| .510 DTC EUROP | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | France | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Eric Danis | |
| Designed | 2000 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | .50 BMG | |
| Bullet diameter | 13.0 mm (0.51 in) | |
| Neck diameter | 14.3 mm (0.56 in) | |
| Shoulder diameter | 19.3 mm (0.76 in) | |
| Base diameter | 20.4 mm (0.80 in) | |
| Case length | 96.8 mm (3.81 in) | |
| Case capacity | 19.175 cm³ (296 gr H2O) | |
| Primer type | CCI#35 (BMG) | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 41.9 g (647 gr) | 910 m/s (3,000 ft/s) | 17,306 J (12,764 ft·lbf) |
The .510 DTC EUROP is a French rifle cartridge developed by Eric Danis in order to comply with firearms legislation in Europe which regulates .50 BMG rifles. In response to the .50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004, which banned future sales of .50 BMG shoulder-fired rifles in California, long-range shooters in that state have begun to adopt this cartridge as a manner of following the new legislation.
The .510 DTC EUROP uses the same bullet as the .50 BMG, but has slightly different case dimensions. The case is 0.100 inches (2.5 mm) shorter and uses a steeper shoulder than standard .50 BMG ammunition. .510 DTC cases can be made by shortening and then fire-forming .50 BMG cases. The new round has almost identical ballistics, but because of the different dimensions, rifles chambered for the .50 BMG cannot safely fire the .510 DTC, and vice versa, and therefore do not fall under the same legal prohibitions. To avoid any confusion, American .510 DTC rifle manufacturers have taken to calling the cartridge the ".50 DTC," to avoid giving the impression that the weapons are over .50 caliber, which would require their registration as "Destructive Devices" under the 1934 National Firearms Act. .510 DTC rifles, like .50 BMG rifles outside of California, are simply standard modern rifles and can be purchased as such.
