8mm Lebel
The first military smokeless-powder cartridge; it made every black-powder rifle obsolete.
Good for: 1800s, WWI era, Deer today
A typical factory load is a 198 gr Balle D solid bullet at about 2,300 ft/s, with roughly 2,326 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle.
Typical load
198 grBalle D solidMuzzle speed
2,300 ft/sMuzzle energy
2,326 ft-lbsTypical BC (G1)
≈ 0.55typical, varies by brandTwist rate
1:9.45Point-blank range
225 yd6" vital zoneHunting today
Rarely: ammo is scarce; collector round.On the Military Surplus chart
Service history
The first military smokeless-powder cartridge; it made every black-powder rifle obsolete.
Service rifles
Lebel 1886, Berthier
Military load
198 grBalle D solid
Typical muzzle fps
2,300ft/s
Typical muzzle energy
2,326ft-lbs
Typical BC (G1)
≈ 0.55typical, varies by brand
Twist rate for typical load
1:9.45
MPBR (iron sights)
225 yd6" vital zone · Near zero 13 yd · Far zero 190 yd · Min PBR 0 yd · Max PBR 225 yd · Sight-in @100 3.00" high
Hunting today
Rarely: ammo is scarce; collector round.
Open the full Military Surplus chart →
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Speed, energy and BC are typical figures for the listed load; real numbers vary by brand, lot and barrel length. Always check the ammo maker's data for your exact load.