Rifle · Proprietary
.28-30 Stevens
Stevens single-shot rifle cartridge notable for its unusual .28 caliber bore; chambered in Stevens 44½ and Ideal single-shot rifles for small game..
- Caliber
- 0.285″ · 7.239 mm
- Introduced
- 1903
- Case
- Rimmed
- Status
- Discontinued
- Introduced
- 1903
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Stevens Arms
- Standard
- Proprietary
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Rare
- Primer
- Berdan Small Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 20,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 200 yd
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .28-30 Stevens, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Cartridges of the World · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 7.24 | 0.285 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 7.85 | 0.309 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 9.07 | 0.357 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 10.46 | 0.412 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.52 | 0.060 | ~ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 63.75 | 2.510 | · |
| Overall length | — | — | |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .28-30 Stevens is highlighted below.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Connected reference
History
The .28-30 Stevens was one of the more unusual American cartridges of the early 20th century, using a .28 caliber bore in a period when most American cartridges were .22, .25, .30, .32, .38, or .44. Chambered in Stevens 44½ and Ideal single-shot actions, it remained a niche offering through the early 1900s.
FAQs
- What bullet diameter is .28-30 Stevens?
- .28-30 Stevens uses a 0.285″ (7.239 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .28-30 Stevens still in production?
- .28-30 Stevens is discontinued; typical availability is rare.
Sources & provenance
- Reference Gun Digest Books (Frank C. Barnes) — Cartridges of the World (.28-30-120 Stevens entry) · bullet ⌀, velocity, grain weights
- Secondary Cartridge Collector (cartridgecollector.net) — 28-30-120 Stevens · year archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →