Anyone shot a .30/30 WCF Revolver?

I shot one of those in .45-70. If you like recoil, you'll love it. I've shot a T/C in .30/30, (and .45/70) there's enough oomph to that, too. I don't doubt Magnum Research's quality, it's all top notch stuff (except that .22 they had many years ago.)

Yep have a TC pistol in 45-70, 7-30 Waters, and 35 REM. Would think that a MR 30-30 would not be that much different recoil wise either. I would not shoot 100 rounds in an afternoon but 10-15 in a sitting would be OK.

I have shot many rifle cartridges in the Thompson Contender, and this my observation:

Cartridges such as the .30-30 and .30-40 are not that unpleasant to shoot compared to conventional magnum revolver cartridges fired in a revolver. Recoil is a function of bullet weight and velocity compared to the weight of the gun. since the .30 and .35 caliber rifle cartridges are usually loaded with bullets ranging from 120 grs. to 200 grs. recoil is about like a .357 Magnum or so. As bullet weight increases, up to 500 grs. or so, recoil does become more noticeable.

I was surprised when I spent time shooting a .30-40 Krag in the Contender how mild it actually was compared to my Super Blackhawk.

Bob Wright

Bob is right. My 45/70 Phelps is quite pleasant to shoot until you get up to 500 grain bullets or try to up the velocity. Sir Issac Newtons rules still apply

A cartridge with a shoulder , on firing, tends to back out and jam the revolver cylinder . Keeping it from turning.

S&W 22 Jet comes to mind.

Recoil should not be a problem. T/C Contender 10" bbl in 30 -30 loaded to 2000 fps with a 150 gr Sierra may split the web of your hand. Just a little, till you build up a callus.

The .30-30 BFR doesn't recoil as much as a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44mag.

Guys forget the .30-30 is a rather low power rifle cartridge with relatively low bullet weights compared to other handgun cartridges, and the long cylinder BFR is a massively heavy revolver. 150grns at 1700fps is about the norm for the BFR, 150 x 1700 = 255,000, whereas a 300grn 44mag at 1250fps is 375,000... then you get to take credit for almost 2 full pounds of revolver weight...

I've had long cylinder BFR's in 30-30 as well as .45-70. The 30-30 is barely more potent than .357max. I push 180grn pills out of my .357/44 B&D redhawk at 1800-2000fps, very, very mild recoil compared to a .454C or .475L, certainly more mild than a .460 or .500 - and more power than I could get from the .30-30 BFR. The .30-30 BFR is a lot like a really heavy .357max...

Wow. a Bain and Davis. Haven't heard of that one in a while.

I own a Dan Wesson 357 Max and have fired a BFR in 3030, I also own a 3030 TC, of the 3 the TC with 14" bull barrel with muzzle brake is the easiest to shoot, lowest felt recoil, the muzzle blast from both the Max and the BFR was dramatic to say the least, neither are fun to shoot full bore loads out of for very many rounds.

I have a Contender with a .30 Herrett barrel. It's not too bad recoil wise.
I shot one in .35 Remington and it opened up an old sore in my right hand.
That was more than I cared to shoot.

Dframe said:

Wow. a Bain and Davis. Haven't heard of that one in a while.

Click to expand...

I made my first one a bit over 2yrs ago now, a Redhawk, added a Convertible Blackhawk - kinda wanna swap to an original Vaquero though. It still makes me swoon every time I shoot it.

Whole lot of H110 behind a Speer 180grn Hotcor:

I have a Magnum Research BFR 30/30, and the recoil is hardly anything to worry about. It is such a heavy revolver that there is hardly any rise, just back at you ,and very manageable. The problem is just what 243win brought up, in that if you are not holding that gun, and weak wrist it, the primer backs out and jams the cylinder and it won't advance. It also gives me problems with reloads that are not near the top of the load range, as you can not use mild loads or the primer moves back. If reloading, you must use the Hornady reload manual, that lists the Thompson Contender 30/30 loads, and I have the best success with the hotter loads and mine get feed 170 grain bullets. It is alot of fun to shoot, and gets alot of attention at the range. You will learn what shoots the best, just as any revolver. Also, I find that the CCI primers are the best, and I don't use the progressive press to prime, I use the RCBS ram primer, and seat it alittle deeper than most everything else I reload.

If you are ever of a mind to, I'd love to see some ammunition and components for your B&D Varminteror.

I would think the worst thing about these would be the blast at the barrel cylinder gap.

Many moons ago I shot TCs and Merrills in .30-30 and those single shots were not that bad recoil wise.

-kBob

I had one for a time. The cure for case setback is to swab the chambers with alcohol ensuring there is no traces of oil inside prior to firing.

This virtually eliminated any cylinder binding.

The problem with the thing is it was so big and heavy it had no advantage most handguns have of portability weighing as much as a carbine with a fraction of the accuracy

I have a 45/70 bfr.... shooting it is not what many people think. I'd think the 30/30 would be quite pleasant to shoot

Just revisited this post. Got to try alcohol swabs for the chambers, will let you know how that works. Thank you R.W.Dale.