30-40 Krag to 25 Krag AI

[Wayne Smith]

I think I have basically perfected the above process. It is as follows:

1) Procure 30-40 Brass

2) neck down to 7mm with 7x57 size die with internals removed

3) Neck down to .25 with the 25 Krag AI 40% die (mine are RCBS, may need to get them from CH4D) with the internals removed.

4) expand to .25 with the Lyman 25R M die.

5) Anneal necks

6) Load with reasonable load (the 25 Krag AI has 2gr. capacity greater than the 257 Roberts AI and 2gr capacity less than the 25-06. I have data for both.)

7) Fire in 25 Krag AI chamber. You are done. Neck size and have fun.

Bulberry Barrels has the reamer and made my Encore barrel.

[eck0313]

+1 on annealing the necks. As hard as 30-40 brass is to find today, no need to “roll the dice” when fire forming.

[Wayne Smith]

I'm stubborn. I fired one without annealing, split the shoulder, and pulled the rest (five) that I had loaded. Gotta anneal next.

[Wayne Smith]

I just fireformed 50 using the above procedure and did not lose a single case. Another 50 loaded to be fired and 50 still in the 30-40 guise.

[Wayne Smith]

These are BCC brass from Grafs. I found the shoulders so soft that I lost one when necking down from 7mm to .25 and a shoulder collapsed. I took them out to a pan of water up to the neck and annealed only the necks. I then necked the rest down and annealed the shoulders in a pan of sand. I lost one to a shoulder split, so 48 of 50 survived. If you click on the picture it turns correctly.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

Wow! Back in 1964 that was my first centerfire rifle. Lotta tractor riding involved at ninety-cents an hour. It really is true: every thing old is new again.

Rich

[Wayne Smith]

I understand it has never been a popular wildcat. I wonder if Ackley ever actually made one. No data for loading appears in his books for this cartridge!

[405grain]

I seem to recall there being some reloading data for 25 Krag in Phil Sharpe's Complete Guide to Handloading. Most of the powders listed aren't made anymore, but there are some loads for IMR-4064 and IMR-3031 that could be used as starting loads for the 25 Krag AI. A hundred years ago quarter bore Krags were the top dog of high powered varmint rifles.

[dtknowles]

I understand it has never been a popular wildcat. I wonder if Ackley ever actually made one. No data for loading appears in his books for this cartridge!

I have a .25 Krag AI that I bought used. I use loading data for .257 Roberts, Roberts Improved or starting loads from 25-06.

Tim

[Wayne Smith]

I have a .25 Krag AI that I bought used. I use loading data for .257 Roberts, Roberts Improved or starting loads from 25-06.

Tim

Yup, that's the procedure. The cartridge has 2 grains of water capacity less than the 25-06 and 2 grains of water capacity more than the 257 Roberts AI. Sierra has data for both.

[dtknowles]

Yup, that's the procedure. The cartridge has 2 grains of water capacity less than the 25-06 and 2 grains of water capacity more than the 257 Roberts AI. Sierra has data for both.

I am using Hornady handbook

[Wayne Smith]

For anyone interested in this cartridge I was given a set of reamers. They have been used once to make my SS barrel.

The reamers are now lodged with F. Michael Leak, Hogs Tooth Precision Firearms in Virginia Beach, VA. (757) 642-7955. www.htpfirearms.com, and he is a Type 7 FFL Manufacturer. He is now a full time gunsmith.