The .30 Remington
By Chuck Hawks
In 1906 Remington introduced their line of rimless rifle cartridges. These included the subject of this article, the .30 Remington.
The .30 Remington is obsolete today, but at one time it was the principle challenger of the famous .30-30 Winchester. Oddly, it has recently been rediscovered as the parent case of the 6.8mm SPC cartridge. Factory loaded ammunition in .30 Rem. remained available in the 1980's from both Remington and Winchester, and possibly into the 1990's.
The .30 Remington is basically a rimless version of the .30-30. Its case capacity is virtually identical, and reloading data suitable for use in the .30-30 is also suitable for use in the .30 Rem.
The .30 Remington case is a rimless, bottleneck type 2.03" long. The rim diameter is .421" and the rim thickness .045". The overall cartridge length is 2.525". Bullet diameter is officially .307", but standard .308" bullets are used. Primer size is Large Rifle. The SAAMI maximum average pressure is 38,000 cup.
The .30 Remington is no longer included in most reloading manuals, but for those with a supply of brass, .30-30 Winchester loads may be substituted. This is specifically stated in the Speer Reloading Manual Number 13.
The 45th Edition of the Lyman Reloading Manual included data showing that the 150 grain Core-Lokt RN bullet (SD .226) could be driven to a MV of 2123 fps by 30.0 grains of IMR 3031 powder and a MV of 2364 fps by 33.0 grains of IMR 3031. The Core-Lokt HP 170 grain RN (SD .256) could be driven to a MV of 1893 fps by 27.0 grains of IMR 3031 powder, or to a MV of 2114 fps by 30.0 grains of IMR 3031. These Lyman loads used Remington brass, Remington 9 1/2 primers, and were test fired in the 22" barrel of a Remington Model 81 rifle.
It is perhaps worth noting that .30 Remington rifles with box magazines can safely use spitzer (pointed) bullets, although at .30 Rem. velocities there is not much advantage in so doing. For woods and brush hunting, for which the .30 Remington was designed, a flat point or round nose bullet is generally preferred.
MODEL 14/14A RIFLE - .25 Rem., .30 Rem., .32 Rem., or .35 Rem. cal., 22 in. barrel, 5 shot mag., open sight, plain pistol grip stock, 22 in. steel barrel, 6 lbs. Mfg. 1912-35.
Grading
100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$800 $700 $600 $500 $400 $300 $200
Add 30% for "thumbnail" safety (introduced in 1918).
Add 15% for .25 Rem.
This model was also manufactured in higher grades, including A, C, and F. Premiums vary according to originality and condition.
MODEL 14R CARBINE - similar to 14A, with 18 in. barrel, straight grip stock.
Grading
100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$900 $800 $700 $600 $500 $400 $350
Add 25% for .25 Rem. cal.
Add 10% for .35 Rem. cal.
MODEL 141/141A - .25 Rem. (very few mfg. during 1936 only), .30 Rem., .32 Rem., or .35 Rem. cal., 24 in. barrel, takedown, open sight, plain pistol grip stock. Mfg. 1936-50.
Grading
100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$465 $425 $350 $295 $240 $195 $165
Add 60% for .25 Rem. cal.
Add 10% for .35 Rem. cal.
MODEL 141 CARBINE - mfg. 1936-42.
Grading
100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$825 $750 $700 $650 $600 $550 $500
