ovenpaa wrote:On the new reamer subject a question for the Brit rifle makers. There you are enjoying a cup of tea and suddenly something new springs to mind (such as your 260 NETT Vince) So you grab a spare barrel blank, cut the chamber and screw the receiver on, you now have something new and un-named, how do you go about adding to your certificate? Is it a matter of just entering and getting it proofed or is it more involved?
Woody as an Aussie rifle builder what is the procedure for new un-named chamberings in your part of the world?
From my perspective and with us having two wildcats with odd names (The 22 Christel and the 7mm Christel) The only minor problem we had was the firearms licensing team had to find someone who knew how to add a new cartridge to the police computer, once he had that sussed he was quite happy and admitted he had learnt something new. Other than that we just discuss and agree what we want, what it is called and the rifle builder does his magic

Ovenpaa,
Pertinent question, difficult reply.
I do not think the question should be addressed to aussies, as there is no proofing procedure, nor norms on the subject in their country.
There is two lists of calmibres:
-SAAMI (Society of Arms and Ammunition Makers Industry), USA Industry association who is what its name says and who establish recommendations, not rules.. I believe entering a caliber in the SAAMI list is not very much of a problem. Their measurements are Imperial
-CIP (Commission Internationale Permanente pour l’Epreuve des Armes a Feu et des Munitions) (Sorry, the official CIP language is french!!). Memeber countries have their representatives in the Commission appointed by their respective govermenets at the higher level, as are their Proof Masters.
CIP is metric but the differences in sizes, shuld they exist, are uniquely because “eounding” conversions.
UK, as quite a few ‘civilised’ (in that matter) countries, is CIP member and firearms are by law to be submitted to proofing before use as new, or after a major modification such as rebarreling..
The testing procedure is well established, rigorous and reciprocity is the rule between the national proofhouses. A firearm proofed in a country can be used with no further procedures in all the others (BTW, I presume NRA-GB is in full illegality when they institute their own rules on the matter. A CIP-proofed for the .308 Winchester calibre can be used anywhere in UK…except at Bisley!!!!...Also, 7,62x51 is no longer an official CIP denomination.
The rle for determining a calibre is simple: wheter it is in the CIP tolerance, and the calibre denomination apply, ut the slightesr diemesion variation deim those tolerance, and the round or the forearm to chamber it IS NO LONGER of the calible. For instance, moving the sholder as little as 0,1mm, or using a case a little longer than the listed lenght can in theory take the combo out of the calibre specifications.
CIP proofing follow a severe protocol, and I have difficulty to beliece all the bad things I have heard about the UK Proofhouses. The ones I have visited, in France; Belgium, Germany are competent and serious and follow the official protocol.
The protocol consist in an inspection and measurements, firing of two proof rounds intended to develop a pressure much over the listed one for the calibre, final inspection. The firearm is then stamped with the proofhouse marking, a letter indication of the year, and a certificate is delivered. This certificate bears the Piezo pressure the proof ammunition developed in official pressure test gun (usually pressure-test ammunition supplied by ammunition manufacturers).
All the above is valid for CIP-listed ammunition, for which the Proodhouse is compelled to keep proof ammunition. But, when the calibre is not CIP listed, the person presenting the firearm for proofing I requested to supply two normal rounds of ammunition, who are then heated for two hours in a oven and fired. This heating is presumed to deliver 50% more pressure. The fiream is then also stamped, but the proof certificate bears the mention of this specific proofing and no mention is made on it of the pressure developped (normal, as this pressure has not been tested). I can say the rise in pressure is real, having inspected cases proof-fired this way!!!
All this to say the proof certificate should make the firearms ‘legal”, even for the licencing authorities. Now, an inventor can always enter in the procedure of having his brainchild officially entered in the CIP list of calibres.. This is possible but I do not know the procedure, the cost and time involved….
I can quote two examples in my country, this is the 30-06 Cartry, a 30-06 shortened by 2,54mm, and the .30M1 Short, again a .30M1 shortened by 1,27mm. Those two rounds were created to turn around our funny regulations on military calibres, and are in the CIP official list.
I do not think there is many wildcatters who have taken the trouble of an official CIP recognition?.
If a member want to have a list of common CIP rifle calibres, send me anPM giving your Email address.
R.G.C