8x54r French Berthier

All things ammo related.
Post Reply
User avatar
dfunk
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1877
Joined: November 6th, 2005, 11:16 am
Location: Earth
Contact:

8x54r French Berthier

Post by dfunk »

No, I don't have one, but please read my short plea -

I have a good buddy who's father has 1 year left on Earth to shoot, drink, eat, and be happy. I'm actively seeking info and resources on this round, 8x54r. If anyone has any primers, bullets, or fully assembled cartridges, I'd love to hear from you. We have the dies and 50 clean cases if it comes to reloading. If you can help in any way, you'd make a nice guy really happy.

Thanks!
snailman153624
Senior member
Senior member
Posts: 291
Joined: May 16th, 2012, 10:14 pm

Re: 8x54r French Berthier

Post by snailman153624 »

I spent a while looking around, about the only thing I could find were one or two folks using other cases and resizing them to fit. I'm guessing this is a pre-WW1 cartridge from Europe somewhere.
User avatar
Weasel640
Forum supporter
Forum supporter
Posts: 680
Joined: March 13th, 2010, 9:14 pm
Location: Nothing permanent.

Re: 8x54r French Berthier

Post by Weasel640 »

From the Wiki page: The Berthier rifles and carbines were a family of bolt-action small arms in 8mm Lebel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berthier_rifle

So unless I'm reading this wrong I think you are actually looking for 8mm Lebel ammunition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8mm_Lebel

I think this is a specimen of what you are after:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =400584153

There are plenty of others if you search for "8mm Lebel" instead.
Weasel

When you vote, you are exercising political authority, you're using force. And force my friends is violence.
User avatar
Curly1
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 2529
Joined: September 20th, 2011, 11:35 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Re: 8x54r French Berthier

Post by Curly1 »

I posted this over in the Gunboards ammo and reloading forums.
Laugh Hard and Often.

Gary
User avatar
Curly1
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 2529
Joined: September 20th, 2011, 11:35 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Re: 8x54r French Berthier

Post by Curly1 »

Got a cuple of replies from my postings on gunboards.

Sorry to hear about the circumstances; I hope that year is long, and filled with peace and enjoyment.

I believe you are referring to 8X50R Lebel. I would check the Graf and Sons website for loaded ammo and reloading components. I know they carry them. The bullets might be tricky since the 8X50R French rifles have an 8MM bore diameter of .327" instead of the commonly encountered .323" diameter. Some rifles will shoot the .323" bullets just fine while others won't do so well. In that case, bullet casting is an option. Lee should have moulds that work if necessary.


Would that not be 8x50R Lebel ammunition? Some here:

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...categoryId/256
Laugh Hard and Often.

Gary
User avatar
dfunk
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1877
Joined: November 6th, 2005, 11:16 am
Location: Earth
Contact:

Re: 8x54r French Berthier

Post by dfunk »

Weasel640 wrote:From the Wiki page: The Berthier rifles and carbines were a family of bolt-action small arms in 8mm Lebel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berthier_rifle

So unless I'm reading this wrong I think you are actually looking for 8mm Lebel ammunition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8mm_Lebel

I think this is a specimen of what you are after:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =400584153

There are plenty of others if you search for "8mm Lebel" instead.
Whoops! I mistyped - I should've said 8x50R Lebel.

Curly, I think Graf & Sons has exactly what I'm looking for. Kinda pricey at $1/round, but this isn't going to be an all-day affair, and under the circumstances, it really doesn't matter.

Thanks everyone for the help!
normsutton
Global moderator
Global moderator
Posts: 3575
Joined: February 26th, 2006, 6:59 am
Location: LAKELAND FL.

Re: 8x54r French Berthier

Post by normsutton »

DF

PRVI PARTIZAN this brass is re loadable, with L rifle boxer primers , is very good brass ,

loaded
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/cat ... goryId/256?

these are the bullets I think for the lebel cartridge
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pro ... ctId/12618

here's just the brass
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/cat ... goryId/792?
is very good brass , I buy just brass the brass to make 41 Swiss brass

NORM
NORMSUTTON@AOL.COM
N.R.A. LIFE MEMBER 1976

ImageImage
User avatar
dfunk
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1877
Joined: November 6th, 2005, 11:16 am
Location: Earth
Contact:

Re: 8x54r French Berthier

Post by dfunk »

Thanks for the resources, Norm. I appreciate it!
Post Reply