For Those Who Shoot The 30-30 Long Range

[Sixgun]

Fellow Guncranks,
How 'bout this. There must have been a time when people thought the 30-30 was a long range cartridge. And metal cased at that! Maybe it was meant for law enforcement to shoot up the mobsters cars & bullet proof vests

I was dusting off my cartridge collection when I ran across this box of 30-30's. IIRC, I bought this box in the early seventies at a gunshow. As this box does not have "Olin" or "Winchester" on it and it and that it states it was "non corrosive priming", my guess it was made between 1927 and 1931.

I pulled a bullet to see what it looked like. Kinda neat and weird. As the box is in not too great of shape, I think I'll take it to the gunclub and test 'em out. -----------Sixgun





Flanked by a 175 gr. Saeco and a 170 Sierra FP

[Cast Bullet Hunter]

Chances are better that it was done to reduce the bearing surface which would allow for higher velocity without increasing chamber pressure.

[Sarge]

That is interesting to say the least. I'd love to shoot a few at distance to see how they hold up,

[Malamute]

I wish I could find some 170 gr FMJ 30-30 bullets, of any base type. They loaded them years ago, but I've not seen any. I'd like some for carry rounds when out kicking around in the hills around the edges of where the large things live.

[Griff]

Whadya consider "long range"? I have shot my .30-30 out to 500 meters... just doesn't weigh enough to take out rams. Last big match I shot mine @ 200 yards and 400 yards with some degree of success. Winds were "variable/light" so I only had to hold high left about 22" off center to drop them in the center of the target. (That was using my 200 meter sight setting).

Those bullets would be a hoot to test out.

[AJMD429]

What's the "contains no glass" printed on the box for...?

[2X22]

I never figured out why anyone ever thought of the 30WCF as a 'short range' cartridge. About 10 years ago I took a very nice blacktail buck at just a hair under 300 yards. I listened to Paco and used a 150gr SBT single shot style out of my '94.

Easy shot.

2x22

[Bruce]

What's the "contains no glass" printed on the box for...?

IIRC, from Hatchers Notebook, glass (ground) was used as a filler (additive) in an attempt to reduce fouling. I don't remember if it was in the primer or powder though. Maybe someone else has a better memory or the book nearby.

[FWiedner]

Yeah, I'll bet sending flaming silicates down the tube does wonders for bore life.

I wonder if it reduces fouling by sanding the bore down on the way out.

[Cliff]

Ground glass (very fine) was put into the priming compounds as a means of insuring good ignition of the powder charge. I have read somewhere it was very common in 22 rimfire cartridges. It was thought to aid the combustion. It was also felt, by many shooters to cause rapid wear of the leade in the throat and the lands of the barrels. It was dropped because of this. I think it is mentioned in "Hatchers Notebook" where he wrote of various types of priming compounds back when they were looking for reliable non-corrosive priming. The military was looking at a lot of compounds, but their primary interest was longevity or shelf life of their ammunition. Hatcher tells of a few different types of mixes. Some worked very well, but would have reduced shelf life due to climate and other factors. At least that seems to be what I remember. Interesting stuff they did back then. Frankfort Arsenal worked at it long after commercial firms were offering non-corrosive priming. Good Luck, hope they shoot well.

[w30wcf]

Sixgun,
Nice vintage box. I have the same one except that it is not in as good a shape as yours and it only has a few cartridges in it. Awhile back, I and another fellow did some research and found that it was introduced in 1929 and was last listed in 1946.

Here's an illustration from the 1941 Western catalog.


The difference in downrange ballistics between it and the standard 170 gr. flat base would be insignificant due to the flat nose. In fact, there is no difference in retained velocity between the 1941 (boat tail) and 1947 (flat base) Western catalogs. I rather doubt they actually tested it though.

I believe it was strictly a Marketing strategy to attempt to sell more .30-30 Western brand ammunition. I could be wrong though......

w30wcf

[Sixgun]

Jack,
You want 'em? You coming to the State Champs at the end of the month in Bradford?

Gunny and I are leaving on Friday morning and it looks like we will be "tenting" it as Bradford allows us to camp. Gunny is currently at Camp Perry---he gets to do all the fun stuff---ain't fair being a retired Marine with a big fat check every month. --------------Jack Jr.

[Lawyer Daggit]

The name 'Winchester Western' arose following the acquisition by Winchester of the Western ammo company. I don't know when that occurred.

[JimT]

As some of you may recall .. a few years ago we did long-range plinking with the Model 94 .. out to 1100 yards. My 190 gr. cast bullet load would take down the rams at 500m but that was limit of the sight at that time .. here's the article about it ...
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylo ... grange.htm

The next year I came back with a home-made sight extender and had a good time shooting at the long-range buffalo target. I am not sure where that article got to.

[Terry Murbach]

The name 'Winchester Western' arose following the acquisition by Winchester of the Western ammo company. I don't know when that occurred.

IT IS THE OTHER WAY AROUND; WESTERN CARTRIDGE COMPANY[ OWNED BY JOHN OLIN..] BOUGHT WINCHESTER WHEN WINCHESTER WAS GOING T/U. VOILA!!!; W-W WAS BORN.
FOR THE RECORD, UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE [ UMC.. OWNED BY MARCELLUS HARTLEY] BOUGHT REMINGTON WHEN IS WAS GOING T/U ALSO. GUN COMPANIES COME AND GO, AMMUNITION COMPANIES SEEMINGLY HAVE A LICENSE TO PRINT MONEY. NOTE AMMO COSTS THESE DAYS !!!
AND SO IT GOES....