Skip to content
Lindcott Armory

Rifle · SAAMI

.30-03 Springfield

Also known as .30-03 · .30-45-220

The three-year cartridge.

Caliber
0.308″ · 7.823 mm
Introduced
1903
Case
Rimless
Parent
.30-01
Primary use
Military (Historical)
Status
Active

Buy this cartridge

Buy at Rivertown

Buying from Rivertown

Partner link
VelocityBeing verified
EnergyBeing verified
Typical grains220 gr
Identity
Introduced
1903
Type
Rifle
Origin
United States
Inventor
U.S. Army Ordnance
Manufacturer
U.S. Military
Standard
SAAMI
Status
Active
Availability
Common
Build
Case capacity
68 gr H₂O
Twist (typical)
1:10
Primer
Large Rifle
Case type
Rimless
Pressure & range
Max pressure
50,000 psi
Eff. range
600 yd
Max range
2000 yd
Recoil
12–16 ft·lb

Ballistics

Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .30-03 Springfield. Parent case: .30-01.

Performance

Best for Withheld until verified
Best for Withheld until verified
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds

Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.

SAAMI · approximate
Measuremmin✓
Bullet ⌀ 7.820.308 ·
Neck ⌀ 8.640.340 ·
Shoulder ⌀ 11.200.441 ·
Shoulder angle ——
Base ⌀ 11.940.470 ·
Rim ⌀ 12.010.473 ·
Belt ⌀ n/a
Rim thickness 1.140.045 ·
Neck length ——
Case length 64.522.540 ·
Overall length 84.843.340 ·

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. .30-03 Springfield is highlighted below.

Missing a dimension for .30-03 Springfield? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.

Factory loads

Verification

Being verified

Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.

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.

Lineage

Immediate parent
.30-01

experimental predecessor

Direct descendants (1 · 50 total)
.30-06 Springfield.270 Winchester
Family TreeOpen .30-03 Springfield in the interactive cartridge family tree

Connected reference

Loads20 factory loads for .30-03 SpringfieldFirearmsFirearms in .30-03 Springfield

History

Adopted with the M1903 Springfield as an improvement on the .30-40 Krag. Used a round-nose 220gr bullet typical of the era. When Germany adopted the S-Patrone spitzer bullet in 1905, achieving dramatically higher velocity and flatter trajectory, the Army hurriedly developed a new load — the .30-06 — with a 150gr spitzer. Every .30-03 rifle had to be re-chambered.

FAQs

What twist rate does .30-03 Springfield use?
.30-03 Springfield typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
What bullet diameter is .30-03 Springfield?
.30-03 Springfield uses a 0.308″ (7.823 mm) diameter bullet.
Is .30-03 Springfield still in production?
.30-03 Springfield is active; typical availability is common.
What is .30-03 Springfield used for?
.30-03 Springfield is primarily used for military (historical).
What is .30-03 Springfield based on?
.30-03 Springfield is derived from the .30-01 case.

Sources & provenance

Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 3 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →