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Most Underrated Cartridge
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Don A Parsons
Well-Known Member
I just read up the many posts on this awesome thread, and it got me thinking about a old work horse that is missing from the days gone by.
The 30/30 winchester, that's right my friends, the old work horse fell asleep when the Musers and the Lee Enfields came on line.
1894 as it came out as a small bore sporting rifle, it got that 130gr bullets up to a whopping 2400 ft-per second with 1700 ft-lbs energy from the muzzle.
The 170gr'ers put them out at 2200 ft-per second with the knock down power of almost 1900 ft-lbs energy.
Just about every critter less the big big bear category feared this cartrage,,, at least in the 40 to 100 yards,,, it was the long range small bore of its day,,, it could reach out to 150 to 200 yards hitting beer bottles, maple syrup cans, and many paint cans and rocks.
It's said that the 30/30 has bagged more rocks then any other cartrage out there,,, lots of fence posts and trees were taken to. LOL.
It was considered the entry level into medium size critters, Deer and Black Bears up to 200 yards. Canada & in the United States the cartrage became Moose rifle, pronghorn, and caribou getter. Lots of coyotes and Wolves a long with beavers fell to this soon to be under-dog.
The 30/30 cartrage fell short in Finland, Norway, and Sweden since it didn't quite have the knock down power required for Moose,,, they felt that if one shot couldn't get it done,,, then it just wasn't going to work...
I'm guessing someone for got to tell them to Jack that lever action since quantity is just as good as quality. Ha.
Purhaps this is why most lever actions could hold 7 rounds.
So what happen to the long range thing for the 30/30 winchester,,, well it didn't really happen since other cartrages proved better at this,,, the 45/70, 303, and 30/06 at that time.
Did the 30/30 at least try some long range,,, the answer is yes.
It might of had a stint at the Mexican live silhouette challange,,, the Chickens, pigs, sheep thing,,, or what we call today, "the iron silhouettes challange...
Then it gets its challanges at the Quwigly match down in the USA.
Free hand shooting at its best.
Of course this is target plinking,,, as for critter harvests it still fits into the up close and personal on out to the 200 yards range,,, depending on load and the shooters hand.
The little entry level small bore 30/30 sporting rifle never got its credits as it tops the list of under rated cartrages out there.
If the 30/30 winchester was chambered in todays actions, it would be 4@!! on wheels along side of the 308.
The hold back on it was the rifles that couldn't handle the pressures.
The estimated recoil of a 150gr bullets from a 30/30 lever action was around 7 1/2 lbs recoil,,, the 30/06 with same 150gr'ers in a bolt action was close to 10 to 12 ft-lbs,,, the 30/30 was a breeze to shot, fun, comforting, fast, reliable and a all round slinger in tight bush quarters for game harvests.
This little work horse has stood the test of time in critters harvested here in the North America's,,, yet its sales have pretty much dropped off.
Glad to share on another fine cartrage that filled the gap when there was only a few to choose from back in its day.
The old school 30/30 might ride off into the sun set, yet we know that just beyond the hill there stands the man who once proved it's worth.
This my friends is something worth sharing with everyone around us.
Long live the Legend.
Western Canada pal Don
The 30/30 winchester, that's right my friends, the old work horse fell asleep when the Musers and the Lee Enfields came on line.
1894 as it came out as a small bore sporting rifle, it got that 130gr bullets up to a whopping 2400 ft-per second with 1700 ft-lbs energy from the muzzle.
The 170gr'ers put them out at 2200 ft-per second with the knock down power of almost 1900 ft-lbs energy.
Just about every critter less the big big bear category feared this cartrage,,, at least in the 40 to 100 yards,,, it was the long range small bore of its day,,, it could reach out to 150 to 200 yards hitting beer bottles, maple syrup cans, and many paint cans and rocks.
It's said that the 30/30 has bagged more rocks then any other cartrage out there,,, lots of fence posts and trees were taken to. LOL.
It was considered the entry level into medium size critters, Deer and Black Bears up to 200 yards. Canada & in the United States the cartrage became Moose rifle, pronghorn, and caribou getter. Lots of coyotes and Wolves a long with beavers fell to this soon to be under-dog.
The 30/30 cartrage fell short in Finland, Norway, and Sweden since it didn't quite have the knock down power required for Moose,,, they felt that if one shot couldn't get it done,,, then it just wasn't going to work...
I'm guessing someone for got to tell them to Jack that lever action since quantity is just as good as quality. Ha.
Purhaps this is why most lever actions could hold 7 rounds.
So what happen to the long range thing for the 30/30 winchester,,, well it didn't really happen since other cartrages proved better at this,,, the 45/70, 303, and 30/06 at that time.
Did the 30/30 at least try some long range,,, the answer is yes.
It might of had a stint at the Mexican live silhouette challange,,, the Chickens, pigs, sheep thing,,, or what we call today, "the iron silhouettes challange...
Then it gets its challanges at the Quwigly match down in the USA.
Free hand shooting at its best.
Of course this is target plinking,,, as for critter harvests it still fits into the up close and personal on out to the 200 yards range,,, depending on load and the shooters hand.
The little entry level small bore 30/30 sporting rifle never got its credits as it tops the list of under rated cartrages out there.
If the 30/30 winchester was chambered in todays actions, it would be 4@!! on wheels along side of the 308.
The hold back on it was the rifles that couldn't handle the pressures.
The estimated recoil of a 150gr bullets from a 30/30 lever action was around 7 1/2 lbs recoil,,, the 30/06 with same 150gr'ers in a bolt action was close to 10 to 12 ft-lbs,,, the 30/30 was a breeze to shot, fun, comforting, fast, reliable and a all round slinger in tight bush quarters for game harvests.
This little work horse has stood the test of time in critters harvested here in the North America's,,, yet its sales have pretty much dropped off.
Glad to share on another fine cartrage that filled the gap when there was only a few to choose from back in its day.
The old school 30/30 might ride off into the sun set, yet we know that just beyond the hill there stands the man who once proved it's worth.
This my friends is something worth sharing with everyone around us.
Long live the Legend.
Western Canada pal Don
Last edited:
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
I think the Winchester rifle sold the .30-30 as anything. For me the 94 never appealed until the .375 Winchester came along.
Never been a fan myself, but have to concede advances in bullet technology help the old .30-30 as much as any other cartridge.
Never been a fan myself, but have to concede advances in bullet technology help the old .30-30 as much as any other cartridge.
Rich Coyle
Well-Known Member
Don A Parsons,
All the factory .30-30 170 grainers I chronoed ran 1,900 feet per second. The 150 were 2,200 feet per second.
All the factory .30-30 170 grainers I chronoed ran 1,900 feet per second. The 150 were 2,200 feet per second.
Bbear
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2007
- Messages
- 318
Have to agree with the 264 Win Mag. Touted in the 'rifleman's rifle' and a great cartridge, the early loads burned barrels when folks fired too many to quickly. With today's powders and bullets, it's more than adequate for about any north American game animal.
My second one is the 25-06. Seems one of the favorites still here in Texas. Capable of taking whitetail and mule deer with ease. It will even take game up to elk with the right bullet and the shooter doing their part. Long range for this though is somewhat limited by lack of the higher BC bullets out there. And with the 'love' of long range, it's often rated poorly compared to other cartridges out there. Shame, it's a great round.
My second one is the 25-06. Seems one of the favorites still here in Texas. Capable of taking whitetail and mule deer with ease. It will even take game up to elk with the right bullet and the shooter doing their part. Long range for this though is somewhat limited by lack of the higher BC bullets out there. And with the 'love' of long range, it's often rated poorly compared to other cartridges out there. Shame, it's a great round.
blumboss33
Well-Known Member
.270 for sure, here as a hunting forum people don't use or talk about it.
oldfortyfiveauto
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2011
- Messages
- 413
I use it and love it.
blumboss33
Well-Known Member
me too but a lot of hunters think its sht and they hate it.
Canhunter35
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2017
- Messages
- 3,167
I'm surprised by the posts listing 30-06,270,30-30,243, and 7mm rem mag as underrated cartridges. So I googled most popular cartridges.
Found this chuckhawks article from 2015. Granted it's two years old but all five of those calibers are listed as the most popular selling ammo number 3-7.
That's leaves me wondering if the 30-06 is 3rd most popular cartridge sold two years ago, the 30-30 is 4th, 270 5th, and so on but all 5 are considered "underrated" how good are they? Lol
Sorry for stirring the pot and I totally understand the posters reasons for listing each cartridge because they feel under appreciated on the forum...but the money says they aren't actually underrated.
Here's the article:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/best_selling_rifle_cartridges.htm
Found this chuckhawks article from 2015. Granted it's two years old but all five of those calibers are listed as the most popular selling ammo number 3-7.
That's leaves me wondering if the 30-06 is 3rd most popular cartridge sold two years ago, the 30-30 is 4th, 270 5th, and so on but all 5 are considered "underrated" how good are they? Lol
Sorry for stirring the pot and I totally understand the posters reasons for listing each cartridge because they feel under appreciated on the forum...but the money says they aren't actually underrated.
Here's the article:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/best_selling_rifle_cartridges.htm
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Yep, go to just about any deer camp in Alabama, and you're sure to find all of those. Along with a .300 WinMag tossed in the mix, and a few Weatherbys, oddballs, and wildcats.
I'd venture to say that some of the most underrated common cartridges TODAY, are the .257 Roberts (both regular and +P), .25-06 (Rem & Ackley), .22-250, .260 (Rem & AI), .35 Remington, .308 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 7mm STW, .45-70 Gov't, 6.5 Grendel, and .300 Blackout.
These are all great cartridges that often times get overlooked for the newer popular cartridges of today.
Varberger757
Well-Known Member
Beyond any doubt the 8 mm S/ .323 bullets IMHO. They are delivering on height (and more) with the .338. All calibers for it starting with the 8x57IS, 8 mm - 06 (AI), 8x64S Brenneke, etc., and the powerful magnums 8x68S, 8mm RM make perfect hunting rounds for each and every purpose. Don't finding them on regular bases is a huge loss for a rifle crazy country as the USA are!
catch 22
Well-Known Member
My favorite caliber is 6.5×55 (since 1983). The most under rated (or under appreciated) IMO are the 7mm Express, 250-3000, and 25 Souper.
