Type Pistol
Submachine gun In service 1904–1945 Designer Kijiro Nambu | Place of origin Japan Used by Japan | |
 | ||
Wars Second Sino-Japanese War
World War II | ||
The 8×22mm Nambu is a rimless, bottleneck handgun cartridge introduced in Japan in 1904. It was used in the Type A and B Nambus, Type 14 Nambu and Type 94 pistols, Tokyo Arsenal Model 1927, Type II machine pistol, Hino Komuro M1908 Pistol and the Type 100 submachine gun. It uses 8.2 mm (.320") bullets. Power is relatively low, with military loads developing about 280 J (200 foot·pounds), comparable to the American .380 ACP and substantially weaker than contemporary military cartridges such as 9×19mm Parabellum, .45 ACP, and 7.62×25mm Tokarev.
As per the fate of almost all contemporary Imperial Japanese weapon designs, the 8 mm Nambu production ceased after the end of World War II, as the weapons that fired it were removed from service. While some small-scale production (primarily using remanufactured brass) has occurred in the United States, handloading is common among owners of 8 mm Nambu pistols. New manufactured brass and copper plated lead bullets (.320") are now available through HDS.
The Japanese Army cartridges in 8 mm Nambu have no markings on the headstamp unlike the Japanese Navy cartridges.