It's the little things that make you happy!

 Got some great stuff in yesterday! I finally found 8x56R and 8x60R ammunition for my Portuguese Kropatschek model 1886 rifle. Yes, the rifle can fire both sizes of Portuguese ammunition, there is very little difference other than the length of the neck on the brass cartridges. Just don't try to fire any other type of 8x56R - it will just end in tears!

The 1886 Kropatschek rifles were originally chambered for the black powder 8x60R cartridge, but the cartridge was then replaced by the new 8x56R cartridge which used smokeless powder. The main difference between the cartridges are the smokeless powder and the neck of the case being just a little shorter. Both rounds can be fired from the rifle. 

The packaging is stamped 1928, which is probably when they were packaged at the factory, because the brass on the 8x56 is stamped 1919 while the brass on the 8x60 is stamped 1904!

These rounds are no longer manufactured, and the reloading dies are no longer manufactured, either. When you can find the ammunition, it is usually an expensive purchase! I won't tell you how much I paid for one 10 round box of 8x56R military ball ammuntion and one 10 round box of 8x60R blank rounds. Let's just say I was happy to find them and leave it at that.