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Common uses: Tactical, Self-Defense
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 110gr Federal American Eagle Rifle FMJ |
| Muzzle velocity | 1990 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 968 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.165 |
| Case length | 32.8 mm |
| Overall length | 42.7 mm |
| SAAMI max pressure | 40000 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:16" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1990 | 967 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 1557 | 592 | 0 |
| 200 | 1223 | 365 | -13.1 |
| 300 | 1024 | 256 | -49.6 |
| 400 | 912 | 203 | -119.1 |
| 500 | 832 | 169 | -230.4 |
At 1,000 yards, .30 Carbine (110gr at 1990 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 166.7 MOA / 48.5 MIL, retaining 566 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 1024 | Subsonic | -49.6 | 15.8 | 4.60 |
| 400 | 912 | Subsonic | -119.2 | 28.5 | 8.27 |
| 500 | 832 | Subsonic | -230.4 | 44.0 | 12.80 |
| 600 | 766 | Subsonic | -392.1 | 62.4 | 18.15 |
| 700 | 708 | Subsonic | -613.2 | 83.7 | 24.33 |
| 800 | 656 | Subsonic | -904.6 | 108.0 | 31.41 |
| 900 | 609 | Subsonic | -1277.3 | 135.6 | 39.42 |
| 1000 | 566 | Subsonic | -1745.0 | 166.7 | 48.47 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
The listed uses do not identify an explicit big-game hunting role, so deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't shown. Evaluate the named load using its available source data and any displayed trajectory, then verify the result for the listed target, competition, defensive, tactical, or duty context.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .30 Carbine is best understood as a round that bridges the gap between a pistol cartridge and a full-power rifle cartridge, firing a light 110-grain bullet at moderate velocity. It is prized for its very low recoil, compact size, and the handiness of the M1 Carbine platform, which makes it easy to shoot quickly and accurately at close to medium range. Its limitations are well known: the round-nosed bullet sheds velocity and energy fast, so it is effective only to a few hundred yards and is generally considered underpowered for anything larger than small deer or hogs. Today it survives mostly through the large pool of surplus and reproduction M1 Carbines, where it serves as a plinking, small-game, and short-range defensive round with strong collector and historical appeal. It is not a long-range or big-game cartridge, and modern soft-point loads only partly offset its modest terminal performance.
Developed by Winchester around 1940 and standardized alongside the M1 Carbine in 1941, the .30 Carbine is a rimless cartridge derived from the older .32 Winchester Self-Loading round. It was created for the U.S. Army's light rifle program, which sought a compact, low-recoil weapon for support and rear-echelon troops who found the M1 Garand too heavy and the pistol too limited. More than six million M1 Carbines were produced during World War II, making the round one of the most widely issued American military cartridges of the 20th century, with continued service through Korea and Vietnam.
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