30-40 Krag Suggestions

[SlamFire1]

I was able to get a Krag Carbine from the CMP. It sure looks like the picture of the top carbine in this photo from the Krag Collector's page. The barrel is excellent. Muzzle gaged less than a one. No pitting, square lands, I darn need had a coronary when I lifted it off the rack, and it had a barrel! :holysheep

Mine, mine, mine. :mrgreen:

I installed a cut down pre 64-M70 mainspring, and now I have a decent trigger pull and a fast lock time.

http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/Photos/carb2.jpg

http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/Photos/carb2.jpg

I have cast 311299's and 311284's, all sized about 310". All gas checked, red rooster lube.

I have fifty new R-P cases, CCI-200 primers. I would be happy to find a good load with AA5744. I have a keg of this stuff. But I also have 2400, Unique.

I am looking for somthing that is accurate at 100 yards. I am not going to be game hunting, I just want something that I could shoot offhand against a steel gong target for practice.

I would be grateful for any load suggestions.

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/93A0FC305FC889C/standard.jpg

..........I have a 1898 infantry (29" bbl) that's a good shooter if you feed it a fat boolit. Someone before me 'Sport-sterized" it. I have everything to put it back they way it should be. Just have to find the time :-)

http://www.fototime.com/D0D7166B1E9D8B1/standard.jpg

Have you actually slugged your Krag yet? Mine has a .310" groove and is .301" on the lands. Due to a somewhat worn leade and fat throat it does it's best with slugs of .312" to .314". If the boolit is a bore rider it HAS to ride and not wave around in the breeze.

A very good slug for me has been the Lee C312-185, the Lyman 314299, and the couple 'Fat 30' group buy designs we've done here. Mine needs the throat filling drive bands and the .300+ bore riding nose to produce good groups. Give it that and it will reward you with fine shooting. Ignore either and you might as well throw rocks.

12.0 Unique & the Lee C312-185 = 1500 fps
12.0 Unique & the Lee C312-160-2R = 1570 fps

16.0 2400 & Lee 185gr = 1575 fps
16.0 2400 & Lee 160gr = 1635 fps

23.0 H4198 / dacron & Lee 185gr = 1850 fps
23.0 H4198 / dacron & Lee 160gr = 1980 fps
23.0 H4198 / dacron & 314299 (.314") = 1770 fps

23.0 H4198 / dacron & 314299 (.314) seated to feed = 1770 fps, seated long to engrave = 1816 fps.

18.0grs 2400 has done well with the 314299
18 - 20grs SR4759 or 4227 is a good range to try out with any well fitting boolit.

40.0 H4350/Grex & 314299 (.314", cast Lino) = seated to engrave = 2250 fps

46.0 Surplus WC852 (slow) all else as above = 2180 fps

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

[Bret4207]

You got this Krag from the CMP recently? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Shiloh]

Nice Score!!

I'm glad you got one with an excellent barrel. I am using the LY. 314299 sized at .312. My LY. 311299 drops slugs at .3104. with a nose of .299 max. Too small for my Krag with a .310 groove. The 314299 nose engraves in the rifling and measures .3022.

Some folks here at the forum have Ly.311299 molds that drop a proper slug. Mine isn't one of them, no matter the alloy.

Shiloh

[jonk]

You got this Krag from the CMP recently? Inquiring minds want to know!

CMP has some 'junk' grade Krags that are from VFW organizations and the like. Some are really nice, some are truly junk. Available in stores at Anniston and Port Clinton only, not for mail order. I got 2. $350 for the lesser grade, $450 for the nicer ones. Similar condition guns go for $500 plus on auction so a good deal. They advertise them as 'unsafe to shoot' and some on the rack really are unsafe- but some are quite nice and if you know what you are doing you can pick out a good one- though I'd still recommend taking them to a smith.

The glut was a few months ago. They just are there in dribs and drabs now I believe.

[SlamFire1]

I picked mine up in January. There were eight long barrel Krags. They were beat up, missing pieces, and not one had a good barrel.

Then I picked up the one I took home. It has a handguard crack and a stock crack.

I was able to shoot a bud's cast loads at the range, last week. It shot within 3 inches at 100 yards. He used a lyman mold, but the number was not a cataloged bullet. It sure looked like a 311284. He did not remember his load, but that he used 2400.

But you know Buckshot, it may have been your 18.0 grs 2400 load. There are a number of different WC852 lots. I got my 852 from Jeff Bartlett, at GI Brass. The military load for my powder was 60.1 grains with a 150 FMJ in a 30-06. That sound similiar to your WC852?

Thanks for the data.

I do have some 314299's I cast for my Lee Enfield.

Still hoping someone has experience with AA5744.

[Buckshot]

Still hoping someone has experience with AA5744.

..............Use the starting loads shown for SR4759.

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

[NoDakJak]

My experience with 5744 in this cartridge is very fleeting and limited. One range session only. It was several days before my knee replacement so all shooting was limited to 25 yards. Not chronographed due to heavy overcast.
Rifle Ruger #3 chambered to 30-40. Boolit, Lee 309 170F , sized to .311 and lubed with Hornaday Alox. Fed 210 20.0 grains of 5744. I consider this encouraging enough that I will test it further this summer. I hope that this limited info is of help. Neil