In December of 1896, Winchester began offering special .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” ammunition to be used for “small game where the more powerful cartridge is not necessary” as it was described in that catalog. The cartridge illustration   was shown as the .30-6-100 since cartridges contained a 100 gr. lead bullet and 6 grains of powder. A few months later, U.M.C. followed suit with their .30-30 Marlin “Short Range” cartridge.

Winchester recognized the benefit and increased versatility that a factory loading for small game would offer, since the average family would have to sacrifice at least a month’s pay to buy just one rifle, and that one rifle was just about all that most families could afford. With his or her magazine full of these .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” rounds, hunters could use their big game rifles to harvest turkeys, squirrels and other small game animals with no meat loss. Then, if bigger game was expected to be encountered, a change to the standard .30 W.C.F. cartridge would handle that situation.

In 1904, Winchester increased the lead bullet weight from 100 to 117 grs. and the following year, they also offered a 117 gr. soft point and a 117 gr. full metal patch version.

These “Short Range” cartridges were loaded to the same o.a.l. as the standard cartridges and are easily identified as having a cannelure part way down the case neck. It was used to keep the soft lead bullet from being pushed into the case under spring pressure while in the magazine and it was not needed with the metal patched bullets, but was retained to distinguish them from the full power .30 W.C.F. & .30-30 cartridges which looked similar.

Winchester .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” ammunition was cataloged until the early 1920’s when it was taken out of production due to the decreasing demands for it as many families had acquired additional firearms specifically for small game.

Velocities were never listed in any of the catalogs, but, thankfully, I was able to obtain some original lead bulleted cartridges, extract the powder and bullets and reload the components   into modern brass.   Velocities ranged between 1,120 to 1,200 f.p.s. depending on bullet weight.

In an effort to duplicate this historical ammunition, I tested numerous current powders and found that with a 100 gr. cast bullet, 4.7 grains of either Winchester’s 231 or Hodgdon’s HP38 worked well as did 5 grs. of Unique or 4756. With a 115 gr cast bullet (Lyman 311008) 5.5 grs. of 231 or HP38 or 6 grs of either 4756, Unique or Hodgdon Universal matched the weight of the original powder charge and produced similar velocities. No fillers of any kind were used and accuracy was excellent, giving groups of 3/4″ to 1 1/4″ at 50 yards and 1 1/2″ – 2 1/2″ groups at 100 yards if I did my part.

These cartridges work the same way in the game fields today, as they did 100+ years ago. So, if you want to step back in time, go woods wandering with your favorite .30 W.C.F. /.30-30 lever gun in small game season with it’s magazine filled with replications of this historic ammunition (If legal in your state.). In addition, they would have been and are great for target practice and plinking.

In that bygone era when mother nature provided some of the meat supply, the soft spoken report of the .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” cartridge meant additional sustenance for many families.

——————

Update:

I eventually decided that I would like a bullet that replicated the original 117 gr. S.R. bullet, so I measured one of the original 117 gr. bullets I pulled from a .30 W.C.F. Short Range cartridge and sent the dimensions to http://www.accuratemolds.com .

It is now in their catalog as the 31-115K and weighs from 117 to 122 grs. depending on the alloy used.

I have been very pleased with the results.

w30wcf