WINCHESTER .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” Ammunition Circa 1896 - 1924
In December of 1896, Winchester began offering special .30 W.C.F. "Short Range" ammunition for to be used for "small game where the more powerful cartridge is not necessary" as it was described in their catalog. The cartridge illustration was shown as the .30-6-100 since cartridges contained a 100 gr. lead bullet and 6 grains of powder.
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.
A few months later, Marlin followed suit with their .30-30 MARLIN SMOKELESS “Short Range” cartridge made by U.M.C.
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 easily identified as having a cannelure part way down the case neck. Originally, it was used to keep the soft lead bullet from being pushed into the case under spring pressure while in the magazine. It was not needed with the metal patched bullets, but was retained to distinguish them from the full power .30 W.C.F. cartridges which looked similar.
Winchester .30 W.C.F. “Short Range” ammunition was cataloged until the mid 1920's when it was taken out of production due to the decreasing demands for it as many families acquired additional firearms specifically for small game.
Velocities were never listed in any of the catalogs, but 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 1120 to 1200 f.p.s. depending on bullet weight.
In an effort to duplicate this historical ammunition, I tested numerous current powders and found that 4.7 grains of Winchesters 231 or Hodgdon’s HP38 worked well with a 100 gr. lead alloy bullet as did 5.5 grs. of the same powder(s) with a 115 gr. bullet, giving velocities in the same range. 6 grains of 4756 also worked well and matched the weight of the original powder charge.
Bullets used were the 100 gr. RCBS and Lyman's 115 gr. 3118 made from wheel weights and sized to .311 dia. 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.
These loads 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 .30-30 lever gun in small game season with it's magazine filled with replications of this historic ammunition.
In that bygone era when mother nature provided the meat supply, the soft spoken report of the .30 W.C.F. "Short Range" cartridge meant additional sustenance for many families.
