Berthier 8x50mm rifle
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
Berthier rifle was a “brilliant” design that provided an en bloc alternative to the tube magazine in the 1886 Lebel. It used the same cartridge - three lousy rounds at a time compared to Lebel’s eight, but with much quicker reloading. The opening at the bottom also gave dirt a convenient path into the magazine.
Handloaded 8x50mm Lebel ammunition in a 3-shot clip. Factory ammunition used regular jacketed spitzer bullets.
Looks properly steampunk to me.