What is 7.92x33?

The 7.92x33mm Kurz, also known as the 7.9mm Kurz or 8mm Kurz, is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge developed by Germany during World War II for the Sturmgewehr 44 (StG 44) assault rifle. It was specifically designed to provide a shorter and lighter cartridge compared to the standard 7.92x57mm Mauser rifle cartridge while still maintaining effective range and stopping power.

The 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge has a bullet diameter of 7.92mm and a case length of 33mm. It typically fires a 125 grain full metal jacket bullet at a muzzle velocity of around 2,247 feet per second. The cartridge is known for its good balance of controllable recoil, moderate muzzle blast, and adequate terminal performance, making it suitable for close to mid-range combat.

While the 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge saw only limited use in World War II due to the late introduction of the StG 44, it influenced the development of modern intermediate cartridges like the 7.62x39mm Soviet round used in the AK-47. Today, the 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge is considered a historical cartridge and is no longer in widespread use.