M1898 Krag 30-40

[FAsmus]

Gentlemen;

I just found and bought a Krag that was once a rifle. It was cut down to a carbine with a 23 inch barrel - very nicely crowned and perfect (though semi-worn rifling). The rework included refinishing the stock with a nice linseed-oil finish and, seemingly as much as possible cleanly filling in the rear sling swivel recess and removing the front sling loop. Then, cutting a side "saddle ring" loop below the receiver to complete the 'Carbine' design. The metal was refinished to a 'antique' brown (nicely now ..) and it appeared in the shop.

Anyway, the piece is pretty nice ~ my son developed a fever for it, I found some help in "Selling & swapping" for brass and the rifle is now ours.

Do any of you shooters out there have favorite 30-40 loads?

Good evening, Forrest

[Scharfschuetze]

So far my favorite boolit for an 1898 Krag is the Lyman 314299 sized to .312/.313" with gas check and NRA 50/50 lube. Lots of good groups with it using 5744 powder. Odd, as this is the only rifle I have where SR 4759 doesn't outperform 5744.

[tdoyka]

i have three with the same boolit

165gr ranch dog(.311") with 25.5gr of h4198

165gr ranch dog(.311") with 32.0gr of varget

165gr ranch dog(.311") with 26.0gr of rel 7

i've used trail boss with the 165gr ranch dog but i'm still trying it out. it goes from 10.0-13.5gr.

[curator]

Water dropped wheel weight alloy Lyman #311284 sized .312, over 25 grains of SR4759. Seat boolit to touch the rifling "leade" and don't crimp. You won't be sorry.

[13Echo]

Glen Fryxel has a nice article on loading for the Krag at this url:

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellCB30-40Krag.htm

Try it.

[frnkeore]

I haven't done much testing with my 26" sporter but, in the initial load developement, I tested 4759 from 17 - 20 gr with the 311413.

My best results were 18.5 gr. 1.5" 5 shot group using a Redding aperiture rear and a post front. Aiming point was a 8" wide V shaped paper, 6 O'clock hold.

Frank

[4570guy]

19 gr of 4759 under the Lee C312-185-1R.

Key is to slug your bore first. Krag barrel diameters run all over the map. Supposedly Krag's manufactured from late '99 on had tighter bore diameter tolerances. Mine was made in Aug 1899 and measures .312.

[FAsmus]

tdoyka:

Is that a jacketed bullet?

FAsmus

[FAsmus]

45/70guy;

Thanks for that. It'll be my first step.

FAsmus

[FAsmus]

Curator:

I don't have a 0.312 die but my 314299 drops at 0.313.

Depending on what I find for groove size that may be my best choice.

FAsmus

[FAsmus]

Gentlemen;

Thanks for the in-put.

I'll post back on this thread when I get the tooling and cases together.

FAsmus