HomeBrowse Calibers › .307 Win.

.307 Win. Ballistics — Velocity, Energy & Drop

Common uses: Hunting, Big Game

Specifications

Typerifle (centerfire)
Typical load160gr Hornady LEVERevolution FTX
Muzzle velocity2650 fps
Muzzle energy2496 ft-lb
Published G1 ballistic coefficient0.33
Case length51.8 mm
Overall length64.8 mm

.307 Win. Trajectory Table

Range (yd)Velocity (fps)Energy (ft-lb)Drop (in)
026502494-1.5
100238220160
20021301611-4.7
30018951275-17
4001676998-39.1
5001479777-73.7

.307 Win. Extended Ballistics (to 1,000 yd)

At 1,000 yards, .307 Win. (160gr at 2650 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 55.4 MOA / 16.1 MIL, retaining 941 fps (subsonic).

Range (yd)Velocity (fps)StateDrop (in)Elev (MOA)Elev (MIL)
3001895Supersonic-17.05.41.57
4001676Supersonic-39.19.32.72
5001479Supersonic-73.714.14.10
6001309Transonic-124.219.85.75
7001171Transonic-195.126.67.74
8001069Subsonic-291.434.810.12
900997Subsonic-417.944.312.90
1000941Subsonic-579.655.416.10

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.

Hunting Energy Reference

A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.

Data & Sources

Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.

Overview

The .307 Winchester is a rimmed lever-action hunting round best understood as a tube-magazine-friendly cousin of the .308. Because the Model 94's tubular magazine stacks cartridges nose-to-primer, it is loaded with flat- or round-nose bullets, which bleeds off downrange velocity and trims practical range compared to pointed loads in a bolt gun. Within those limits it is a capable woods and brush cartridge for deer, black bear, and similar big game at short to moderate distances, offering solid energy in a fast-handling carbine. Its main drawbacks are scarce ammunition and a thin selection of rifles, which is why many owners handload to get the most from it. It has largely been overshadowed by more common lever and bolt-action options, and today it survives mostly among enthusiasts of the platform.

History

Winchester introduced the .307 Winchester in 1982 alongside the Big Bore Model 94 Angle Eject lever-action, aiming to bring .300 Savage-class performance to a modern tube-magazine carbine. The case is essentially a rimmed adaptation of the .308 Winchester, given a full rim and thicker walls to feed and headspace reliably in the lever gun. It never achieved wide adoption, as the Model 94 was effectively the only rifle chambered for it, and it has remained a niche cartridge with limited factory support.

Related Cartridges

Learn the Fundamentals

Run this cartridge in the ballistic calculator · Compare it against another cartridge · How this data is produced