FrankenMauser
New member
Don't believe everything you read on Wikipedia.In a sense the M1903's original chambering, the .30-03 was a failed cartridge as it caused erosion of the bore of the service rifles, and it was not a long range performer. It was not much of an improvement at all over the .30-40 Krag. It was dropped for the -06.
Powder charge, bullet profile and weight, and neck length are the only real differences between .30-03 and .30-06.
.30-03 was not run at higher pressure than .30-06. It was run at higher pressure than .30-40 Krag. (I believe this common misinterpretation comes from a statement in Hatcher's Notebook.)
The .30-06 variation of the .30-03 cartridge was primarily adopted because of the low velocity and rainbow trajectory of the 220 gr bullet, combined with the fact that all of our powerful enemies (potential or real) were converting to spitzer bullets in their battle rifle cartridges.
The 220 RN was 'old fashioned' and seen as a handicap.
And since the long neck no longer needed to support a long bullet, it was shortened for .30-06.