I spent long time researching this little old gun to find some useful info as far as use and reloading. For the new owners and fans here is what i found and will update as i learn more.....Sticky maybe?
history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modèle_1892_revolver
more info and dating:
http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/WWI/Pistols/MLE 1892 (LEBEL/MLE 1892 (LEBEL.html
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/631665-8mm-Lebel-revolver-bullets-where
Year Serial number Director/Controller initials
S1892 F00001 P L
S1894 F38000 M L
S1894 F42000 M B
S1897 F99000 M B
S1897 G00001 J B
S1900 G47000 L B
S1903 G99000 L B
S1903 H00001 L B
S1907 H31500 V C
S1912 H45000 C C
S1915 H75000 C C
S1921 I9000 S B
S1922 L15000 S B
S1924 L45000 S B
Theorical Serial Numbers (from manufacture documents)
Year Highest Smallest
1892 F 5000 Fl
1893 F 30000 F 5001
1894 F 60534 F 30001
1895 F 81734 F 60535
1896 F 98823 F 81735
1897 G 28937 F 98824
1898 G 43043 G 28938
1899 G 56865 G 43044
1900 G 76303 G 56866
Production of model 1892 revolver till 1900(source Dubessy)
Year Quantities
1892 5000
1893 25000
1894 30534
1895 21200
1896 17089
1897 30114
1898 14106
1899 13822
1900 14438
Total 176303
video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApiZEqtJTBk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcLgj9QhXQ8 (nice video)
ammo comparison: some info on 8mm and swiss 7.5 and all others
http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/topic/7803
http://members.shaw.ca/cstein0/revolver.htm
http://www.littlegun.info/arme francaise/saint etienne/a mas revolver 1892 gb.htm
ammo:
8×27mmR Regimetaire Mle 92
/8 mm French Ord/8mm
Lebel Revolver
bullet 8.204 (.323)
length 27.18 (1.07)
rim 10.16 (.400)
base (.384)
neck (.350)
OAL 36.58 (1.44)
reloading info. ( use at your own risk )so far i found
barrels:quoting here:
"It is said to push a lead bullet through the bore and measure it to know exact diameter as they may vary.
I recently acquired a beautiful Model 1892 French Ordnance revolver with a barrel date of 1922 [ S 1922 ]. The bore is bright and shiny with well defined lans and grooves. However, the barrel slugs at .312 - .319.
On my two, they both slugged .323 groove diameter, so I resized my .330 graf bullets using a lee sizer to .323, in fact my chamber mouths are only .324-.325 so I don't know how a .330 would get down there without undue pressure, my fiocci bullets mike around .320.
My understanding is that 8mm Lebel (revolver) should be .330. I know, through blind luck, that a Fiocchi 111 gr 8mm Lebel (revolver) round will only make it two thirds of the way down the barrel."
My own ...bullet .330 came out at .326 so bit tight not as above post but still tighter than .330. Factory was .323
Please do not attempt using .32S&W long. It will fire but the case diameter is too small and will bulge. Not a safe thing to do.
Use fiochchi original brass or trimmed 32-20 with lead .330 bullet. Die set can be found from mystic precision Hrn at $84 per set , also RCBS has the dies available special order as part number 56917
Hornady is available as well. Part number 546510 and uses the shell holder #48 for factory brass which is not included in the set. Use one that you can get for 32-20. Easy to find.
one source:Quoting
I used Starline or winchester 32-20 brass trimmed down to 28mm, a cut down lee .308 trim mandrel and a drill worked good. I then ran them over .323 ball and then over a .330 ball. After opening up the neck the brass measured exactly 27.5 Loaded a .330 diameter jacketed 100 grain bullet over 3.8 grains of unique, fired by a CCI sp primer. After the first firing the brass looked handsome and required just a little trimming to get it back to exactly 27.5mm. After 3 firings the case mouths are fine. I tried as much as 4.0 grains but that was a little more snappy then needed for plinking. 3 grains would not push the bullet out the barrel.
from another source:
115 grain bullet, 2.8 grains Bullseye, MV 700 fps, ME 126 foot pounds. They used the Lyman # 32359, which is the standard 32/20 115 RNF bullet.
here is CGN experience in loads:
2.8-3.3 unique... someone as much as 3.5, 3.8 and 4.2 (that's hot)
2.8 bullseye
11.0 FFF goex BP
2.8-3.2 win 231 would work... did someone try this?
2.5-3.0 trailboss That's my finding. No signs of excessive pressure.
I use Original fiochhi brass or trimmed down 32-20 with trailboss myself... 2.5 gn is good start, anything less at 2.2gn and bullet sticks into 2x4 and you can pull it out by hand. Then increased the load to 2.9gn max. Worked well but little hot and... at 2.5gn gun hits POA, with 2.8 its about 3" high and no reason to beat up on the gun. Trailboss fills the case nicely no chance for double charge. Primer is winchester.
The bullets are .330s from EE... Thank you Jethunter. Good soft bullets, but chambers on my gun are tight so 327 are better..for now just sanded a bit till they fit the chambers. Worked well and accurate as hell. Cases had to be fireformed with 2.9 grains of powder but they are now perfect.
Also what works is trimmed PPU 7,62 nagant brass. Requires no other work. just trim and put it on the press. Factory ammo isn't cheap but you can use it if no other brass is available.
history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modèle_1892_revolver
more info and dating:
http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/WWI/Pistols/MLE 1892 (LEBEL/MLE 1892 (LEBEL.html
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/631665-8mm-Lebel-revolver-bullets-where
Year Serial number Director/Controller initials
S1892 F00001 P L
S1894 F38000 M L
S1894 F42000 M B
S1897 F99000 M B
S1897 G00001 J B
S1900 G47000 L B
S1903 G99000 L B
S1903 H00001 L B
S1907 H31500 V C
S1912 H45000 C C
S1915 H75000 C C
S1921 I9000 S B
S1922 L15000 S B
S1924 L45000 S B
Theorical Serial Numbers (from manufacture documents)
Year Highest Smallest
1892 F 5000 Fl
1893 F 30000 F 5001
1894 F 60534 F 30001
1895 F 81734 F 60535
1896 F 98823 F 81735
1897 G 28937 F 98824
1898 G 43043 G 28938
1899 G 56865 G 43044
1900 G 76303 G 56866
Production of model 1892 revolver till 1900(source Dubessy)
Year Quantities
1892 5000
1893 25000
1894 30534
1895 21200
1896 17089
1897 30114
1898 14106
1899 13822
1900 14438
Total 176303
video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApiZEqtJTBk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcLgj9QhXQ8 (nice video)
ammo comparison: some info on 8mm and swiss 7.5 and all others
http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/topic/7803
http://members.shaw.ca/cstein0/revolver.htm
http://www.littlegun.info/arme francaise/saint etienne/a mas revolver 1892 gb.htm
ammo:
8×27mmR Regimetaire Mle 92
/8 mm French Ord/8mm
Lebel Revolver
bullet 8.204 (.323)
length 27.18 (1.07)
rim 10.16 (.400)
base (.384)
neck (.350)
OAL 36.58 (1.44)
reloading info. ( use at your own risk )so far i found
barrels:quoting here:
"It is said to push a lead bullet through the bore and measure it to know exact diameter as they may vary.
I recently acquired a beautiful Model 1892 French Ordnance revolver with a barrel date of 1922 [ S 1922 ]. The bore is bright and shiny with well defined lans and grooves. However, the barrel slugs at .312 - .319.
On my two, they both slugged .323 groove diameter, so I resized my .330 graf bullets using a lee sizer to .323, in fact my chamber mouths are only .324-.325 so I don't know how a .330 would get down there without undue pressure, my fiocci bullets mike around .320.
My understanding is that 8mm Lebel (revolver) should be .330. I know, through blind luck, that a Fiocchi 111 gr 8mm Lebel (revolver) round will only make it two thirds of the way down the barrel."
My own ...bullet .330 came out at .326 so bit tight not as above post but still tighter than .330. Factory was .323
Please do not attempt using .32S&W long. It will fire but the case diameter is too small and will bulge. Not a safe thing to do.
Use fiochchi original brass or trimmed 32-20 with lead .330 bullet. Die set can be found from mystic precision Hrn at $84 per set , also RCBS has the dies available special order as part number 56917
Hornady is available as well. Part number 546510 and uses the shell holder #48 for factory brass which is not included in the set. Use one that you can get for 32-20. Easy to find.
one source:Quoting
I used Starline or winchester 32-20 brass trimmed down to 28mm, a cut down lee .308 trim mandrel and a drill worked good. I then ran them over .323 ball and then over a .330 ball. After opening up the neck the brass measured exactly 27.5 Loaded a .330 diameter jacketed 100 grain bullet over 3.8 grains of unique, fired by a CCI sp primer. After the first firing the brass looked handsome and required just a little trimming to get it back to exactly 27.5mm. After 3 firings the case mouths are fine. I tried as much as 4.0 grains but that was a little more snappy then needed for plinking. 3 grains would not push the bullet out the barrel.
from another source:
115 grain bullet, 2.8 grains Bullseye, MV 700 fps, ME 126 foot pounds. They used the Lyman # 32359, which is the standard 32/20 115 RNF bullet.
here is CGN experience in loads:
2.8-3.3 unique... someone as much as 3.5, 3.8 and 4.2 (that's hot)
2.8 bullseye
11.0 FFF goex BP
2.8-3.2 win 231 would work... did someone try this?
2.5-3.0 trailboss That's my finding. No signs of excessive pressure.
I use Original fiochhi brass or trimmed down 32-20 with trailboss myself... 2.5 gn is good start, anything less at 2.2gn and bullet sticks into 2x4 and you can pull it out by hand. Then increased the load to 2.9gn max. Worked well but little hot and... at 2.5gn gun hits POA, with 2.8 its about 3" high and no reason to beat up on the gun. Trailboss fills the case nicely no chance for double charge. Primer is winchester.
The bullets are .330s from EE... Thank you Jethunter. Good soft bullets, but chambers on my gun are tight so 327 are better..for now just sanded a bit till they fit the chambers. Worked well and accurate as hell. Cases had to be fireformed with 2.9 grains of powder but they are now perfect.
Also what works is trimmed PPU 7,62 nagant brass. Requires no other work. just trim and put it on the press. Factory ammo isn't cheap but you can use it if no other brass is available.
Last edited:
, but I think 2.2-grains of it is enough for a nice, light shoot.....
, I agree 3.6 is slightly too hot.
