what krag do i want?

[444ttd]

i have a few rifles that need to built, but in a couple of years..........what krag cartridge do i want?

i have two 1898 springfield armory(1898 and 1903) actions and the first one will be a 22 hornet. the second one makes my head spin. i have a 30-40 krag already, so thats out of the running. this is the part that makes my head spin, do i want 25 krag, 6.5 krag, 277 krag, 284 krag, 8 krag, 338 krag, 35 krag, 36 krag, 375 krag or the 40 krag?

https://i.imgur.com/9FtYpNK.jpg

i'm kinda into 25 krag, but my 93 mauser action will be a 257 roberts. the 6.5 krag is second on my list. i have a ruger no1 in 270 win so i guess the 277 krag is out. i can't count how many 284 or 7mm i have. the 8mm krag is interesting, but i have 8x57mm. the 338 krag will be foray into the 338 caliber. the 35 krag, which is tied with 25 krag, but i have a 35/30-30. 36 krag while interesting, i have a 9.3x57. the 375 krag my mind goes ehh as well as the 40 krag.

i guess i am thinking of the 25, 6.5 or 35 krag, but my mind is not made up!!! ackley improved versions will be considered too.

[Texas by God]

Why, 43 Krag of course.
Or- the 31 Krag AKA .303 British;-)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Gewehr-Guy]

What? No .17 Krag......

[cwtebay]

405 WCF!!!! But load 'er light - that single lug won't take the full house loads. I really enjoy shooting mine with 41 mag bullets.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[Kraschenbirn]

Already got the one I want: 30-40 '98 carbine with a Lyman 48 rear and King Gunworks front for sights...might actually be one of the NRA 'sporters' from the 1920s but have no provenance or documentation.

Bill

[Ozark mike]

I'd have to go with the 30-40 if any

[Mk42gunner]

Well, since you don't want a duplicate .30-40, I voted for the .35 Krag. IIRC it will more or less duplicate the .35 WCF.

Robert

[303Guy]

I would look at a 375. If I'm not mistaken, it will retain a small shoulder, it will not use too much lead but have plenty diameter and punch. Then again, the 35 would be awesome. I also happen to like the 25 so for me it would be between the 40, 375, 35 and 25. The 40 would headspace on the rim so for case life, pressure would be better a bit lower. I would probably narrow it down to 35 and 375. For longer range capability, probably 35. For lighter low recoiling, the 35 also. For quieter subsonic, the 35 in heavy for punch or light for small stuff. So I'd make it 35. But if I didn't already have 257, I would go with 25.

[uscra112]

Shoulder doesn't matter since the parent brass will be rimmed.

IMHO the .35 is about right. Excellent for cast bullets, and you can use .35 Winchester reamer and dies, (if you can find a set). I had one in the works a few years ago, but JES screwed up the rebore job so badly that it went to the back burner, where it still lies.

I'd tell you to think about .22-3000 Lovell, but brass for it is such a hassle. I've got two, built probably 1938 - 1950, and they'll both shoot the lights out.

Norwegian Krags were 6.5x55. I've read that they still use 'em there for everything from small deer to moose.

[444ttd]

i would luv a 22-3000 lovell, but the brass............

another cartridge i forgot would be the 405 jess. JES did my 35/30-30 and all i can say, he does an awesome job.

[cwtebay]

My initial knee jerk is 35 WCF, but it looks like you have a pretty close cousin already (also an old school thumper, load down!!) I've also seen some in: 225 Winchester, 25-35, 38-55, and one in 40/70 that I wish I would have grabbed!

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[uscra112]

You can make serviceable .22-3000 brass from .223/5.56. Ask me how. (It does require an hydraulic press and a lathe.)

[444ttd]

You can make serviceable .22-3000 brass from .223/5.56. Ask me how. (It does require an hydraulic press and a lathe.)

i don't have either:cry::cry::cry:

[444ttd]

My initial knee jerk is 35 WCF, but it looks like you have a pretty close cousin already (also an old school thumper, load down!!) I've also seen some in: 225 Winchester, 25-35, 38-55, and one in 40/70 that I wish I would have grabbed!

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk


the 35wcf was my first choice but i don't know if the action and magazine will werk. also, i can't find what psi the 35win is?

[cwtebay]

the 35wcf was my first choice but i don't know if the action and magazine will werk. also, i can't find what psi the 35win is?I believe It operates in the realm of 38-40,000. It will definitely work with the magazine (same rim and case diameter) but may need to be loaded slightly short to function flawlessly.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[444ttd]

can't you make a 30-40 brass into a short( i'm talking about .020", like my 8x57 made into 9.3x57) 35wcf?

[444ttd]

one of the cartridges i have forgotten is the 405 jes. i wonder if the 405 jes would...........:roll: dang it, i'm thinkin again!!!!!!!

[Drm50]

Back in 80s I bought a Krag that was a single shot 25/35. Somebodies project gun that turned out to have a 6.5mm barrel. I think a Mannlicher military barrel.

[TNsailorman]

I probably wouldn't want anything but a 30-40 Krag but I "was" to do anything else it would be a .35 Krag AI. my thoughts anyway, james

[Texas by God]

Back in 80s I bought a Krag that was a single shot 25/35. Somebodies project gun that turned out to have a 6.5mm barrel. I think a Mannlicher military barrel.
Those Can do- Make do guns have a charm to them in a way. I saw a SMLE converted to .218 Bee single shot at a gun show long ago. It dropped the empties into the gutted magazine and had external trigger adjustment screws mounted on the guard. And a home made peep sight on the charger bridge.

[cwtebay]

Back in 80s I bought a Krag that was a single shot 25/35. Somebodies project gun that turned out to have a 6.5mm barrel. I think a Mannlicher military barrel.I have a Mosin that someone stuck a 351 WSL barrel on and filled the mag well with lead. I do so enjoy that sort of "wonder what I could make with this pile of parts..." mentality!

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[swheeler]

6.5 Krag would my choice!

[cwtebay]

You know....35 WCF with a 200gr bullet comes in shy of the COAL that is reliably fed through a K-J (shorter yet with 357 bullets!). Also, 405 WCF will also feed with 41 pistol bullets.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[303Guy]

Shoulder doesn't matter since the parent brass will be rimmed.


Yes that's true. I was thinking of my own preference for head spacing on the shoulder for extending case life.

[Baltimoreed]

266111
What are you going to use it for? Hunting [deer or prairie dogs], matches, plinking? What moulds do you have? I have passed up nice guns because they were the wrong caliber. Most of my centerfire rifles are .30 something caliber, .308-.311-.321. My centerfire handguns/pcc’s are .45. Keeps my reloading supplies a little simpler. Just be aware of the Krag’s limitations and after you’re gone what the next owner might try to do. I did deer hunt with a .25-06 [Ruger 1V and a Sendero] for many years so I would suggest a .25 but put it in a .303 British case. Easier to get .303 and the mag and bolt would work. Just looked it up and it already exists. Have fun with whatever build you do. I enjoy my Krags as issued.

[444ttd]

266111
What are you going to use it for? Hunting [deer or prairie dogs], matches, plinking? What moulds do you have? I have passed up nice guns because they were the wrong caliber. Most of my centerfire rifles are .30 something caliber, .308-.311-.321. My centerfire handguns/pcc’s are .45. Keeps my reloading supplies a little simpler. Just be aware of the Krag’s limitations and after you’re gone what the next owner might try to do. I did deer hunt with a .25-06 [Ruger 1V and a Sendero] for many years so I would suggest a .25 but put it in a .303 British case. Easier to get .303 and the mag and bolt would work. Just looked it up and it already exists. Have fun with whatever build you do. I enjoy my Krags as issued.

i'll be hunting deer/black bear and informal(meaning me and possibly a few others) targets. i own a 30-40 krag(1898 spr armory bubbasized) and i just luv her. but i want something else. whatever i choose, it will be going to my sons' or going to a auction.

303 british????????? well i never!!!!!!!! don't you know that it will be 'mercan!!!!!! (ummmm......don't look into my safe......no mausers here!!!!! 7, 7.65, 8 and 9.3x57 maus... i mean 'merca aren't there!!!) ;)

[303Guy]

266111
... I would suggest a .25 but put it in a .303 British case. Easier to get .303 and the mag and bolt would work. Just looked it up and it already exists. Have fun with whatever build you do. I enjoy my Krags as issued.

I just happen to have 25-303 on a Lithgow action. The rifle was built by Lithgow actually. That thing with it's long skinny whippy barrel printed sub-MOA at 200 yds!

If it weren't for the existing 257 Roberts I would have voted 25 Krag. I don't cast for my 25 though. Too small. Plus it's my only high velocity rifle. Not sure it will still shoot now though.

[swheeler]

26 Krag just has a certain ring to it:drinks:

[444ttd]

I just happen to have 25-303 on a Lithgow action. The rifle was built by Lithgow actually. That thing with it's long skinny whippy barrel printed sub-MOA at 200 yds!

If it weren't for the existing 257 Roberts I would have voted 25 Krag. I don't cast for my 25 though. Too small. Plus it's my only high velocity rifle. Not sure it will still shoot now though.


i would have too, but i have a 93 spanish mauser action that screams to me a "257 bob"!!!! i have a ruger #1 in 270 win with 140gr hornady sst that i can use, but its been 5 or so years that i took it out. the 257 roberts is on my bucket list. its been put back because i am sanding two stocks, 98 mauser and 93 mauser(its my youngest sons, it needs a 7 mauser barrel) and i want to build 22 hornet on 1898 spr armory action.

i am thinking of a 35 or 375 krag or a 405 jes. the 405 jes could be #1 on my krag list, but i have to research it some more.

[Wayne Smith]

I have reamers for the 25 Krag AI 40degree chamber. To my knowledge they have been used once on my Encore barrel. I have posted how I form the brass - it is a little bit of a challenge.

[skeettx]

Depends on your age and tolerance to recoil.
The older I get the less recoil I appreciate.
Factor that in
Mike

[444ttd]

Depends on your age and tolerance to recoil.
The older I get the less recoil I appreciate.
Factor that in
Mike

i have a tc encore with a 23" mgm heavy factory barrel in 444 marlin and 500 linebaugh. the 444 and a 300gr fn gc with 2400/dacron goes 1624fps and the 500L and a 450gr lfn gc with hs-6 goes 1235fps. my shoulder doesn't like recoil. the 30-40 krag with 165gr ranch dog and h4198 goes 1930fps, its like a powderfluff to me. my 9.3x57 with 280gr fn gc and 40.0gr of 4895 is about all my shoulder will take. i didn't have a chrony but i GUESS its going 1800 - 1900fps?

[Speedo66]

Why not stick with the original 6.5, the 6.5x55 Swede? Great hunting cartridge, great long distance target round. Relatively low recoil.

And if you can find a Norwegian Krag, it will already come chambered in that cartridge.

[444ttd]

thank you all for all the opinions, but i am going with the 405 jes.

[cwtebay]

thank you all for all the opinions, but i am going with the 405 jes.Yeah!!! Hoping report and pictures when you're done!

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[444ttd]

it will be a couple of years down the road. when i'm done finishing the 98 mauser stock, then its 93 mauser(my son's soon to be) rifle. then its a 22 hornet in 1898 spr armory and i'm debating if it will be a 95 mauser or a 405 jes(1898 spr armory). then i'll have time to do another 93 mauser in 257 roberts.