12 mm Lefaucheux
{{Short description|Black powder revolver cartridge}}
{{Notability|Product|date=February 2023}}
{{infobox firearm cartridge
|name= 12 mm Lefaucheux
|image= 12×17mm Lefaucheux metallic horizontal.jpg
|caption=
|origin=
|type= Revolver
|service= 1858–1892
|used_by=French Navy and French Army
|wars=
|designer=
|design_date= 1858
|manufacturer=
|production_date=
|number=
|variants=
|is_SI_specs=yes
|parent=
|case_type= Rimmed, straight
|bullet=11.3
|bullet_ref=
|neck=11.8
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|shoulder=
|shoulder_ref=
|base=11.9
|base_ref=
|rim_dia=12.6
|rim_dia_ref=
|rim_thick=0.94 mm
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|case_length= 19.9
|case_length_ref=
|length=30.8
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|is_SI_ballistics=yes
|bwunit=gram
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The 12mm Lefaucheux is a metallic center-fire cartridge. It was originally created as a rimless pinfire cartridge using black powder employed by the French navy on the Lefaucheux M1858 revolver. Later it was adapted to a center-fire cartridge by the French Army in 1873 for use on the MAS 1873 revolver.
Overview
Originally, the 12 mm, was a classic Lefaucheux cartridge, with a side pin from its introduction in 1858 until 1873, when it was adapted and became a rimmed center-fire cartridge for use in the MAS revolver 1873-1874 then used by the French Army.{{cite web |url=https://www.revolver1873.fr/1873-marine.php |title=Le revolver modèle 1873 à destination de la marine |publisher=revolver1873.fr |author= |date= |access-date=2021-06-14}}
Features
File:12×17mm Lefaucheux metallic.jpg
These are the characteristics of the '12 mm Lefaucheux' cartridge:{{cite web |url=http://old.municion.org/lefaucheux/12mm.htm |title=12 mm Lefaucheux - Cartucho 12 x 17 mm./ ECRA-ECDV 11 017 CLP 010 |publisher=old.municion.org |author= |date= |access-date=2021-06-14}}{{cite web |url=https://pdfslide.net/documents/article-marine.html |title=11 ou 12 Marine |publisher=Winchesterguns.com |author=Yves Etievant |date= |access-date=2021-06-14}}{{cite web |url=https://www.tircollection.com/t1634-rechargement-11mm-pour-1873 |title=rechargement 11mm pour 1873 |publisher=TIR et COLLECTION Armes Règlementaires |author= |date=2017-03-20 |access-date=2021-06-14}}
- Brass case
- Caliber: 12mm
- Ammo: 12 X 17
- Bullet diameter: 11.30 - 11.40 mm (.444" - .448")
- Neck diameter: 11.80 - 11.85 mm (.464" - .466)
- Base diameter: 11.90 - 11.92 mm (.468" - .469")
- Rim diameter: 12.64 - 12.66 mm (.497" - .498")
- Rim thickness: 0.9 - 1.0 mm (.035" - .039")
- Case length: 19.90 - 20.00 mm (.783" - .787")
- Overall length: 30.77 - 30.80 mm (1.211" - 1.212")
- Primer: patented GAUPILLAT
- Total weight: 18.34 grams
- Bullet weight (lead): 12.80 grams
- Cartridge weight: 4.74 grams
- Black powder charge: 0.80 g
These are the most frequently encountered ("headstamp") tags:
- 1 / E / 82 / G. E
- 4 / F / 82 / G.E
- 1 / G / 82 / G. E
- 4 / G / 82 / G.E
- 4 / M / 82 / G. E
- 4 / K / 82 / G. E
In these markings, the initials "G. E" referring to the manufacturer "Ernest Gaupillat", and the other letter and digits referring to the batch (probably place and date).
Dimensions
See also
References
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