Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 303 versus 30-30 case capacity

I realize Savage used 190 grain bullets and rumors of .311" diameter ones as well but my question is, in interior dimensions, which has the greater capacity?

Be it in powder, salt or water, which one would be better for grizzlies? or Zebra? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

First right answer gets 10% of a running bet. Providing I win of course... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I think the .303 Sav is larger but by very little. I think that in the early Savage catalogs, they under stated the .30-30 stats or over stated the .303 Sav.

the 303sav will hold 3 - 4 grs (salt) more than the 30-30win

if you had a few 303 cases M99er you would know this !!

come on huh M99er?


oh buy the way, I'll be over to collect on sunday ...

LOL PLAB

10% of nothing is nothing. That would have been my first profit from being on the Forum. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Do you take pennies, nickles and dimes? Maybe some quarters too, I won't be able to tell until I take the hammer to the piggy bank.



You're right though nothing like having the proof in your hands, I could only go on what I read and saw for loading data with same weight bullets. I guess I should have paid attention to the listed pressures as well.

I agree with the other posts...



I checked my old reloading books and, comparing the reloading data, I found that the Savage .303's case capacity SEEMS to be about 10% greater than the .30/30 Winchester's case capacity, BUTTTTTTTTTT... that is only an "educated GUESS"... NOT a "fact-of-life" for SURE!



Using IMR3031, IMR4895 and IMR 4064, the .30/30 doesn't seem to be able to handle the higher pressures generated by a slightly greater amount of rifle powder the .303 is capable of holding and shooting safely. Yet, muzzle velocities for both cartridges are very similar with a slight edge in velocity going to the .303 Savage.



On the other hand, the reloading book NEVER shows that the .30/30's case ever has a "compressed load" (indicating a cartridge case "full" of powder) whereas the .303 does hold and can use a "compressed load" of both IMR4895 & IMR4064 which is approximately 3 grains greater (33.0 grains) than the "maximum safe load" of the IMR4895 (29.5 grains) or IMR4064 (30.5 grains) in the .30/30.



The only "compressed load" (using the 170 grain bullet in each cartridge) my loading book shows for the .30/30 is 33.0 grains of IMR4350 rifle powder. Unfortunately, my old reloading book doesn't show the use of IMR4350 with the .303 Savage, so there's no "direct" comparison, powder-for-powder, between "compressed loads" for both the .30/30 Winchester and the .303 Savage.



In any event, I would NOT suggest using EITHER cartridge for grizzly bears... but either cartridge should work ok for zebra at shorter (under 100 yards) ranges.



It isn't that either cartridge would NOT kill a grizzly, but that they might not kill the grizzly FAST enough to avoid the shooter being "chewed on" by the grizzly before he died. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />





Strength & Honor...



Ron T.