overall length	82.00 mm (3.228 in)
Case capacity	4.03 cm3 (62.2 gr H2O)
Rifling twist	240 mm (1 in 9.45 in)
Primer type	Large rifle
Maximum pressure (C.I.P.)	380.00 MPa (55,114 psi)
Filling weight	2.75 g (42.4 gr)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 14.6 g (225 gr) FMJ 620 m/s (2,000 ft/s) 2,806 J (2,070 ft·lbf)
Test barrel length: 740 mm (29.1 in)

The Patrone 88 (cartridge 88) or M/88 is a rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. It was a first-generation smokeless propellant cartridge designed by the German Gewehr-Prüfungskommission (G.P.K.) (Rifle Testing Commission) as the than new smokeless propellant introduced as Poudre B in the 1886 pattern 8×50mmR Lebel started a military rifle ammunition revolution.

The Patrone 88 cartridge was loaded with 2.75 g (42.4 gr) of single-base (based on nitrocellulose) smokeless powder. The cartridge was based on a Swiss design and was loaded with a 8.08 mm (0.318 in) diameter 14.6 g (225 gr) round-nose full metal jacket bullet that was cupronickel plated and reached a muzzle velocity of 620 m/s (2,034 ft/s). The bullet core consisted of 95% lead and 5% antimony. It served as parent cartridge of several 8×57mm rimless and rimmed rifle cartridges.

The Patrone 88 was adopted by the German Empire in 1888 as service cartridge along with the Gewehr 1888 service rifle. In the original bore the diameter of the lands was 7.90 mm (0.311 in) and the diameter of the grooves was 8.10 mm (0.319 in). In 1894/1895 the bore dimensions were changed in an attempt to improve accuracy and barrel life. The diameter of the lands remained 7.90 mm (0.311 in) and the diameter of the grooves was changed to 8.20 mm (0.323 in). The 8.08 mm (0.318 in) diameter of the bullets the Patrone 88 was loaded with remained however unchanged and accuracy did not improve. As of 1915 the Patrone 88 bullets became tombac plated.

In German military service the Patrone 88 was replaced in 1904 and 1905 by the S Patrone a.k.a. 7.92×57mm Mauser. Besides the S Patrone chambering, the S Patrone bore (designated as "S-bore") was also dimensionally redesigned. The S Patrone and its new spitzer bullet provided the accuracy and barrel life improvements the German military was looking for. As the bolt thrust of the 7.92×57mm Mauser is relatively low compared to many other service rounds used in the early 20th century, many arms originally chambered for the Patrone 88 could and were adapted for chambering the S Patrone by reaming out metal from the chamber as it required a wider chamber throat to take the differently shaped and thicker brass of the new S Patrone.