Wednesday, May 17, 2023

How Federal Made the .31-Caliber .30 Super Carry Cartridge

"For almost two years, Federal discreetly worked to create the all-new .31-caliber .30 Super Carry self-defense cartridge."
"Despite its moniker, the .30 Super Carry is not .30 caliber. The bullet diameter is 0.312 inch, the same as the .32 H&R Magnum, the .327 Federal Magnum, and other ".32-caliber" handgun cartridges."
" The new .30 SC case is essentially the .32 ACP case lengthened from 0.680 inch to 0.828 inch, with about the same diameter. The .32 ACP is slightly semi-rimmed, but the new .30 SC is rimless. The .30 SC uses 100- or 115-grain jacketed bullets loaded to much higher pressures than the other pistol rounds, and that allows it to produce very impressive ballistics."
" The average muzzle energy of the three .30 SC loads shown in the ballistics comparison chart is 340 ft-lbs, not much different than the 9mm's average of 347 ft-lbs for 124- and 147-grain bullets and substantially more than that of the .380 ACP."
" As expected, the velocities were somewhat lower in the Shield EZ's shorter 3.7-inch barrel, about 10 percent less with the CCI Blazer and 14 percent less with the Gold Dot. Interestingly, velocity (and hence, muzzle energy) with the Federal HST load was only 1 percent slower. Obviously, this load is optimized for short-barreled defense pistols."
" In a small, flat, and compact pistol like the Shield EZ, it ought to be a perfect fit for everyday carry. And as popular as full-size Model 1911s chambered for 9mm Luger are these days, I think the .30 SC has a bright future for Model 1911 aficionados."

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