8x50mm Lebel brass and clips

[Kelsey Cooter]

I've bought a m1916 carbine and I'm now looking for brass and charger clips, I know Bertram makes 8x50r lebel brass but does anyone know what other brass is available?
Does anyone know of anywhere I can buy 5round lebel clips?

[No1Mk3]

G'day Kelsey Cooter,
Bertrams is all there is for new brass as the agent for PPU no longer imports their brass for the Lebel. Keep an eye on the websites for 2nd hand PPU or buy Bruces.It can be made fron 348 Win but that is just as hard to find these days. Clips are in the same boat, watch the websites, ebay for sellers willing to ship International etc. the main supplier of these has recently stopped all overseas sales, Cheers.

[ZaineB]

I've bought a m1916 carbine and I'm now looking for brass and charger clips, I know Bertram makes 8x50r lebel brass but does anyone know what other brass is available?
Does anyone know of anywhere I can buy 5round lebel clips?

I wish I had better news for you, my dads uncle had thousands of spent brass for one of these, cant remember where he got it, but in any case he has passed now and his shed is empty, so anyone's guess where those ended up.

[Kelsey Cooter]

Picked her up yesterday, I'm a big fan of these so stoked to have it home finally. It's in great 'used not abused' condition and is fully matching.

I've bought 20 brass from Bertram and bought a set of Lee dies, what projectiles do people tend to use in these?
I doubt I'll shoot it much, but Id like to have a play

[No1Mk3]

G'day Kelsey Cooter,
Initially I loaded Speer 150g SP with 42g of 2206H, a nice mild load for general plinking out to 100 yards o so. Last loading was S&B 198g RN/FB with 45.8g of 2208 for avg of 2233 fps and 65.4 c.o.l. I also loaded 170g HRBC 32-70 FN with 14.0g of Trailboss for the Lebel but am not happy with it so just use it for fun in the Berthier, seems to shoot OK at 50 to 100 yards, Cheers.

[Kelsey Cooter]

Thanks No1, do you cast projectiles? I see on the net alot of people saying lebels tend to be around .327 while 8mm projectiles are .323
I haven't slugged my bore yet

[No1Mk3]

G'day Kelsey Cooter,
I don't cast, just load .323 jacketed or coated. Prefer FMJ for consistency. The size of French military ammo varies from type to type, and indeed maker to maker within the same type, so much of what you read on the internet is based on mis-understanding the French attitude. The bores run from 0.312 to 0.319 with a groove of 0.326 to 0,329, add to that the original 1886 Cupro-Nickel/Lead 232g Balle M averaged 0.320 with a 0.327 "skirt" at the case mouth but the Remington-UMC contract ammo was 0.320, the 1898 Solid Brass Balle D 198g avg 0.324, and 1932 Steel Jacketed Balle N avg 0.326. Current PPU ammo, which sadly we can't buy here, uses a 198g 0.325 projectile and is counted as very accurate. My friends and I shoot from 100 to 500 yards using std 8mm 0.323 projectiles, and my friend regularly beats Swedish Mauser shooters at those ranges using his Berthier 1907/15 rifle, and at least gives them a run with his Lebel. If I were to add this cartridge to my casting list I would tend to cast 0.326 to 0.328, Alox lube but not gas check at first, I woould likely cast at 0.329 and size, that way I could use the un-sized in my 1895 Mannlicher Carbine which is something you will probably end up with one day!! Cheers.

[Kelsey Cooter]

Thanks mate, thanks for the info. You are a good source of info for these old carbines I keep buying