Regardless of whether or not an old small ring action will stand up to the pressures of a modern high intensity cartridge (likely it will), it's more about how it will handle a catastrophic gas leak that truly separates it from later designs. Possibly a moot point given the higher quality brass and primers we have today versus 100 years ago, but still something to consider.
Milling the receiver ring into an octagon is an interesting design concept. How thin will the walls of said ring become at its thinnest point? Aside from maintaining the minimum thickness of an original small ring, one has to consider the steel makeup of it and whether or not stress risers are set up by doing so. That would be an answer for an engineer or a metallurgist. I'm just thinking out loud.
Last edited by Gary D.; 04/18/13 09:19 AM.
