.30-03 info pls

[oscarflytyer]

Looking for .30-03 practical shooting info. Specifically in a Winchester 1895 (yeah, I am REAL hung up on owning an 1895!)

Assume low to mid-range 30-06 cast data/Figuring 180+grn cast bullets

Can you reload it with 30-06 brass?
use 30-06 dies?

Show stoppers?

Thanx

 

[Ben]

I don't know if this will help or not ?

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/differences-between-30-06-and-30-03.798010/

 

[oscarflytyer]

Thanx Ben. Similar to my cursory research (tonight!). It sounds like the 03 came first with a 220 grn and the 06 followed with a shorter neck
(-.0046-.007 - opinions differ) for the 150 grn bullet. Also sounds like the 03 will work with an 06 case, much like 38 SPC/357 or 44 SPC/Mag. Also sounds like an 06 case with light (150ish) bullet, in an 03 chamber, WILL shoot, but not necessarily accurately. As expected, potentially, with longer bullet jump to the lands. But, also sounds like an 06 case with 220 cast (seated long?) would/should work fine.

I would not be unhappy with an old 1895 30-03 that would work with 06 brass and 200-220 cast. Would just feel much better if someone here has experience and can validate (I trust YOU guys! the Inet - not so much!)

 

[Ben]

45 years ago, I met a fellow that served in the army prior to WW I.
He always talked about the 30-03.
I asked him if his memory was fading a bit and could that have been a 30-06 ?
He said NO !.........He was certain he trained with the 30-03 Springfield.
I did a little bit of research, seems he was probably correct.

Ben

 

[RicinYakima]

I got to shoot a friend's 30-03 model 1895, maybe 40 years ago. Yes he used 30/06 brass and Lyman 311284 loaded to fit the magazine. The only issue was that it had been shoot with commercial '06 ammo so much the headspace was excessive. He only used cases that had been fireformed for that rifle. FWIW

 

[fiver]

270 cases are a smidge longer than 0-6 cases.

I can't remember why they switched, but seem to recall something about machine guns.

 

[RicinYakima]

The .30 Model of 1903 chamber and throat was designed around the 220 grain straight sided Krag bullet. When spitzer became the "wonder bullet" throat erosion was terrible with the powders they had running 58,000 CUP. So they cut the barrels back one thread, shorten the neck to put the 150 bullet base at the shoulder, and .30 Model 1906 was made.

The 270 was made from '06 unfinished brass and when the neck was reduced the neck got longer. Winchester just left the case alone, why spend money to trim it back to '06 length? Same with 280's.

 

[462]

I knew the why and how of the 03 to 06 change, but not why the .270's neck is so much longer than the 06.

Thanks, Ric, for the history lesson.

 

[smokeywolf]

Thanx Ben. Similar to my cursory research (tonight!). It sounds like the 03 came first with a 220 grn and the 06 followed with a shorter neck
(-.0046-.007 - opinions differ) for the 150 grn bullet. Also sounds like the 03 will work with an 06 case, much like 38 SPC/357 or 44 SPC/Mag. Also sounds like an 06 case with light (150ish) bullet, in an 03 chamber, WILL shoot, but not necessarily accurately. As expected, potentially, with longer bullet jump to the lands. But, also sounds like an 06 case with 220 cast (seated long?) would/should work fine.

I would not be unhappy with an old 1895 30-03 that would work with 06 brass and 200-220 cast. Would just feel much better if someone here has experience and can validate (I trust YOU guys! the Inet - not so much!)

Pretty sure the length difference (exclusively or mostly in neck length) between 30-06 and 30-03 is .070"

EDIT: Sorry. My math was wrong too. The length difference is .056
30-03 case is 2.540
30-06 case is 2.484