I'm falling for this Krag rifle...

[Bulltipper]

I picked up a lightly sporterized Krag-Jorgensen 1896 rifle at an auction last week and am really falling for the craftsmanship and the mechanical beauty of the thing. I was going to sell it but now I'm kinda thinking I may have to get some brass and dies, maybe set up the Dillon 550 and load up some 175 grain RN lead boolits and let fly. Super sights on this old girl and a beautiful bore, am I talking myself into keeping her?

[missionary5155]

Good afternoon
Yes you should keep it and really get to know what fine rifles they are. If I could hunt with any of mine in the state of ILL. for corn crunchers I would not feel bad at all using a Krag to do them in.
You will want to carefully check the throat area as mine have as little as .311+ up to .315+ throats with .312+ seeming to be the average. I have enjoyed using Krags for bowling pin matches at 50 & 100 yards. Those slick action bolts are a joy. Reloading is a bit slower but I can live with that.
Mike in Peru

[scb]

am I talking myself into keeping her?

I doubt you'll be sorry. As a matter of fact I'd say the only way you WILL be sorry is if you don't keep it.

[gnoahhh]

Amen. The grand old Krag is till as sexy now as she was 115 years ago!

[Char-Gar]

If you really don't want to end up with several more Krags hanging around you place, then sell this one ASAP and don't shoot it.

[405]

None slicker for cycling carts. Who'd a thunk it given the loose tray-spring sweep magazine :)

Given the unknown history of many old guns ingesting slightly hot rounds in the past- be a good idea to inspect. Sometimes Krags develop a very small, hairline crack usually at the rear junction of the lug and the bolt body. Can be really hard to see, even with a loupe. Also inspect for any signs of a re-weld in that area. If all's well keep the cast loads on the reasonable side and enjoy!

[Hickory]

I picked up a lightly sporterized Krag-Jorgensen 1896 rifle at an auction last week and am really falling for the craftsmanship and the mechanical beauty of the thing.

Your just saying that, because your in love.[smilie=w:

[Multigunner]

Krags should be closely inspected for cracks or lug setback, all old rifles, milsurp or commercial sporters, should be closely checked out before firing.
There appears to have been no problem with the Krag single lug lock up till the Army attempted to improve long range accuracy and hitting power by by increasing the velocity of the .30-40 Ball ammunition by around 200 FPS.
The new ammo generated 43,000 CUP as opposed to the 40,000 CUP of the earlier cartridge.

A similar situation popped up when maximum pressure of the .20-06 cartridge was increased after WW1. Winchester 1895 rifles chambered on '06 had no problems with the 48,000 CUP loads but quickly developed excessive headspace when M1 Ball and sporting ammo in the same 50,000+ CUP range were fired in this rear locking action.

I suspect that the increase in average working pressure was less at fault than a corresponding increase in maximum deviation pressures.
Some Krag ammo also had cases plated with tim on the inside to reduce corrosion of the cases due to humidity affecting the powder.
They say that over time the tin plated case necks could cold solder to the Cupronickel jacket of the bullets, causing greatly increased pull strength and increased pressures.

Anyway enough Krag bolts were damaged that the Springfield arsenal once offered to replace any damaged bolt free of charge, if the civilian owner sent in the damaged bolt along with a report on conditions that may have led to the bolt failure.
There seems to have been few if any serious injuries due to bolt failures, like the Lee Enfield the Krag breech doesn't trap high pressure gases when a case head blows out.
Also the guide rib safety lug is as solid as they come.

Some have reported cracks in the receiver at points where the machining left an abrupt corner. This sort of cracking has affected some FN Mauser bolts and is said to be the main cause of failure during proof testing of No.4 rifles converted to 7.62 NATO in Australia.
In the case of the No.4 the milled slot for the bolt release catch was the common point of failure, I'm told that the later production No.4 MkI* with bolt head guide rib opening for takedown was considered a better candidate for conversion , at least among target shooters.

Due to variations in manufacturing the guide rib lug of some Krags bear on the receiver acting as a second lug. Usually the guide rib bearing is considered evidence of bolt cracking or set back of the main lug.
Competitive target shooters often lapped the main lug till both lugs would come to bear. This was believed to increase accuracy, and probably did.
So a bearing safety lug doesn't always mean the action or bolt has sustained damage.

The Krag is a marvelous design and a tribute to the peak of 19th century firearms manufacturing expertise. Other contemporary designs were less of a hassle to mass produce but the high level of skill and precision with which the Krag was manufactured is evident.
I'd like to see this feed system mated to one of the more modern rear lug actions, an updated and stronger version of the 788 Remington would be well suited to this magazine design.
If not for the development of the stripper clip the Mauser and the Lee Enfield would have remained second to the Krag in speed and convenience of reloading.

We've all heard of the WW2 German officer who said the British Enfields fired so fast that they thought the British had far more machineguns than they actually did. That story is no doubt true, but the same thing was said about the U S Army Krag rifles during the spanish American War, and also said by a German officer observing the action.

[303Guy]

I would think a 220gr boolit would be more in keeping with the Krag. You'd be looking at an 1800fps or more cartridge.

[SharpsShooter]

I shoot the 311299 (210gr) with 4198 to 1700 ft / sec and it s scary accurate from my Krag carbine. I used it and that boolit to harvest last years whitetails and had no problems whatsoever.



SShttp://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_8154e7e52c6723eb.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=2215)

[Char-Gar]

The Krag rifle is a wonderful thing and I have four of them. With some attention to the details of bullet fit, they can be first class cast bullet rifles.

But, as nice as they are, a good 03/03A3 will beat a good Krag for accuracy every day. The Krag will always win for slickness, panache and just plain cool factor.

[Bulltipper]

Looks like I have a new addition to the family... Thanks guys, for the information and the laughs!

[madsenshooter]

I have also ran across Krags with cracks behind the locking lug recess in the floor of the receiver. In one case, it appeared the locking lug on the bolt was only bearing on the right side of said recess. Who knows what caused it, the 2200fps load mentioned above, or someone's reload later on. Concerning that 2200fps load, I've shot a few honest 220gr boolits at that velocity, after fooling around with 168s and 180s at lower velocities, the 220gr load lets you know you've shot something. I don't imagine it was well received by the soldiers either.

[Dutchman]

I've shot mine only a couple times so far with 311299 and 311284. It has a beautiful bright bore and shows promise with cast.

http://images54.fotki.com/v514/photos/2/28344/157842/krags1b-vi.jpg

[mustanggt]

I'm in love with my Krag too. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36017&stc=1&d=1317046860 http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36018&stc=1&d=1317046914

[Pavogrande]

Never cared much for them -- only have 7 left. :-)

[DanM]

My Krag is not picky over bullet weight. Shoots 160s just as well as 200s, and that is very well indeed. Also 165s and 180s. The Ranch Dog 165 flat nose sometimes hangs when feeding but is still quite accurate. Krags are (IMHO), the ideal cast boolit rifle!

[richhodg66]

What is the going rate for one in original shape. There is one for sale locally at a little hole in the wall shop that is complete and original, not sporterized. I believe it even has the original sling. The bore is dirty but shows decent rifling. It's been in this particular gentleman's collection for years and years he tells me, so he doesn't seem to be in ahurry to get rid of it and the asking price on the tag seems fair to me, but is still a lot of money. The serial number on it is 160,XXX if I recall, I have no idea whether that is an early or late production one.

I've always liked the Krag and have dies and a little brass. I'm guessing the 311284 that shoots so well in my .30-06 and 7.62x54 guns would do as well in the Krag. I could have this one for a little under $900 before taxes.

[Multigunner]

SPRINGFIELD KRAG‑JORGENSEN RIFLES

[dated by fiscal year: July 1 of previous year – June 30 of fiscal year]



Year number produced serial number range
1894 - 2,953 1 - 2953

1895 - 13,430 2954 - 16384

1896 - 16,262 16385 - 32647

1897 - 31,819 32648 - 64557

1898 - 41,588 64556 - 116146

1899 - 103,778 116147 - 219925

1900 - 70,652 219926 - 290578

1901 - 54,739 290579 - 345318

1902 - 53,246 345319 - 398565

1903 - 61,841 398566 - 460407

1904 - 17,354 460408 - 477762

From Bowers weapons.com
http://www.bowersweapons.com/military_rifles.htm

[mustanggt]

If it is clean and not beat up that'd be pretty good. One of the best places to get a good assessment would be at culvers shooting page forum. Lots more experienced guys over there than I. They'll probably ask for pictures so if you can get some I would do that. Look at my krag a few posts ago and compare it to that for condition. I paid 750 at a gun show in Feb. Good luck

[richhodg66]

If it is clean and not beat up that'd be pretty good. One of the best places to get a good assessment would be at culvers shooting page forum. Lots more experienced guys over there than I. They'll probably ask for pictures so if you can get some I would do that. Look at my krag a few posts ago and compare it to that for condition. I paid 750 at a gun show in Feb. Good luck

I don't think it quite that nice, but pretty close and some cleaning and getting it into good lighting may improve it some.

[semtav]

I shoot the 311299 (210gr) with 4198 to 1700 ft / sec and it s scary accurate from my Krag carbine.


I've been using 25gr 4198 in my 8mm Siamese Mauser with a 210 gr bullet and getting excellent accuracy.


but looking in Lymans reloading handbook, they don't list 4198 for anything over 170 gr in the 06. any reason for this?

[mustanggt]

I got my data from the Lyman Cast bullet manual. It has loads in 4198 up to the 311284 boolit.