Re: .375" on a CheyTac
Hello Gerard!
I am glad you found this thread.
For the benefit of anyone following these comments, Gerard originated the sacrificial forward band design, which makes possible the use of these 6+ caliber bullets in conjunction with EGT rifling geometry.
To your question on conformity with standard bore/groove dimensions...
I believe you have started something fully appreciated by only a few as yet. With the extreme projectile lengths, made possible by your invention, three other things have changed. First, current action designs are not suitable for efficiency optimized case configurations which, when compounded with a much longer projectile nose, means new actions are in order. Second, with new dedicated cases comes the opportunity design to pressure capacities significantly exceeding 65 kpsi to utilize modern, higher energy propellants. Third, since these propellants will eat 416 for lunch, new barrel alloys are required.
Obviously, these very specialized rifles will come into being slowly, and will always be used by only a limited portion of the shooting community. Overwhelmingly, it is the conventional systems which will benefit from tamer applications of your work, but extreme long-range targeting will never be the same.
The chambering, and barrel bore/groove dimensions of these coming rifles will need to be non-interchangable with existing firearms for safety considerations... if for no other reason, in my opinion.
Gerard, I have a question which arose when someone confronted me on this site some time ago. You and I have had this discussion before, but I was never clear on the answer, and had to speculate in my response. The basic assertion this (anonoymous) person made, was that the Moeller projectile "innovated" the first, and only true engraving band ( Defined as engraving only within the major, and minor band diameters.). I assured them that you were not only aware of, but could easily implement the design feature into your bullets, and that the idea is nearly 100 years old in any case, but I still do not understand why your projectile shaft diameter is the same as the bore diameter. Is it to accomodate production barrel tolerances, a softer copper alloy, both, or neither?