German Empire Spitzer (bullet)

ballistic tables 1903 pattern s patrone , further improved 1914 pattern s.s. patrone fired 600 millimetres (23.6 in) barrel.

in germany gewehr-prüfungskommission (g.p.k.) (rifle testing commission) responsible improve accuracy , performance of 1888 pattern military m/88 ammunition , germany s weapons chambered m/88 ammunition gewehr 1888. during late 19th , 20th century improvement program, had remedy m/88 s propellant compression , excessive barrel (grooves) wear problems, german ordnance authority began prefer spitzer bullets 1898.

a new spitzgeschoß aerodynamic bullet, credited independent ballistician arthur gleinich, tested in 1902 , officially adopted on 3 april 1903. after several shape revisions entered mass production in 1904. spitzgeschoß nose externally pointed french design , shape patented, full metal jacket spitzgeschoß differed internally. gewehr-prüfungskommission program resulted in s patrone a.k.a. 7.92×57mm mauser cartridge, loaded relatively lightweight 9.9 grams (153 gr) spitzer bullet increased diameter of 8.2 mm (0.323 in) had ballistic coefficient (g1 bc) of approximately 0.321 0.337 (ballistic coefficients debatable), along dimensionally redesigned chambering , bore (designated s-bore ) , new double-base (based on nitrocellulose , nitroglycerin) smokeless powder loading, delivered improved muzzle velocity of 878 m/s (2,880 ft/s) 740 millimetres (29.1 in) barrel. s patrone adopted german army , navy in 1903 , had maximum range of approximately 3,700 m (4,050 yd). combination of increased muzzle velocity , improved bullet aerodynamics provided flatter bullet trajectory, increased probability of hitting individual target @ typical combat distances.

at onset of world war 1 germany developed aerodynamically further refined bullet. 12.8 grams (198 gr) full metal jacket s.s. - schweres spitzgeschoß ( heavy spitzer ) boat tail projectile had ballistic coefficient (g1 bc) of 0.557 0.593 (ballistic coefficients debatable) , loaded in s.s. patrone. @ 760 m/s (2,493 ft/s) muzzle velocity s.s. patrone had maximum range of approximately 4,700 m (5,140 yd) , retained supersonic velocity , past 1,000 m (1,100 yd) (v1000 ≈ mach 1.07) under icao standard atmosphere conditions @ sea level (air density ρ = 1.225 kg/m). 1914 introduction s.s. patrone issued aerial combat , of 1918 in later stages of world war infantry machine gunners. fifteen years after world war 1 s patrone phased out , s.s. patrone became standard issue ball ammunition german military.