Aliases
Summary
The 8mm Nambu (AKA: 8x22mm Nambu) is a Center Fire cartridge with a Bullet Diameter of 0.32 in” (8.13mm) that is primarily used in Pistols. The 8mm Nambu originated in Japan in 1904. The 8mm Nambu also has a case length of 0.86 in” (21.84mm) and an overall length of 1.25 in” (31.75mm).
Notes
The 8mm Nambu pistol cartridge, also referred to as the 8x22mm Nambu, is a Japanese pistol cartridge developed in the early 20th century and used by Japan in the Japanese Sino Wars as well as World War II. The 8mm Nambu pistol cartridge is the predecessor to the 7mm Nambu cartridge, developed in 1920 for use in the Baby Nambu pistol.
The 8mm Nambu cartridge was originally created for use in the Type 14 Nambu and Type 94 Nambu 8mm Pistols. While the Type 14 Nambu pistol was considered to be well constructed in its first iteration, the Type 94 Nambu pistol was considered to be poorly made and of dangerous design, with frequent accidental discharges . Alongside this, the 8mm Nambu Pistol Cartridge was considered comparatively weak when put up against foreign designs such as the 7.62mm Tokarev and 9mm Parabellum Cartridges, offering velocities and muzzle energies only slightly better than a .32 ACP and about on par with the .380 ACP cartridge.
The 8mm Nambu cartridge borrows largely from the 7.65mm Parabellum cartridge, a shouldered .30 Caliber pistol cartridge designed by Georg Luger, but utilizes a semi-rimmed case and necks the cartridge up to accept the 8mm projectile, offering lower muzzle energies of around 150-200 ft-lbs compared to about 325 ft-lbs from the Parabellum cartridge. Today, the 8mm Nambu pistol cartridge and its associated firearms are largely considered to be collectors items, fetching modest prices at auction, although some pistols have been restored and enjoy frequent plinking and target practice use. Cartridges can still be purchased through niche ammunition loaders such as Buffalo Arms in 100-grain copper coated bullet loads and advertised velocities of around 1000fps. Reloading brass is also available through Buffalo Arms as well as Midway USA or can alternatively be reformed/fire-formed from .30 Remington brass.
Cartridge Details
- Year:
- Origin:
- Cartridge Type:
- Application:
- Bullet Diameter:
- Neck Diameter:
- Shoulder Diameter:
- Base Diameter:
- Rim Diameter:
- Rim Thickness:
- Case Length:
- Overall Length:
- Primer:
- 1904
- Japan
- Rimless, Bottleneck
- Pistols
- 0.32 in” (8.13mm)
- 0.343 in” (8.71mm)
- 0.394 in” (10.01mm)
- 0.403 in” (10.24mm)
- 0.413 in” (10.49mm)
- 0.04 in” (0.91mm)
- 0.86 in” (21.84mm)
- 1.25 in” (31.75mm)
- Center Fire (Small Pistol)
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