ammo interchangeability

[steveno]

I have some old Western ammo catalogs from the years 1937 , 1952 & 1954. in the ammo interchangeability section under 30-30 it mentions "30-30 miniature" and "30-30 W.C.F. short range". has anybody heard of these rounds? I'm wondering if they are some really old reduced power level loads?

I can't say that I have seen these notes anywhere else like a Remington or Federal catalog. I don't own a 30-30 so that doesn't mean they aren't there , its just that I wasn't paying attention

 

[Oro]

I have seen references to these in older reference books. There was no mention of the powder charge in detail, but they had lighter weight bullets and were loaded to slightly lower velocities - like 100gr and 1800fps. They sounded like short-range small game loads, squirrel, rabbit, or plinking.

I have load books back to the late 60s and they give similar load data, but don't give them special names - presumably those were just marketing labels so purchasers knew what loads they were buying, not different chamberings.

 

[rcmodel]

Back in the day, it was common for the loading companies to have reduced or "galley" loads for many of the center-fire rifle calibers.

These could be used for "gallery" indoor practice, small game hunting, pest control around the barns, or putting a chicken in the pot.

Many folks were too poor to have a wide assortment of rifles suitable for every purpose, and in the case of a 30-30 farm or ranch gun, it had to do it all, without blowing up the chicken, or the barn.

rc

 

[Galil5.56]

I have loaded up similar rounds in 30/30 and 06 using 100 grain Hornady SJ bullets. Lots of fun, and very economical using just a few grains of "pistol/shotgun" powder. Some folks call them "Grouse loads".

For anyone not familiar with this Short Jacketed (SJ) bullet, here it is: