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Loudenboomer
12-08-2007, 11:53 PM
I've had a real nice 1898 Kraig for years. only shot it a few times and only condom bullets. I'd like to shoot about a 220 gr. RN GC @ a shade over 2000 fps. what mould, weight and powder charge works best for you?

Char-Gar
12-09-2007, 12:00 AM
Lyman 311284 was designed for the 30 US Krag rifle over a hundred years ago and still is a top choice. It weights between 210 and 220 grains depending on alloy. As for a powder charge the loading books are full of loads. You would be best served with a medium burning powder.

Before you start shooting cast bullet, removed all of the copper from your barrel and slug the same. Krag bore dimensions are all over the map and you need to know your groove diamter if you are going to shoot cast bullets.

Buckshot
12-09-2007, 05:08 AM
................Loudenboomer, can't really add much to Charger posted, except I'll repeat his suggestion to slug it before shooting cast in it and 'hoping' it works. It'll save you some work and possibly some disappointment.

Mainly just wanted to tell you welcome to theboard. You have a very fine rifle in that Krag too, BTW.

.............Buckshot

Loudenboomer
12-09-2007, 10:24 AM
Thanks for the welcome. OOps please pardon the new guy. My rifle is a Krag not a Kraig. The bore slugs .310. I have an old lyman 44th edition reloading hand book. It has been a wealth of info on starting point cast boolit loads in the past. Just wondering if any body has one of those 45 year pet load kind of stuff.

Shiloh
12-09-2007, 11:00 AM
My 1898 Krag NRA Carbine bore slugs on the high side of .309 It shoots the Lyman 311284 as cast pretty well but the Lyman 314299 much better. My first 314299 boolits for sampling were supplied by a forum member. My current batch of 314299's weigh in at 208gr lubed and checked.

Shiloh

Char-Gar
12-09-2007, 11:08 PM
The last of the Krag rifles left Springfield Arsenal in 1903. The old boys have received all kinds of care over the past 104 years that range from excellent to abuse. I for one am reluctant to tell you what load to shoot with putting an eyeball on your rifle.

I have three of them. One made in 1895, another in 1900 and the other in 1901. I shoot them all.

I went to my bookshelf and pulled down the Lyman #44 and on page 64 and 65 I find the 30-40 Krag data. The cast bullet data uses faster powders (Unique, 2400, 4227 etc.). You can go to the jacketet bullet data under the 200 or 220 grain bullets and find data for 3031, 4895 and 4064. Go to the "starting load" column, reduce this data by 10% and that would be a good starting place in your search for a Krag load for your rifle.

Good shooting...

DonH
12-10-2007, 07:32 AM
I have an old Lyman 311290 mould. I have been under the impression that this was the old classic Krag bullet, used for National Guard practice or some such? The 311290 has a longer full-diameter body than 311299 or 314299. My copy casts @ about 215 +/- of WW + 2% tin. I don't have a Krag but bought the mould from an older gent who has shot Krags for many years. Just wonderin...