.30-40, the forgotten frontier cartridge.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

A cartridge that doesn't get much use in our game, is the .30 US Army, more commonly known as .30-40 Krag.   It is "of the era," granted from the very end of the era, but it is one that doesn't get much, if any thought, when it comes to making a presence in our sport.   I think the main reason for that is that the two best known rifles chambered for it, the US Krag bolt action rifle, and the 1895 Winchester, don't really have a place in our game.  Well, they never used to.  The 95 at least can be used in the Teddy Roosevelt side match, and the Krag could be used in a BAMM side match, but that's it.  Neither is, as far as I recall, allowed in general long range shooting events.

Makes perfect sense then that the round those rifles use would not be seen all that much.

But that said, more than a few excellent single shot rifles were chambered for it.   When I bought it, I had a choice between a Rolling Block in .45-70 and .30-40.  I went with the .45 for various reasons, and while I've never regretted the choice, I wish I could have gotten both.   I'll get a .30-40 eventually RB eventually, but so far, I don't have one.   Other single shots were chambered for it as well.

So, why then has the .30-40 not caught on for single shot events?   The round is capable of great long range accuracy, has relatively mild recoil, and can be loaded to just about any performance level you need.   While I can't say for sure, I think it might have something to do with the reality of the repeating rifles chambered for it are of very specific and limited utility in our game.   If you don't shoot Teddy Roosevelt or BAMM, why go to the effort to tool up for the caliber that can only be used in a single shot rifle when you can load up .45-70 or .38-55 or a whole host of other cartridges that can be used in both repeaters and single shot rifles?

That would be my guess as to why we don't see it more often.

Which brings me back to the title of the post.

 

Given its lack of common usage in our game, the round is, I think, on its way to being forgotten.   Forty years ago (Ugh.   Where did the time go?) when I bought my first Krag rifle and my 95 Winchester, you would see both Remington and Winchester ammo on the shelf of any decent gun store.  Now, I can't remember the last time I saw any of it anywhere other than perhaps a shelf of "vintage" or collector ammo, or perhaps on the clearance shelf.  The last new guns chambered for it were some neo Winchester 95's a few years ago, but I have not seen one of those in a long time now.   So, in spite of its history, it seems to be fading away from our memory.   We here in SASS probably account for, at least, a significant percentage of the people who are interested in old timey cartridges like this, but since it's not one we are likely to make use of, it's not one that we prop up the way we have others.

At least, that's what it seems to be to me.

[Savvy Jack]

Considering the 30-40 was the exact cartridge for the smokeless powder transition...

[Diamond Jake]

Looking at the SASS Handbook for Long Range Side Matches (p 30), it appears that the 30-40 would be legal in Long Range rifle (rimmed cartridge designed prior to 1899).  It would NOT be legal in the Buffalo Gun category, as it requires bullet dia .375 or larger.

 

Any particular match might have different rules, though.

[Rye Miles #13621]

The Arizona Rangers used this cartridge in their Winchester 1895 models. 

[Griff]

22 minutes ago, Diamond Jake said:

Looking at the SASS Handbook for Long Range Side Matches (p 30), it appears that the 30-40 would be legal in Long Range rifle (rimmed cartridge designed prior to 1899).  It would NOT be legal in the Buffalo Gun category, as it requires bullet dia .375 or larger.

From the SHB pg 31, under:  Basic Rules for the Long Range Competitions

Quote

Lever action rifles used in long-range matches, whether revolver or rifle calibers, must be originals or replicas of rifles manufactured during the period from approximately 1860 until 1899. Lever or slide action, tubular feed, exposed hammer rifles or carbines are allowed,

That really only disqualifies the 1895 Winchester.  If one were so inclined, I suppose you could rebarrel an 1886 or other suitably large framed, tube fed levergun and use blunt nosed bullets... but... why?

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

The .30-40 CARTRIDGE is perfectly legal.   The "problem" is that outside of some very specific circumstances, the only lever gun chambered for it is not legal, rendering it single shot rifle only round.

With regards to rebarreling an 1886 for it, I have often wondered if that would be possible.   You'd basically have to use .30-30 bullets.   

As to why would you do such a thing?   Because you like the cartridge, I guess.   But it would require more than a barrel swap, I think.   The rim of the .30 is smaller than the .45.   That might lead to issues with the bolt face, or the extractor grabbing it, even with a new barrel.

 

[Vail Vigilante]

It might actually not be a bad thing to use where it is legal.  

[Rye Miles #13621]

8 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

The .30-40 CARTRIDGE is perfectly legal.   The "problem" is that outside of some very specific circumstances, the only lever gun chambered for it is not legal, rendering it single shot rifle only round.

With regards to rebarreling an 1886 for it, I have often wondered if that would be possible.   You'd basically have to use .30-30 bullets.   

As to why would you do such a thing?   Because you like the cartridge, I guess.   But it would require more than a barrel swap, I think.   The rim of the .30 is smaller than the .45.   That might lead to issues with the bolt face, or the extractor grabbing it, even with a new barrel.

 

The reason the 1895 is illegal for SASS is it takes a magazine. 5 rounder I believe.

[Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485]

I've got a Krag, but it's been sporterized. My Dad killed a lot of deer with that gun/cartridge.

[Duffield, SASS #23454]

Rebarrel a Highwall. That would be a great outfit.

[Cyrus Cassidy #45437]

There is an 1885 Browning High Wall on Gunbroker right now chambered in that cartridge.