Mauser 30 Bore Pistol

[Albina Hickel]

Ipersonally have never seen a cartridge that could be identified by headstamp or measurements as an actual 8.15 x 25 mm Mauser round. If any exist, they are among the rarest of auto pistol cartridge-case types.

According to Erlmeier and Brandt, the nominal bullet diameter of the 8.15 cartridge is 8.13 - 8.15 mm. The cartridge, according to a DWM Case Register which is believed to have been initiated in1913, shows the following case measurements:

Another version of the DWM Case register, believed to have originated sometime after 1906, but was being updated by 1909, does not show the cartridge case number 580 at all, but the case is actually shown immediately after Number 579, but sans any assigned case number. This may have been an oversight, as number 579 and 581 are shown. At any rate, in that listing, the case dimensions given are the same as shown above.

A DWM Register of Cartridge Bullet Drawings shows the bullets 501 and 502 used for the 8.15 mm cartridge with 501 weighing 6.15 grams and 502 weighing 7.49 grams.Both bullets are with cupro-nickel jackets and their is an entry showing a measurement of 2% Antimony, with the entry appearing to refer to the bullet core.

In my collection, I have a chamber-casting from the first 8.15 mm Mauser I encountered, but the picture of the fired case posted here is a far better depiction of the chamber shape and relative sizes. Thanks for a great posting, Sionso. I hope the information I provided is of interest to you.

I see no reason to believe your pistol is not 8.15x25 mm. The comparison of the two fired cases in your very good photo above certainly show differences even though both cases are expanded, as expected of fired cases.

I would not be concerned about posting gun information when discussing the cartridges used by them. It is patently impossible to completely separate the subjects of ammunition and the guns that used it if one wants an accurate representation of information. Sometimes, reports of a gun in a specific caliber will help to identify it. That is actually critical when discussing a cartridge like the 8.15 x 25 mm, about which so little has been known.

My own research on this cartridge started c. September 1993, in conjunction with work done by my dear friend Professor Jiri T. Vojta (R,I.P.), who made the chamber casts I now have, and a Dr. Dichard from the University of New Mexico, who analyzed the chamber

casts and measured them using scientific equipment and procedures not usually available to most cartridge collectors. While much was found out - too much and too complex for a non-technical observer like me to relate from the correspondence in my 8.15 mm file - it was non-conclusive as well.

Although having a fair amount of correspondence and information relating to the 8.15 mm, over a period of about 12 years (1993-2005, and then ending until now with the Sturgiss article of 2012), I have been unable to formulate any opinion about this cartridge.

Wish I could be of more help with this round. There is still plenty of research to be done on it, with no guarantee of coming up with any definitive information about it or the pistols that appear to be of that case type

We know that there are documented cases of people firing commercial 9x19 through a 7,63 barrel. Normal lead core bullets will compress enough to make it through, but when they have an iron core, it may help to squeeze out the bore to 8,15mm.

9x19mm; 97% blue, good bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Reblued metal finish. Original grooved Red 9 walnut grips. Fixed front sight, 500 meter tangent rear sight. Matching serial numbers except the bolt stop. Grips match. NS marked hammer. Imperial...

7.63mm Mauser; poor bore, good grips, 5.25'' barrel, AS IS. Non-matching. Surface rusted and pitted metal. Grooved walnut grips are good. 1000 meter tangent rear sight. No visible import marks. Bore is heavily worn and rusted. Safety is broken and pistol...

7.63mm Mauser; 98% blue, poor bore, good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Amatuer reblue finish over scattered pitting with replacement grooved plastic grips. Non-matching. Faint markings and proofs. Faint CAI import mark on the bottom of the barrel. 1000 meter...

32 AUTO CAL; 99% blue, like new bore, like new grips, 3 1/4'' barrel, POST WAR MAUSER HSc PISTOL MADE IN 1970 IN NIB CONDITION. THE BLUING IS NEAR FLAWLESS SHOWING ZERO WEAR. THE BORE IS MIRROR BRIGHT WITH MINT RIFLING. THE PISTOL APPEARS TO BE UNFIRED...

9 MM; 87% blue, good bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Original blued finish, grooved walnut "Red 9" grips. Matching serial numbers except the bolt, floorplate and holster stock. Grips matching. 50-500 meter tangent rear sight. NS marked hammer...

7.63x25mm; 95% blue, excellent bore, excellent grips, 4'' barrel, Exceptional condition Bolo C96 pistol with original blued finish and grooved walnut grips. Fire blued small parts retain 90% finish. Numbered parts are matching including the grip panels...

7.63mm Mauser; poor bore, poor grips, 3.75'' barrel, CAI import marked under the barrel. Rust patina metal. Heavily worn walnut grips. Non-matching parts. 1000 meter tangent rear sight. Mauser markings on the top of the chamber and right side of the...

6.35mm; 97% blue, good bore, good grips, 3'' barrel, MAUSER 1910 SEMI AUTO PISTOL CHAMBERED IN 25acp IS GOOD OVERALL CONDITION. THE BLUING SHOWS SOME VERY LIGHT EDGE WEAR ALONG WITH SOME LIGHT FRECKLING. THE TRIGGER RETAINS 40% OF ITS ORIGINAL FIRE BLUE...

9MM; 92% blue, very good bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, "Red 9" C96 pistol with original blued finish and grooved walnut grips. Matching serial numbers except the magazine floorplate. Fixed front sight, 50-500 meter tangent rear sight. NS marked...

9 MM; 90% blue, fair bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Re-blued finish, original grooved walnut "Red 9" grips. Matching serial numbers except the floorplate and stock. 50-500 meter tangent rear sight. NS marked hammer. Crown/U proofs on the left side...

9 MM; 94% blue, good bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Original blued finish, grooved walnut "Red 9" grips. Matching serial numbers including the grips and holster stock. 50-500 meter tangent rear sight. NS marked hammer. Crown/U proofs on the left...

30 CAL; 99% blue, 99% straw, mint bore, like new grips, 5.9'' barrel, POST WAR MAUSER PARABELLUM IN LIKE NEW CONDITION WITH A 5.9" BARREL. THE BLUING IS NEAR FLAWLESS. THE STRAW SMALL PARTS RETAIN 99% OF THEIR COLORS. THE BORE IS MIRROR BRIGHT WITH MINTY...

9 MM; 94% blue, good bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Original blued finish, grooved walnut "Red 9" grips. Matching serial numbers including the grips and holster stock. 50-500 meter tangent rear sight. NS marked hammer. Prussian Eagle stamped on the...

7.63 MAUSER MM; 75% blue, very good bore, good grips, 5.5'' barrel, PRE WAR COMMERCIAL MAUSER C96 SEMI AUTO PISTOL WITH MATCHING NUMBERS EXCEPT THE GRIPS,IN GOOD OVERALL CONDITION. THE BLUING SHOWS HEAVY WEAR ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BARREL ALONG WITH...

9x19mm; 99% blue, excellent bore, excellent grips, 4 5/8'' barrel, High quality copy of the Browning Hi-Power pistols manufactured by FEG and marketed by Mauser Oberndorf c.1990's. Blued finish with checkered walnut grips. Factory 13 shot magazine. Fixed...

9 MM; 92% blue, fair bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Original blued finish, grooved walnut "Red 9" grips. Matching serial numbers including the grips. 50-500 meter tangent rear sight. NS marked hammer. Crown/U proofs located on the left side of the...

9x19mm; 87% blue, good bore, good grips, poor stock, 5.5'' barrel, Original blued finish and grooved walnut "red 9" grips. Matching except the grips (which match each other) and the holster stock. Left side of the receiver is stamped "1920". Standard...

9 MM; 97% blue, poor bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Blued finish, grooved walnut "Red 9" grips. Matching serial numbers except the grips, floorplate and un-numbered bolt stop. Holster stock is matching. 50-500 meter tangent rear sight. NS marked...

9x19mm; 89% blue, good bore, good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Original blued finish and grooved walnut grips with with carved large red 9. Matching serial numbers including the grips. Standard Mauser Oberndorf markings in two lines on the right frame and three...

7.63mm Mauser; 90% blue, good bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Old reblued finish with original 12 groove walnut grips. Large Mauser banner on left frame with the two line Mauser Oberndorf markings on the right side. Matching number floorplate, other...

7.63mm Mauser; 87% blue, good bore, very good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Original blued finish and grooved walnut grips. Generous fire blue finish on small parts. Matching serial numbers. Small ring hammer. Fixed front sight, tangent 50-1000 meter rear sight...

32 ACP; 98% blue, excellent bore, good grips, 3.25'' barrel, Original blued finish and checkered walnut grip. Marked on the right side of the frame with the Kreigsmarine Eagle/M. Matching serial numbers. Standard Mauser Oberndorf markings along the left...

32 ACP; 92% blue, very good+ bore, very good grips, 3.25'' barrel, Original blued finish and checkered walnut grip. Standard Mauser Oberndorf markings along the left side of the slide. Crown/U proofs. Matching serial numbers. This pistol is marked with a...

30 Mauser; 80% blue, poor bore, good grips, 5.5'' barrel, Rig, complete with the matching holster stock and WW1 dated leather harness. The pistol retains original blued finish whiich shows age with wear and thinning on high points, fading and light...

25 ACP; 85% blue, fair bore, fair grips, 3'' barrel, Original blued finish and checkered walnut grip. Matching serial numbers. Factory magazine. Portuguese proof on the rear of the frame, small triangle inside circle. Standard Mauser Oberndorf markings...

97% blue, good bore, very good grips, 5 1/2'' barrel, MAUSER C96 BROOMHANDLE PISTOL IN EXCELLENT OVERALL CONDITION. THE BLUING SHOWS LIGHT EDGE WEAR ALONG WITH MODERATE WEAR ON THE BACK STRAP. THE EXTRACTOR, REAR SIGHT LADDER, SAFETY AND TRIGGER RETAIN...

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