To achieve this optimal ballistic performance, Hornady had to find the perfect balance of case volume, bore volume, and burn rate for a .308-diameter barrel of 24 inches. To further complicate matters, their design parameters called for the cartridge to achieve its full ballistic potential in barrels as short as 20 inches. To get there, Emary and his team tweaked the primer-propellant combination until they came up with the perfect match for each bullet.

The .30 T/C (C) is flanked by the .308 Win. (L) and the .30-06 (R).

Of course, it was much more difficult than it sounds, and it required a great deal of experimentation. Too hot a primer generates results in a burn rate that's too fast, as well as dangerously high pressures. Conversely, performance falls off dramatically with primers that are not hot enough. And a primer that is just right with one powder may not work with another.

As for divining the right propellant, well, that's a strange mix of science and voodoo I couldn't possibly cover in an entire magazine, much less a single magazine article. Suffice it to say those powders are not commercially available, and handloaders would be hard pressed to match the performance of Hornady's factory loads.

Increased velocity is not the only advantage the .30 T/C has over the .308 Win. Chief among them, believe it or not, is its decreased case capacity. Because its case contains approximately 20 percent less powder than the .308 Win., the .30 T/C has less recoil than either the .308 Win. or the .30-06 Springfield with equal-weight bullets, yet it achieves considerably higher velocities. Its ability to achieve pretty darn close to its full velocity out of short barrels is another mark in favor of the newest .30.

.30 T/C Ballistics Comparison
BULLET	MUZZLE VELOCITY (fps)	MUZZLE ENERGY (ft-lbs)
	.30 T/C
Hornady 150-gr. InterLock	3000	2997
	.308 Winchester
Hornady 150-gr. InterLock	2820	2648
	.30-06 Springfield
Hornady 150-gr. InterLock	2910	2820

The Proof Is In The Pudding
In preparation for testing the new Icon, I mounted Nikon's new 3-12X42mm Monarch riflescope with side focus and BDC reticle in a set of Leupold QRW rings. The scope was sharp and clear, and Nikon's BDC reticle was a good match for the flat-shooting .30 T/C. The rifle's Weaver-style slots gave me a great deal of flexibility in mounting the scope.

This 0.734-inch group was the worst the author fired with the Icon.

The only load I could get my hands on was the 150-grain InterLock, and I couldn't get much of it. Fortunately, I had enough ammunition to sight-in the rifle and fire 10, three-shot groups over my Shooting Chrony chronograph.

The rifle was a joy to shoot. Recoil was negligible, and the adjustable trigger broke at a crisp 3 pounds. The magazine design made it impossible to feed cartridges individually, so I loaded three at a time in the magazine. I didn't mind because it didn't seem to affect accuracy, and it gave me a chance to put the magazine to the test. It fed perfectly.

Chronograph readings will make a liar out of most cartridge box ballistics tables, but I am pleased to report that wasn't the case with the .30 T/C. The first round blazed through the sky screens at 2994 fps, and the second clocked 3001 fps. The third round opened up my group to a still-impressive 0.38 inch and was recorded at 2988 fps.