Lindcott Armory Compare / .30-30 Winchester vs .38-55 Winchester
Cartridge comparison
.30-30 Winchester vs .38-55 Winchester
.30-30 Winchester is faster (2,390 vs 1,530 fps); .30-30 Winchester carries more energy (2,050 vs 1,403 ft·lb); .38-55 Winchester recoils less.
.30-30 Winchester →Representative trajectory · 100 yd zero0–500 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
.38-55 Winchester →Representative trajectory · 100 yd zero0–500 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
| .30-30 Winchester | .38-55 Winchester | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | Rifle |
| Introduced | 1895 | 1884 |
| Bullet ⌀ | 0.308″ | 0.379″ |
| Case length | 2.039″ | 2.085″ |
| Velocity | 2,200–2,390 fps | 1,320–1,530 fps |
| Energy | 1,900–2,050 ft·lb | 987–1,403 ft·lb |
| Max pressure | 42,000 psi | 30,000 psi |
| Recoil | 10–14 ft·lb | 3.5–5.5 ft·lb |
| Eff. range | 200 yd | 200 yd |
FAQs
- Is .30-30 Winchester faster than .38-55 Winchester?
- .30-30 Winchester is faster — up to 2,390 fps versus 1,530 fps.
- Does .30-30 Winchester hit harder than .38-55 Winchester?
- .30-30 Winchester carries more muzzle energy (2,050 vs 1,403 ft·lb).