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Technically I guess I should say the 38-55 Winchester and it’s offspring as the 38-55 is the parent case of the 30-30. But I am going to just stick with 30-30 and it’s offspring / siblings that I have actually had the opportunity to shoot.
The 25-35 Winchester was introduced along with the 30-30. An underrated cartridge with a small but loyal following that deserves more than it gets.
The 32 Winchester Special. Developed by Winchester shortly after introduction of the 30-30 cartridge for reloaders using black powder.
The first 30/30 based wildcat I had any experience with was the .35/30-30. Often the accuracy of the 32 Winchester Special suffered. Possibly because of the slow twist, but in my opinion more likely because poor maintenance allowed the barrel to deteriorate. The fix was to rebore to 35 caliber. This is a good cartridge comparable to the 35 Remington in performance.
The second 30-30 wildcat I had experience with was the 7mm International Rimmed. Basically the 30-30 necked to 7mm. It was a popular cartridge for metallic silhouette.
The 219 Zipper deserved to be more popular than it was. The 30-30 necked to 22 and chambered in a lever action rifle. It was hampered by the necessity to use flat pointed bullets and inherent accuracy problems with lever actions. The 219 Zipper performs similarly to the 22 Remington and is itself the parent case for the 219 Donaldson wasp and the 219 Zipper Ackley Improved.
Speaking of improved cartridges, the 30-30 Ackley Improved is among the best. Even if you only use standard 30-30 load data, improved case life is worth in by itself.
The 30 and 357 Herret are designed specifically for the Contender pistol. Basically the 30-30 and 35/30-30 case shortened to better take advantage of the faster burning powders used in them. Out of a 10" barrel the 30 Herret actually shoots faster than the 30-30 with comparable bullets. It has less muzzle blast as well.
there are other viable wildcats based on the 30-30 starting at about .22 and going up to about 40 caliber. I have no experience with them but am intrigued by the BRM (Bench Rest Magnum) cartridges by E. Arthur Brown Company. Available in bullet diameters from .224 to .308. I am especially interested in the 6.5mm BRM.
The 25-35 Winchester was introduced along with the 30-30. An underrated cartridge with a small but loyal following that deserves more than it gets.
The 32 Winchester Special. Developed by Winchester shortly after introduction of the 30-30 cartridge for reloaders using black powder.
The first 30/30 based wildcat I had any experience with was the .35/30-30. Often the accuracy of the 32 Winchester Special suffered. Possibly because of the slow twist, but in my opinion more likely because poor maintenance allowed the barrel to deteriorate. The fix was to rebore to 35 caliber. This is a good cartridge comparable to the 35 Remington in performance.
The second 30-30 wildcat I had experience with was the 7mm International Rimmed. Basically the 30-30 necked to 7mm. It was a popular cartridge for metallic silhouette.
The 219 Zipper deserved to be more popular than it was. The 30-30 necked to 22 and chambered in a lever action rifle. It was hampered by the necessity to use flat pointed bullets and inherent accuracy problems with lever actions. The 219 Zipper performs similarly to the 22 Remington and is itself the parent case for the 219 Donaldson wasp and the 219 Zipper Ackley Improved.
Speaking of improved cartridges, the 30-30 Ackley Improved is among the best. Even if you only use standard 30-30 load data, improved case life is worth in by itself.
The 30 and 357 Herret are designed specifically for the Contender pistol. Basically the 30-30 and 35/30-30 case shortened to better take advantage of the faster burning powders used in them. Out of a 10" barrel the 30 Herret actually shoots faster than the 30-30 with comparable bullets. It has less muzzle blast as well.
there are other viable wildcats based on the 30-30 starting at about .22 and going up to about 40 caliber. I have no experience with them but am intrigued by the BRM (Bench Rest Magnum) cartridges by E. Arthur Brown Company. Available in bullet diameters from .224 to .308. I am especially interested in the 6.5mm BRM.