8mm Mauser

[Bruce_in_Oz]

The heavy 196 / 197 sS bullet was originally developed for aerial machine guns, apparently.. This MAY have tied in with the development of MG synchronization gear in fighter types.

Anyone got anything on concurrent or otherwise development of 7.92 tracer and incendiary, again, initially for aerial use?

On the ground, some astute Germans may have perceived the Vickers guns and .303 Mk 7 ammo being able to "out-range" standard S Ball in their '08 Maxims. So, it probably made sense to start using the "aircraft" sS ammo in the ground-mounted MGs to "reach out" somewhat further than with the 153gn S Ball. Note also that the sS bullet is boat-tailed, interestingly, in a form clearly inspired by the Swiss 7.5mm GP-11 projectile. Then, a bit later, the Brits answered with the .303 Mk 8 "streamlined", boat-tailed bullet. Everybody seemed to be reading everybody else's mail.

And, while the Germans started shipping sS ball to the two-way firing range, they probably figured that "standardizing" on ONE rifle / MG round at the front made good logistic sense. Thus the steady demise of S Ball.

Apparently the 1903-vintage S Ball was finally dropped from production in 1933. Another interesting thing that happened in Germany that year.