Winchester 1895 in .30-40 Krag ...

[Reverend Al]

After searching the site I found several old posts about loading for the .30-40 Krag cartridge in general, but most of them are fairly old threads. Since I just bought a Winchester 1895 SRC in .30-40 Krag (.30 US) does anyone have any more contemporary pet loads that they might pass along?

I have a number of .30 calibre moulds that I can work with including the venerable old 311299 and 314299 and I understand that particular design of boolit often gives good results in the Krag. (I still have to slug the rifle so I don't have any idea what size of boolit I'll be working with yet, but again I have wide selection of mould choices available to cover the full range of .308" up to .318".) I also have a variety of powders to work with (a fairly large variety in fact), but would prefer to stay in the medium to medium slow range since I have lots of 3031, 4895, 4350 on hand. (I'd also prefer to stay away from fillers since it's a bottle neck cartridge and I don't want to risk the possibility of ringing the chamber.)

So, does anyone have any up to date sage words of wisdom to share on reloading for the .30-40 Krag in a '95 Winchester?

Many thanks!

Al

[DxieLandMan]

I'm not sure if the loads are the same but I have a .30-40 Krag that I loaded some rounds for. I like a 165 grain JSP on top of 35 grains of IMR 3031. It is a nice load with a little less recoil that other loads. That round is one of my pet loads for my Krag.

[Reverend Al]

OK ... thanks. Have you shot any boolits in it?

[RPRNY]

So, first, if you have the Ken Waters Pet Loads compilation he actually does a Krag update for a '95, so that is by far the best source. If you don't have it and my ever deteriorating memory doesn't foil the plan, I will copy his data.

In my own experience, the 311299 and 311284 are excellent bullets with the Krag. 4350 has not worked well for me with cast boolits. My preferred Cast load in 30-40 Krag is 20.5 grs IMR4227 with the 311299 and 22 grs with the 311284. I also have a note in my spreadsheet that reads "31 grs IMR 4895 w/311284 good but not as good as 4227". For what that's worth. Can't offer any views on 3031.

Let me know about Ken Waters.

[Reverend Al]

I do have a wide selection of jacketed .30 calibre bullets that I can test as well ranging from 150 grains right up to 220 round nose, but will likely load far more cast boolits in this old girl.

[Reverend Al]

Just waiting for a set of used Lyman dies to arrive (they're already in the mail) and a friend is digging through his "stash" of reloading stuff for some Krag brass that he is going to give me. I'm going to slug the barrel on the old girl today and we'll see what it measures.

[tdoor4570]

I have 5 different 1898 krags will be chasing cast loads for each using 311291 and 311466 cast from WW , after that I will be looking for loads for j-words in 165 and 180 gr. lots of playing this summer. forgot to add that you can form krag brass from 303 Brit, the neck is a little short but it works very well.

[Reverend Al]

So, first, if you have the Ken Waters Pet Loads compilation he actually does a Krag update for a '95, so that is by far the best source. If you don't have it and my ever deteriorating memory doesn't foil the plan, I will copy his data. Let me know about Ken Waters.

I have the original Ken Waters Pet Loads binder, but got lazy and didn't buy updates afterwards, so I don't have the newest information that he'd written. If you have it that would be great!

[Reverend Al]

So I finally went down to my reloading shop today and slugged the barrel and shot a few photos. Missing the saddle ring and the top handguard, but those sure weren't a deal breaker at the reasonable price I paid. If I really feel I need to have them repro parts are available. The barrel slugged at .305" x .310" which is good. From what I'd been reading they vary greatly and it could have gone as big as .312" to .314" according to other owners. While I'm waiting for the dies to arrive I'll dig into my stash and see what I already have cast in .30 calibre boolits and will probably try .312" to start. I've always like to be about 2 thousands over groove diameter on most of the guns I load boolits for. I found that I do have a bit of IMR 4227 left on hand so will try a few test loads with it based on RPRNY's suggestions above. The serial number puts the date of mfg at 1915 and I think that the old girl doesn't look too bad for 103 years of age. Obviously been well used, but not abused.

https://i.imgur.com/3h7lRKO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2JWxyLE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/oLno3yn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vO63Oys.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/aZ1gAlP.jpg

[alamogunr]

I've got the updated Pet Loads and it does have an update for the 1895 .30-40 but in the Browning version. I can't promise to scan the article since I'm not sure that the Pet Loads book(BIG) will fit on my printer/scanner. I'll try it out tomorrow.

I've got the Browning/Win 1895 in .30-40 but haven't shot handloads in it yet. There are no cast boolit loads in Waters write-up.

[RPRNY]

Pet Loads 30-40 update and Lyman 4th attached, hopefully.

213680213680213681

[500Linebaughbuck]

for hunting, i'd go with the 165gr ranch dog

for shooting at target, lyman 311284

[Dan Cash]

In my 1900 vintage 95 rifle, I am using the Accurate 31-215LG paper patched to .312 and loaded over 42 grains of Alliant R 19. In deference to old eyes, the rifle got a Peabody repro of the Lyman 21 sight which works quite well. I would shoot any thing on this continent with that rifle and load.

[GunnyJohn]

What was the 11th Commandment..."Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors rifle". Sorry Reverend, just broke that one. Nice old 95. Hope you get it figured out, and enjoy it.

[Reverend Al]

Pet Loads 30-40 update and Lyman 4th attached, hopefully.

213680213680213681

Awesome! Many thanks ...

[alamogunr]

After seeing RPRNY's scan of Pet Loads, I don't think I can do any better with that big book on top of my printer. If you want me to try, I will. Just let me know.

[RPRNY]

I will just add that 30-40 is my favorite cartridge, whether with low pressure cast boolits in an original K-J rifle or at near 30-06 velocities with VLD bullets in a Ruger # 3 and everything in between; and the 1895 Winchester is a fantastic rifle with which to enjoy it.

[Thumbcocker]

IIRC 311284 was originally designed for the .30-40.

[RPRNY]

IIRC 311284 was originally designed for the .30-40.

You recall correctly! 1905 or 1907 US Palma team.

[Reverend Al]

IIRC 311284 was originally designed for the .30-40.

Yes, you are absolutely right on that, but I don't happen to have that particular Lyman (Ideal) number in my collection of .30 calibre moulds. Since I do already have the 311299 and 314299 I'll start there and see what happens. I'll most likely start with the 311299 sized to .312" since the barrel slugged out at .305" x .310".

[Reverend Al]

I have a local reloading buddy who has an even larger selection of moulds than I have, so I'll ask him if he has 311284 and if he does I'm sure that I can get a few samples from him to test.

[RPRNY]

311299 should be fantastic in the 1895. No tubular mag issues. It works well in a Krag and its only @ 10 grs lighter than the 284. If .310" is right, you can get a box of 311284 from Montana Bullet Works and try them out. If they are any better: new mould!

[Reverend Al]

Unfortunately since I live up in Kanuckistan, Montana Bullet Works wouldn't be able to ship any cast boolit samples up to me ... ITAR might accuse them of sending "materials of war" up to a "Canajun terrorist" ...

:roll:

[RPRNY]

Unfortunately since I live up in Kanuckistan, Montana Bullet Works wouldn't be able to ship any cast boolit samples up to me ... ITAR might accuse them of sending "materials of war" up to a "Canajun terrorist" ...

:roll:

Of course. All those jihadis from the Great White North slaughtering innocents with cast boolits! Thank God for ITAR's vigilance...

[bob208]

have the 311299 first sed it for .303 brit. then tried it in .30-40. used 2400 with tissue paper. that load shot through a 8 point end to end.

[NorthMoccasin]

Reverend, I have a 1895 rifle with the lyman 21 sight. The 311299 with 30.0 3031 shoots very well for me. 12.0 unique with the 311291 or 311041 also does very well.

[Reverend Al]

OK ... thanks for sharing your pet loads ...

[Reverend Al]

Well, when I went to my local gun club meeting last night my buddy walked up to me and handed me an old Lyman / Ideal single banger mould for the #311284. He has a very large selection of old Lyman / Ideal moulds and when I bought this '95 Winchester in .30 US I'd asked if he happened to have it, and if he did could I borrow it to test a few, and sure enough he did! Now I have to fire up my RCBS pot and cast some boolits!

[rintinglen]

311-291 over 35 grains of ww 748

[Drm50]

I bought several thousand rds of US 30/40. Frankfort Arsenal 1905 production in cloth rip open
bandoleers. I don't know how the ammo was stored but it was clean, but useless. The brass was
eroded from the inside, powder was like a lump of dirty grease. You could put you tomb against
the bullet and snap the case neck off the case. I did salvage the bullets and sold the bandoleers
and still came out in the hole. My 1895 in 30/06 loves those long rd nose bullets. I put those
bullets aside for it, load them in GI match brass and shoot them at 2400fps. 1895s are suppose
to be loaded to not more than 45000 CPU. I've had a couple 30/40s, both had terrible bores. They
we're lousy with Jackets and terrible with cast.

[Reverend Al]

I guess I lucked out since this '95 SRC I bought looks to still have a very good bore. I've scrubbed it a few times now since I got it and I left the bore wet with Hoppes #9 between cleanings. It's looking pretty good now with no visible pitting and good crisp rifling. Appears that it was mostly just accumulated dust and dirt from sitting unused for many years. (The .30-40 Krag cartridge isn't as often seen up here in Canada since most of our sales of '95's were in .303 British instead, so this gun likely didn't get that much use.) It slugged at .310" so I will try some .312" sized cast boolits from both the #311284 and #311299 moulds with a few different powders (I have a fairly good selection on hand to choose from).

For initial range testing I've put together a few rounds with some .308" diameter 220 round nose jacketed with Lyman's suggested accuracy / factory duplication recommendation with IMR4350 (I used some old Herters bullets that I had on my shelf). My usual procedure with an old rifle like this is to shoot about 5 rounds on target to check accuracy and sights, clean thoroughly, and then repeat the cleaning every 5 rounds for about the first 20 to 25 rounds (all with jacketed bullets). Then after another thorough cleaning with a bore brush and solvent I'll see how the bore looks at that point and then try out some test loads with cast boolits to compare accuracy against the jacketed bullets I shot. Just gives me a bit of a base line for comparison ...

[slam45]

i shoot an early win 1895 flat side with a 24" barrel that is a little rough... it shoots cast from short 170 fp to long 215s fine. as this rifle is 122 years old i don't push her very hard... 21 to 24 grains of H4198 or 30 of H4895 work well, as does 16 to 22 grains of 2400... for .30 cast i size 0.310, which works for me in a number of 30 cal rifles. barrel on my'95 slugs 300/308 it is a... favorite...

[Reverend Al]

Thanks for the tips. I have all three of those powders on hand already so I can play around with your suggested loads and see what happens in mine ...