The 8×50mmR, also known as the 8mm Lebel, is a rifle cartridge developed in the late 19th century by France. It was introduced in 1886 and was notably the first smokeless powder cartridge to be widely adopted by any military in the world.
The "R" in 8×50mmR stands for "Rimmed," indicating that the cartridge has a protruding rim at its base, which aids in extraction in bolt-action rifles. The bullet diameter is 8 mm, and the case length is approximately 50 mm.
The 8×50mmR was originally designed for use in the Lebel Model 1886 rifle and was later used in various other French firearms, including the Modèle 1914 Hotchkiss machine gun. Its introduction marked a significant advancement in ballistics, with higher velocity and better range compared to its black powder predecessors.
This cartridge remained in service through World War I and saw limited use in World War II. It was eventually phased out in favor of more modern ammunition types.
Use cases primarily included military service as a standard infantry rifle cartridge, as well as in machine guns and some aircraft armaments during its period of service.