Differences between .50 BMG and .510 DTC EUROP
.50 BMG vs. .510 DTC EUROP[edit]
The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG) and .510 DTC EUROP (.510 Danis Thompson Contre) are two large-caliber rifle cartridges that share nearly identical performance characteristics but differ in their case dimensions and legal status.[1][2] The .50 BMG, also known as 12.7x99mm NATO, was developed in the United States in the late 1910s for the M2 Browning machine gun and remains a standard for NATO forces.[3] In contrast, the .510 DTC EUROP was created in France by gunsmith Eric Danis in the early 2000s specifically to comply with European firearms legislation that restricted civilian ownership of rifles chambered in .50 BMG.[4][2]
The primary motivation for the development of the .510 DTC was to create a cartridge with ballistic performance similar to the .50 BMG that would not be subject to the same legal prohibitions. This was achieved by altering the .50 BMG case dimensions slightly. The .510 DTC case is shorter and has a steeper shoulder angle, which prevents it from being chambered and fired in a .50 BMG rifle, and vice versa.[4] This dimensional separation makes it a legally distinct cartridge. Following its use in Europe, the cartridge was also adopted by some shooters in California after the state's .50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004 banned the sale of new .50 BMG rifles.[4]
Despite the dimensional changes, the two cartridges are functionally very similar. They use the same .511-inch (12.98 mm) diameter bullets, and because the .510 DTC case was designed to have nearly the same internal volume, it can be loaded to achieve almost identical muzzle velocities and energy levels.[4][1] Cases for the .510 DTC can be formed by modifying commercially available .50 BMG brass.[4]
Comparison Table[edit]
[1]| Interchangeability || Not interchangeable with .510 DTC || Not interchangeable with .50 BMG| Category | .50 BMG | .510 DTC EUROP |
|---|---|---|
| Place of Origin | United States | France |
| Design Year | c. 1918 | c. 2000s[2] |
| Parent Case | .30-06 Springfield (scaled up)[3][5] | .50 BMG[4] |
| Bullet Diameter | 0.511 in (12.98 mm)[3] | 0.511 in (12.98 mm) |
| Case Length | 3.91 in (99.31 mm)[3] | 3.785 in (96.14 mm) |
| Shoulder Design | Standard taper | Steeper shoulder angle[4] |
| Purpose | Military heavy machine gun, anti-materiel rifle, long-range sniping[3] | Legal compliance alternative to .50 BMG for civilian long-range shooting[2] |
| Performance | Approx. 12,000–15,000 ft-lbf (16,000–20,000 J) muzzle energy | Approx.[3] 12,764 ft-lbf (17,306 J) muzzle energy |
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "alloutdoor.com". Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "xxlreloading.com". Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "fandom.com". Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ↑ "wikipedia.org". Retrieved January 12, 2026.
