Krag 1901 sights

[Bulltipper]

I have been looking for a tutorial or some kind of detailed instruction in the complete use of the 1901 sight on my Krag rifle to no avail. Does anyone know where to find this info? Specifically, I am interested in the use of the ladder peep sight, what is the proper line up for the peep, and the "half peep" (I don't even know what to call it) to the numbered scale. In the down position it is like other iron sights on a battle rifle I have seen (AK47, SKS), but in the up position I am needing a bit more info...

[madsenshooter]

Calibrated for a 2000fps load. That's about All I know. The built in drift correction, the angle of the cut on the slide, is hard to deal with at times because it makes any correction in evelation, also a correction in windage. If used with the post down, the marks are useless, they're calibrated for having the post up, and with it down the distance between the pivot point ad aperture is changed. I prefer the 1902 sight for that reason, quicker windage changes on the range.

[leadman]

If the information you are seeking doesn't become available here I recommend you go to the CMP website and look on the forum there.

With as many shooters we have on this site I'm sure this info is available here though.

[Dutchman]

My 1898 NRA Krag carbine with 1901 rear sight (carbine version):

The lines on each side of the peep line up with the lines under the numbers. For example, the line under 6 would indicate 600 yards. Same goes for the half-circle.

In the picture below the half-circle is on 600 yards.... if the ladder were raised.

http://images61.fotki.com/v219/photos/4/28344/9895637/DSCF6501cb-vi.jpg

[Bulltipper]

Thanks Dutchman, that is what I was looking to confirm. Thanks for your time and for posting that picture! OK, now I just have to chrono my load to 2000 and away we go...

[Dutchman]

Truth be known I would've preferred a long rifle but I bought this from a friend and the bore is just shiny perfect. I've only shot it at 50 yds but it likes 311299 and 311284.

http://images16.fotki.com/v363/photos/4/28344/9895637/DSCF6535cb-vi.jpg
http://images61.fotki.com/v219/photos/4/28344/9895637/krags1b-vi.jpg
http://images56.fotki.com/v371/photos/4/28344/9895637/kr06-vi.jpg
http://images56.fotki.com/v362/photos/4/28344/9895637/kr07-vi.jpg

http://images57.fotki.com/v300/photos/4/28344/9895637/kr05-vi.jpg

[4570guy]

Even if you get a 220 gr load chrono'd to 2000 fps, you'll be lucky if the sights are on per the range markings. Range markings on vintage milsurp sights are a suggestion at best. Your results may vary...

[Bulltipper]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_113974ec3ed7557949.jpg ('http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=2724')
Mine has the same front sight and is about the same length, I like the 311290 as it feeds really well and has been great out to 200 yds. I have not gotten to shoot it farther than that yet.

[plain old dave]

Beautiful Krag.

1) Your sight base at least is a Carbine base, and has collector interest for that reason.

2) With the sight raised, each 15 yards is @6MOA for the lower ranges (i.e. less than 600yds) on a 24" barrel.

3) Each graduation for windage is one point which is 4MOA.

4) I have used this sight for 20+ years and have always lined up the graduations for the peep to use it and assumed the upper notch is the same.

5) The "4B" marking is the battle sight setting; for skirmishing, the sight was to be set to the "4B" setting when folded down for combat unless otherwise ordered.

[OldeNavy'smith]

I'm pretty new with the Krag, and didn't start researching it until I actually started working on it. What I found about my rifle was that only 5004 of them were built, and they had 20 sight options, right from the factory. I'll see if I can remember how to post a picture, and show y'all the sights that came on my Krag.


http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/seabeescotty/Olde%20Navy%20Firearms%20and%20repairs/30-40Krag016.jpg

[Char-Gar]

Bulltipper.. A man does what what a man wants to do, but I predict that at the end our your project, you will find out that those calibrations on the Krag rear sight, won't be spot on or perhaps not even close.

Army recruits even in the days of the Krag we not very rifle savy. If shooting beyond point blank range, a NOC or Officer would tell them where to put their sights. They would then walk the fire to the target by more or less adjustments.

Target shooters were another matter. Each shooter would learn his rifle and make adjustments by where the bullet struck the target and not by the calibrations on the sight. They would learn their rifle and where to set the sights at various ranges and keep a record of that in their little notebook.

You would be best served by finding a load that your particular rifle likes and then shooting it at various ranges to find our where to put the sight for your rifle and your load. That is what you will end up doing anyway, if you don't quit in frustration first.

Your rifle started life as a 30's bbl, infantry rifle and it was cut down to make a sporter out of it. The front sight is a Springfield 03 band and sight. Having a shortened barrel and a different front sight, the rear sight calibrations will not be correct for that sight set up anyway.

[Char-Gar]

Old Navy... That rear sight is a Redfield. It attaches without drilling and tapping via the big side plate screw and the magazine cutoff hole. They work quite well.

[madsenshooter]

Bulltipper.. A man does what what a man wants to do, but I predict that at the end our your project, you will find out that those calibrations on the Krag rear sight, won't be spot on or perhaps not even close.

Army recruits even in the days of the Krag we not very rifle savy. If shooting beyond point blank range, a NOC or Officer would tell them where to put their sights. They would then walk the fire to the target by more or less adjustments.

Target shooters were another matter. Each shooter would learn his rifle and make adjustments by where the bullet struck the target and not by the calibrations on the sight. They would learn their rifle and where to set the sights at various ranges and keep a record of that in their little notebook.

You would be best served by finding a load that your particular rifle likes and then shooting it at various ranges to find our where to put the sight for your rifle and your load. That is what you will end up doing anyway, if you don't quit in frustration first.

Your rifle started life as a 30's bbl, infantry rifle and it was cut down to make a sporter out of it. The front sight is a Springfield 03 band and sight. Having a shortened barrel and a different front sight, the rear sight calibrations will not be correct for that sight set up anyway.

They also had micrometers for use on the 1901 sight. See Ned there, to the right of young Slim:



http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_12364ef71cb0e20c0.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=3110)

[Char-Gar]

Those little target micrometer elevators that were put under the elevation side, were very useful and used on the Krag and 03 alike. It has bee a couple of year, but somebody was making a replica of them.

I was tempted to buy one, but could not justify the expense as I have click adjustable receiver sights on my Krags, and 03s. But there were/are neat gizmos.

Pope made and sold one he called the "skirmish elevator".

Any Krag fan who has not read Townsend Whelen's "Days of the Krag" material is missing something they should not miss. He was in the Army when the Trapdoor Springfield was replaced by the Krag.

[madsenshooter]

Although ran by a different fellow now, the Ray-Vin with a shoe to fit the Krag slide is still available. http://www.ray-vin.com/ I'm with Char-Gar, can't justify the expense and I've got both a Pacific and Redfield no drill. That skirmish elevator sounds interesting, as does the mentioned book. Here's another of his works: http://books.google.com/books?id=TphJAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=townsend+whelen&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ArL3Toq9Osmhtwfxu7jQBg&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=townsend%20whelen&f=false

[plain old dave]

Pope made and sold one he called the "skirmish elevator".



I have seen these. To make a long story short, it's a feeler gage that is inserted in the open space below the aperture in the 1901 sight. Has steps on it for the regulation ranges back then, and it would be placed in the opening and the sight adjusted so the bottom edge of the slider bore against it. One stop elevation zero. I might make me one out of brass for MY Krag; decide on ONE handload, find the zero for 2,3, and 6, measure the opening for each with a decent caliper and make a 3-step XTC Skirmish Elevator.

[Bulltipper]

I do have a couple "go to" rifles for reaching out past Fort Mudge, What attracted me to the Krag was the nice iron sights and the mag selector lever. These make for an excellent truck Rifle for point and shoot at squirrels and such, and so far my accuracy with the sight down has been exceptional at 200 yds and under...