I have a head-ache, or 'Comparing late 1800's cartridge to modern blackpowder loads'.

[priv8ter]

Okay. To my way of understanding, a .30-30 was named that because it was a .30 caliber bullet loaded with the equivilant of 30 grains of black powder.

Likewise, a .45-70 was a .45 caliber loaded with the equivilant of 70 grains of blackpowder.

So...fast forwarding 115 years, if I take a .45 Knight In-Line muzzle loader, and throw 3 50 grain Pyrodex pellets in it, is that now twice the rifle that a .45-70 is?

Just one of thos random thoughts that sometimes spills out.

greg

 

[mete]

They still insist on using the dram equivalent for shotguns too! along with high and low base shells which today mean nothing.

 

[Frohickey]

No. Cuz someone with a 45/70 lever action can empty his 8 round magazine before you can get your next shot off.

 

[ARGarrison]

30-30 Winchester was the first American small-bore,Smokeless-powder sporting cartridge. It was first marketed in 1895 with a 160 gr softpoint bullet and 30 grs. of smokeless powder.

The 30-30 Wesson was a blackpowder cartridge. Designed by Frank Wesson, brother to Daniel Wesson, of Smith & Wesson.

 

[Quantrill]

My understanding was that the 30-30winchester (WCF) was named for 30 grains of SMOKELESS powder for the charge. The only other round still manufactured that goes by the number of grains of SMOKELESS powder is the 30-40 Krag (military). These two kind of tried to keep the tradition of the bullet dia. in inches (roughly) and the load of powder in grains. All the others 45-70, 32-20, 25-20, 38-40, 44-40 that are still with us, the second number refers to grains of BLACKPOWDER. Originally, the old BLACKPOWDER loads were tri-numbered with the third number representing the bullet weight in grains. For example, 45-70-405 was the standard military infantry round in 1873 but it got confusing when the 45-55-300 came out because it was the same case with less powder and a lighter bullet used for the carbines that the cavalry used. At least that is how they explained it at the Little Big Horn Nat'l Monument a while back. Quantrill