A 30/40 day..Bigger IS better...sometimes

[Char-Gar]

It was a clear, sunny, still 50 degree day here in Deep South Texas and going to the range seemed to be the order of the day.

My last time at the range the accuracy of my old Krag went South and I was concerned. I gave it a good cleaning and wanted to see it that did the trick. I thought it would be good time to play with other rifles in 30-40 as well.

I loaded 311467 U (.309), 311467 (.311), 311407 Mod. (.311), 311407 Mod. (.314) and 311291 (.314) over the magic load of 16/2400

FIRST up was my 1895 Brownchester levergun. I shot the .311467 U sized .309 and a standard 311467 sized .311.

The undersize bullets cut the nicest round five shot groups at .9" you ever saw. Time and time again. When I switched to the same bullet from a different mold at .311 the groups opened up to 2.5". Smaller is better in this rifle.

SECOND up was my 1901 vintage Krag sporter. The 311467 and 311407 Mod when sized at .311 produced the expected 1.0 - 1.2" groups.

When I switched to the 311407 Mod and 311291 at .314 the groups shrank to .5 to .75" , just about half of the .311 groups.

THIRD up was my 1895 vintage Krag sporter. The results were just the same as Krag #1, except all groups were about .25 larger. This rifles has always shot well, but not quit as well as Krag #1.

When it comes to the Krags with worn throats...bigger IS better.

I don't think any of this proved anything we don't already know, but it is nice to have things verified on the target from time to time.

Now a couple of incidential observatons and/or comments

1) The brass was FA 11-06 for the Krags and 1920's vintage WRA for the levergun. Hundred years old brass in hundred you old Krags just seems right.

2) I am beginning to belive there might be something magic to the 16/2400 charge. It is turning in steller performance in the 30-06 and 30-40 rounds thus far.

3) Anybody want to SWAG the velocity of the 16/2400 loads in the Krag? I am guessing around 1,700 fps.

4$ I shure would like to find some top quality crisp light triggers for the Krag rifles. I have polished contact surfaces and cut the spring and things are better, but still far from having a truly good tigger on these rifles.

5) 311407 outshot qll the others in the Krags. Makes feller poud, when one of his chilern do well.

Das all....

[StarMetal]

Charger,

On the 16grs of 2400 in the krag, if you're using the two bullets in your post, lymans book said 18 grs with the 311291 gave 1647 and 17 grs with the 311407 gave 1547. That was with a Krag rifle not a universal receiver and barrel. So would 8 more inches of barrel give you 1700 fps with one and two grs less powder? Be close.

Joe

[Maineboy]

Chargar, Good stuff to hear! Have had some 311407Ms loaded up in Krag brass w/13.5 grains of 2400, I just haven't been able to get to the range. So far the best boolit in my 1898 Krag is the 314299...fatter is better in my gun too!

[RayinNH]

Chargar, so far my two 1898's, one sporter and one unaltered prefer Lyman 311284 boolits. I did pick up a 311291 at the last gun show I went to and hope to get in some range time with it this weekend if the weather cooperates...Ray

[rocklock]

I've had the best luck with the RCBS 30-180-FN in my Krag carbine.

[JBMauser]

Well here are the results I got from a Parts gun I picked up at a gun show (cut down carbine). After boiling out the “sewer Pipe” barrel with my home made Outers Foul out. I loaded up some ammo. First I formed brass from .303 brass which I have and then after formed, I neck sized them with my .308 dies. I use my .303 seater (all lee dies) to seat the bullets. This past weekend I shot 5 rounds at 100 yards in 1 3/8 in. with a scope (the parts gun came without any sights buy drilled and taped for a side scope mount). Ideal (lyman) cast bullet (old design) 308 290 212gr. 20gr of 2400. So yes I am going to order some real 30/40 brass and dies. I loaded these very long (3.164) so they are single feed only. I used the bullet in the barrel and cleaning rod method to load them out to just touch the rifling. I sized them to 3.105 with a gas check. I made my own neck spud (m die) and open the neck to 3.10 and I flare the mouth with the lee expander. The 311291 bullet (30/30 design) did well the week before with 16gr of 2400 with 4 shots in .53 in. at 50 yards. Both days were very breezy. The .303 brass is well short of spec. but It Shoots!!! Oh a hint to you fellows who don’t have an M die. I usually take the expander out of my Lee .303 die and put it in my 30/06 to open the neck up so I can shoot unsized bullets in my .308 rifles. It works well. Lee dies are cheap enough that I am considering making up cast bullet sets and jacketed sets by ordering extra expanders from lee for .303. and swapping out the .308 expanders. JB