30-30

[Big Ray]

Question for you guys. I've got my grandfathers pre 1900 winchester 30-30. On the weapon, it says "smokeless powder only". Do I need special ammo, or is everything smokeless powder now? Thanks in advance, and pardon my ignorance!

[JoshuaS]

Question for you guys. I've got my grandfathers pre 1900 winchester 30-30. On the weapon, it says "smokeless powder only". Do I need special ammo, or is everything smokeless powder now? Thanks in advance, and pardon my ignorance!

30-30 was developed as a smokeless powder round.

Any 30-30 ammo you buy will be smokeless powder.

The case if different with 45-70 which was developed with black powder, but was then updated with smokeless powder.

Smokeless powder, in case you did not know, is modern gun powder. Less smoky, hence the name.

Make sure, with such an old gun, that you do a thorough inspection and cleaning. Back when it was made primers had corrosive materials, so if not thoroughly cleaned and then stored...might even be good to have an armorer take a look at it if you are not up to the task. And probably a good idea not to shoot hot loads...though unless you reload 30-30 that is not really relevant to you...

[Army GI]

You should be good to go with store bought 30-30. I don't believe there are any modern cartridges loaded with black powder now.

[Big Ray]

Thanks guys, just didn't want to risk damaging it!

[TRAP55]

Even though the 30-30 had a black powder designation of 30 caliber and 30grns, it was never loaded with anything but smokeless powder, and the factory load has stayed pretty much the same for the last 118 years. The first Winchester Model 1894 produced in 30-30 was serial number 3314, and received in the warehouse on 5-29-1895.
Do you want a proper date of manufacture on it?

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=410211

[Big Ray]

Oh, and we had a local gunsmith take it apart and clean it, as well as give it a clean bill of health, all checked out OK

[Divernhunter]

Buy some ammo and shoot it. Then send the brass to me

[VegasND]

Nice to have your grandfather's rifle. If it's been checked by a competent gunsmith and is in good condition go buy factory ammo and shoot it.

Have fun and think of your grandfather.

[smle-man]

30-30 was developed as a smokeless powder round.

Any 30-30 ammo you buy will be smokeless powder.

The case if different with 45-70 which was developed with black powder, but was then updated with smokeless powder.

Smokeless powder, in case you did not know, is modern gun powder. Less smoky, hence the name.

Make sure, with such an old gun, that you do a thorough inspection and cleaning. Back when it was made primers had corrosive materials, so if not thoroughly cleaned and then stored...might even be good to have an armorer take a look at it if you are not up to the task. And probably a good idea not to shoot hot loads...though unless you reload 30-30 that is not really relevant to you...

FWIW the .32 Winchester special was developed after the .30-30 specifically for shooters of the model 94 who wanted to use black powder for their carbines. This round is essentially a .30-30 with a .32 bullet to handle the properties and fouling of black powder. Possibly the only instance of a black powder version of a cartridge being developed after the smokeless powder version was introduced.

[TRAP55]

FWIW the .32 Winchester special was developed after the .30-30 specifically for shooters of the model 94 who wanted to use black powder for their carbines. This round is essentially a .30-30 with a .32 bullet to handle the properties and fouling of black powder. Possibly the only instance of a black powder version of a cartridge being developed after the smokeless powder version was introduced.

Close, but not exactly right. It was designed and produced as a smokeless cartridge, introduced in 1902. Winchester slowed the twist rate from 1-12 down to 1-16 for cast bullets and BP.

[Crunch130]

The 32-40 Winchester was developed for black powder originally (introduced in 1884 for Union Hill no 8 & 9 target rifles). Some 1894's were chambered in that cartridge, which is different than 32 Winchester Special.

Crunch

[TRAP55]

The .32/40 and .38/55 were the first two chamberings offered in the Model 1894. They were also two cartridges that transitioned from BP to smokeless.

[SimpleCountryActuary]

30-30 in a Winchester '94 does kick a bit. The ammo generally comes in boxes of twenty. After twenty rounds without a shoulder pad I have had enough. Have fun!

Best!

[Go Navy]

30-30 in a Winchester '94 does kick a bit. The ammo generally comes in boxes of twenty. After twenty rounds without a shoulder pad I have had enough. Have fun!

Best!

I totally concur with that from personal experience! The .30-30 is no wimp, plus the rifle is light and the butt plate has a fairly small area, so it really gets your attention.

The .30-30 has taken every two- and four-legged varmint on the North American continent. Apparently somebody forgot to tell the big bears that it "wasn't enough gun".