.30-06 Springfield

Know the exact name

At a glance

Cartridge family

Sporting & match rifle

Bullet specification

0.3090 in / 7.849 mmBullet maximum

Factory examples

32 loadsSelected, sourced examples below

Weight in cited examples

125–180 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge

.30-06 Springfield is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 30-06 Sprg. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.

Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.

Origins & evolution

Background & development

The .30-06 took its final military form in 1906, following the earlier .30-03 cartridge adopted with the Model 1903 Springfield rifle. The earlier loading used a heavy round-nose bullet. European developments in pointed, higher-velocity military bullets helped prompt the United States to revise the ammunition, slightly shorten the case and adopt a lighter pointed projectile. The resulting designation combined the .30-caliber class with the year of adoption.

The cartridge served through both world wars and the Korean War, in weapons including the Springfield and the later M1 Garand. Its civilian history became just as substantial: military familiarity, sporting rifles and a broad range of bullet weights helped establish it as a general-purpose hunting cartridge. It also supplied the parent case family for numerous commercial cartridges and wildcats. The .30-06’s longevity therefore reflects both a military standard and a remarkably influential civilian design.

Historical sources: Sierra: .30-06 Springfield cartridge history ↗

Construction changes the story

Loads, variations & specialty offerings

In the cited .30-06 Springfield examples, bullet weights are 125, 150, 165, 168, 175, 178, 180 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.

Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.

From the factory catalog

Explore the published data

Ballistics you can inspect

Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.

How to interpret the comparison

Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.

Direct answers

Common questions

Keep exploring

Related references

Painted tips or polymer tips? Read the visual identification guide →

Browse the cartridge and gauge guides → · Return to the diameter comparison →

Trace the facts

Sources & methodology

Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.

1. SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 112 ↗
2. Sierra: .30-06 Springfield cartridge background ↗
3. Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗
4. Hornady · PDF p. 186 ↗
5. Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗
6. Federal · PDF pp. 52–53 ↗
7. Hornady · PDF p. 187 ↗
8. Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗

Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.