Printable View
I recently purchased an 1894 Springfield 30-40 Krag (with the 1896 upgrades). Nice gun, bore is mint and slugs at 0.3085. I will be casting 200 gr and sizing to .309.
I am considering using 3031 powder - I use 30 grains of this in my 1884 45-70 trapdoor with 405 gr cast bullets and it drives tacks (velocity around 1250 fps), I also use it in my 1894 Winchester (velocity around 1850 fps). Has anyone used this powder with the 30-40?
My notes using 3031 in 3 different krags show 28 gr. to be the peak of accuracy. It degrades slowly as you add more powder. 28 to 36 gr. is where I'd try if I were you. The load wasn't chronographed, but 28 had to be in the 1700 to 1800 FPS area. 3031 has never given me top performance with any cast slug in a Krag. I loaded up to 38 gr. and things oped up considerably. I'm sure there'll be guys who tell you to use a larger sizing die, but I think you're right on with that .309. With side by side testing using .308,. 309, .3105, & .311 dies the 309 always came out on top especially when you up the velocity to almost full patch loads. I've shot a number of deer with one and also shot in High power matches with one and found it to be a fun gun to work with.
Thanks! I have a variety of powders, I like the 4320 in my 308 but I'm afraid the burn rate may be too fast (pressure) for the old Krag. I'll try 28 of 3031 and chrono it - seems like 1800 or so FPS has been reported as the best velocity for cast. I plan to use wheel weights and water harden them. I'll post some info when I'm done testing a few.
Imr3031 is considerably faster than 4320Quote:
Originally Posted by hollismainer
A couple of my better heavy boolit loads are 42 gr. Rl-19, AA3100 or 4831SC, or 35 gr. of 4350 all with 180 gr. up to 210 gr. boolits.
I have an old 30-40 with a cut down barrel some goof shortened with a hacksaw, so I re-crowned it (21 inches) and shoot cast bullets.
A couple of loads:
On the range, no barrel band, 50 yards 5 shots benchrest:
4759 22.0gr Lyman 311284 (sized .312) 1.5”
2400 21.0gr Lyman 311284 (sized .312) 1 3/16”
Chronograph at 1725 fps ave 3 shots
This is with iron sights and old eyes. Not bad for a rifle over a hundred years old.
rooster
12.5-13.0 Gr of Blue Dot Shoot golf ball groups at 100yds. Great with my 165gr Silly-Wet RCBS. You can bump up more if velocity needed.
TerryR
40 grains of 4350 is amazing in my rifle. I shoot the lee 200 grain bullet. Took a doe at 145 yards using peep sights with a ross rifle rechambered to 30-40 krag this year. you might want to give this load a try. krag is just about perfect for cast boolits. this load is good for right about 2,000 fps.
FWIW I've been shoot'n Lyman #311284 GC and pushthru Lee sized to .311 dia. and 20.5gr. AA5744. Shoots about 2" out my Krag 1898 sporter and about an inch out of my Ruger No.3 carbine...I love the AA5744 but hate its price...HTH
I've done under 2" groups @100 with my .310 groove, 26" barrel and a 311299 type bullet using 18.5 gr 4759 with a aperture rear sight.
Frank
But it was my best for this particular day. 10 shots 100 yards. 28gr of SPP-210, a Swiss made 4198 equivalent, under the Eagan MX3-30AR, BHN23. Velocity was 2168fps. That's about 1 5/8". Got to admit that I was using a 6x scope though. Surprised me as the groove diameter of the Krag I was using is a reverse taper, .308 at the throat, .310 out near the muzzle. .002 in 30 inches, you'd think they could have done better than that 115 years ago. Bore diameter though is a very consistent .301, so the guys that cut the rifling are to blame. This is my parkerized 92/96 Krag, no collector value, so I have fun with it.
My KRAG experiments:
Post on 30/40 Krag Loads with Hensley & Gibbs #99 190 grain cast bullet
Another reference from Glen Fryxell.
http://www.lasc.us/FryxellCB30-40Krag.htm
I'll throw my Krag into this. It is only at 50yds as the little peep sight is very hard for me to use. It's too far out from my eye that the front sight disapears at times and I really have to concentrate. The 03A3 sight is much more friendly to my eyes but I still enjoy the Krag. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/atta...1&d=1301631835
Had mine to the range today, real fun. And yes the peep is hard to see. 16 grs 2400 lee 185's sized .311
One more for 28 grains of IMR 3031 that load gives me sub 2" in iron sighted rifles and around an inch with a 2 1/2 x scope.
20.0 gr of AAC5744 with a 311284. I size .312 and lube with Lyman Super Moly. When I run out of 5744, I'll be trying Blue Dot, with the same boolit.
At the suggestion of an old member on here, I tried a casefull of IMR 7828 (?) over the same boolit, It shot well enough, but left LOTS of unburned powder in the BBL.
4198 works well, but is about as handy as running a hay bale through a powder measure.
3031 should work fine. I keep velocity > 2K, preferably below 1800 FPS.
YMMV
I think you'll like Blue Dot, it contains the same 20% nitroglycerine as 5744. I've seen better groups using a magnum primer, and Seafire of Accurate Reloading forums has verified my findings. In my thoughts, the majority of the powder gets blown to the front of the case by the pressure wave from a magnum primer before actual ignition takes place. 17-18grs of Blue Dot should get you the velocity you're looking for.