The 8mm Nambu cartridge is a Japanese pistol round used primarily during the first half of the 20th century, particularly in World War II. It was designed for the Nambu pistols, including the Type A, Type B (Papa Nambu), and the more widely known Type 14 and Type 94 pistols.
- Dimensions and Design: The cartridge has a bullet diameter of approximately 8.12mm (.320 inches), a neck diameter of 8.62mm, a base diameter of 9.08mm, and a rim diameter of 9.43mm. The overall length of the cartridge is around 23.20mm. It is a rimless, bottlenecked cartridge.
- Performance: The 8mm Nambu is relatively low-powered compared to other contemporary military handgun rounds. It typically fires a 102-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of about 950 feet per second.
- Use Cases: This cartridge was used primarily by Japanese military forces. It is considered to have limited stopping power compared to other rounds like the 9mm Parabellum or .45 ACP, making it less effective in combat situations.
Due to its historical context and the unique design of the firearms that chamber it, the 8mm Nambu is a cartridge of interest for collectors and historians of military firearms.