12 mm Lefaucheux

• Name — 12 mm Lefaucheux • Type — Revolver • Service — 1858–1892 • Used By — French Navy and French Army • Design Date — 1858 • Is Si Specs — yes • Case Type — Rimmed, straight • Bullet — 11.3 • Neck — 11.8 • Base — 11.9 • Rim Dia — 12.6 • Rim Thick — 0.94 mm • Case Length — 19.9 • Length — 30.8 • Is Si Ballistics — yes • Bwunit — gram • Vel3 — 0 • En3 — 0 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.

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.

• Illustration — The 12mm Lefaucheux. These are the characteristics of the '12 mm Lefaucheux' cartridge: • 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).