Good question, rap. For me, I just started hunting; not really totally in to bullet performance, but I do remember that when I was reloading for my .30 Herret, there was the "new" Sierra .30 caliber "single shot pistol bullet" that had just come out. So this piqued my interest, kinda started me thinking more along those lines.

The "problem" back then (1970's-'80's??) was that bullet technology was old school (cup and core) compared to now, and there was not a suitable bullet for .30 caliber handgun velocities.

Thanks again to JD Jones; he was on his game and was testing bullets constantly for use in his JDJ line-up of cartridges.

So if you went with his recommendations you were OK.