Introduced as the first small-bore, sporting rifle cartridge for smokeless powder, the 30-30 is effectively the great North American deer cartridge. A .30 caliber bullet, loaded with 30 grains of smokeless powder, the name is derived from a combination of the cartridge size and design.
A refinement to a combination of size, portability and accuracy, a 30-30 could be slung on a hunter’s back with barely a second thought on long hikes. This was thanks to its light weight, particularly the carbine model of a mere 7.5lbs- practically a feather by the standards of the early 20th century. In addition to the portable-friendly design, the 30-30 design had remarkable accuracy and ease of use.
With a standard 150 grain factory load, a 30-30 generates about 11.7 ft. lbs. of recoil. This compares to the 15 ft. lbs of recoil most hunters are comfortable with. Many hunters welcomed this with open arms, especially those used to deer hunting with 12 gauge and 10 gauge shotguns, delivering a whopping 20 foot pounds and 22 foot pounds, respectively.
But the 30-30 rifle was eventually recognized by those who shot it more importantly for its accuracy. Specifically, the .30-30 was a relatively flat shooter. Able to zero in at 200 yards, lifting a mere 6” at 100 yards, hunters found they could pick off their target from a further distance. This compares to well over twelve inches of variation over the same distance, typical to traditional black powder cartridge of the times.
Today the 30-30 is one of the most popular hunting rifle cartridges on the market. An entry class to big game hunting, the combination of benefits to the 30-30 includes much more portability and accuracy over more traditional shotguns and larger caliber rifles. These refinements, however, do not sacrifice power within a certain target distance.