German 8mm - What do I have?

[Pilgrim]

I have come across 340 rounds of German manufacture 8mm ammunition
with black tipped bullets. I know that means armor piercing in U.S.
ammo, but I don't know if it means the same for 8mm German ammo.

The box is marked:
Patronen S.m.K L'spur (gelb)
P.398 - 15.L.38
Nz.Gew. Bl. P (2-2-0,45): Mog. 67.L.38
Patrh.:S*P 107.L38 Gesch. 398.45 L.38
Gesch.-Teile: P.28 - Satz: P.398
Zdh. 88.: S.K.D. 1437.L.38

The cartridge headstamp is marked: S* 107 38 P

Any idea what I have?

 

[DonQatU]

L'spur = tracer

S.m.K. = Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern Leuchtspur or Spitzer with steel core tracer.

These are the "bright tracers" with a burn to about 800 meters.

Don

 

[Pilgrim]

Thank you for the information.

 

[Mike Irwin]

P is the mark for the Polte plant at Magdeburg.

S* I believe means a brass case.

107 is the 107th manufacture lot

38 is the year, 1938.


Given the black bullet tip, there should be a band of red paint around the primer. This was the standard combined marking for the AP-T ammo.

On the packaging:

Patronen means cartridge

NZ means it's loaded with nitrocellulose powder.

This line "Patrh.:S*P 107.L38" mirrors the information found on the headstamp.

This line "Gesch.-Teile: P.28 - Satz: P.398" provides manufacture information on the bullet (Gesch is the abbreviation for bullet).

This line "Zdh. 88.: S.K.D. 1437.L.38" is information on the primer, I believe. Don't know what the SKD is, but it may be the manufacturer.

 

[DonQatU]

S* I believe means a brass case.

Not "Stahl" something or other?

Don

 

[Mike Irwin]

Nope, not Stahl.

Steel cases often have an S+ marking on them.

 

[Pilgrim]

Again, I thank you all for your quick and detailed response.

 

[Jim K]

It is APT with a yellow (gelb) trace. There were tons of it sold in the late 1950's by (then) Interarmco and others. It has a mild collector interest, but there is quite a bit of it still around.

The previous info seems correct. FYI, Zdh (Zundhutchen, English "primer") [18]88 is corrosive. Zdh [19]38 is non-corrosive, but rare.

Tracer ammo is capable of starting fires, so be careful where you shoot it.

Jim

 

[Pilgrim]

Yes, thank you. I am aware of the fire hazard and will be careful with it.