30-03 & 30-06

[brokenhand]

I need someone with more knowledge than I to explain the differences. All I know is that the 30-03 pre-dated the 30-06.
Thanks in advance
Jim

[Grizzly Adams]

As I recall, the 30-03 was a bit longer neck than the 30-06. I believe you can fire the 30-06 in a 30-03 chamber but not the reverse. The 30-06 was designed for spitzer bullets. Few rifles are found in 30-03, but I had, at one time, a Winchester 1895 with a 03 chamber.

[Scott Young]

the 30-03 came out with the 220 grain bullet and a powder that wasn't conducive for long barrel life. they shortened the neck by .07, loaded it with a 150 grain spitzer and reformulated the powder.

this info came from wiki...something. it sound close to what i remember. my mind is like a steel trap that has been left in the creek too long.

[brokenhand]

Thanks for the replies. I was wondering about that. On one of the auction sites, someone had posted a 30-03 and put 30-06 next to it. I was wondering how safe that would be.
Jim

[1886]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-03. Probably more than you want to know. Good reading. 1886

[Mike D.]

I had an '03 '95 for a while and got rid of it. The throat was eroded some, but it worked just fine with my .30-06 reloads. The little .30 Gov't '06 SRC I have now is much better.

[brokenhand]

Thanks for the information
Jim

[Gun Smith]

You are correct. The 30-06 has a 1/8" shorter neck than the 30-03. The 30-03's neck was designed to support a 220 grain bullet. The 30-06 cartridge then replaced the 30-03 and used a lighter, faster bullet with better long range ballistics . It fed better in the Springfield rifle and it didn't need the extra support for the shorter/lighter bullet.