30 Herrett

Historical Notes:

The 30 Herrett was developed as a handgun cartridge by grip maker Steve Herrett and noted gun writer Bob Melik. It was intended for use in the Thompson/Center single shot pistol and the first barrels were made up in 1972, although Thompson/Center did not offer it as a standard chamber until 1973. The cartridge is based on a shortened and reformed 30-30 Winchester case reduced to 1.6 inches as compared to the original length of 2.04 inches. The case is longer and has greater powder capacity than the 30 Carbine, and when fired in the 10 inch barrel of the Thompson/Center pistol, delivers a rather impressive performance. Muzzle velocities of over 2000 fps are possible with the 125 or 130 grain bullet.

General Comments:

Conceived as a superior handgun hunting cartridge, the 30 Herrett has been used successfully on everything from varmints to deer. However, as loaded and used in the Thompson/Center pistol, it develops less velocity and energy than the standard 30-30 rifle and must be considered on the marginal side as a medium game cartridge in the hands of the average hunter. Much of its success has been due in no small part to the skill of the people who have used it. On the other hand, it offers greater power than the 357 Magnum cartridge which some consider adequate for big game in the hands of a skilled hunter or good shot. As with all big game hunting with a handgun, it boils down to the question, who is doing the hunting. What Bob Milek or someone in that class can do and what the average person can do are two different things. In any event, the 30 Herrett is an outstanding long range handgun varmint cartridge, particularly with 110, 125, or 130 grain bullets. It has also been used with success for silhouette shooting, although most shooters prefer the 357 Herrett for this sport. The 30 Herrett is a good example of a wildcat cartridge designed for a specific purpose not really covered by anything in the commercial line, and one that fulfills its design purposes extremely well.

Source: Cartridges of the World

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