30-40Krag

[augois]

Just picked up a Ruger #3 in 30-40 Krag. I have no experience with this cartridge. I currently have a Lee 170 gr FP GC mold. I was wondering if anyone has any positive experience with this boolit in this cartridge, or should I cut to the chase and get a heavier boolit mold?

[Baltimoreed]

Try it and see. What I use in my old worn out 1896 or 1899 Krag is immaterial to what your new modern Ruger might like. But I use Hunters Supply 193 gr gc .312 rnfp boolits. I had a #1V in 25-06. A swell rifle. Good luck.

[lotech]

I've had two #3s in .30-40. I preferred a heavier bullet of around 200 grs. or so, but I'll bet they'll shoot lighter bullets accurately. I can't remember if I ever tried anything lighter than the RCBS 30-180 FN. These are great cast bullet guns.

[Doughty]

I shot a lot of game with my Ruger #3 and the Lyman 311041 at 175 grains. The neck/throat was large in mine. .312 daimeter bullets shot best. I don't know if the Lee mold will cast fat bullets. PCing might help. You can run the pressure/velocity up in the Ruger. Mine liked Reloader 19 the best.

[pworley1]

If that bullet is not what you want I suggest the Lyman 311290. It has worked well in my krags.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I believe Ruger put 1-10 twist barrels on them.
170 will be fine, but your rifle might like something heavier, like the Lee 200gr boolit.

[405grain]

The Lyman #311284 was designed for the use in the Krag. It's a 215 grain gas checked bullet that fits the neck length perfectly. There's lots of load data for it, and it can be "fattened up" easily by powder coating (if that's necessary). I think that you should try some loads with the mold that you have and see how they shoot. If you decide to get a heavier bullet there are lots of choices.

[Rich/WIS]

The Lee 170 gr should work fine, I shoot the Lyman 311291 in my No 3's and they are similar enough to the Lee that it shouldn't matter assuming the bore riding section is not undersized. The 311284 worked well in a Krag sporter that I had but the original Krags were throated for for it. The Ruger throats (at least mine) are a bit short and require deep seating, almost deep enough to put the gas check below the neck. At @ 1600 fps the 311291 has proven as accurate as the rifles are capable of and the recoil is mild enough for pleasant shooting. Try the Lee first, if it isn't doing what you want you can always buy a different mold.

[augois]

Thanks for all of the great information. I loaded some of the Lee's with a couple of different recipes and we will see what happens.

[Lance Boyle]

My first try was 311291 from Lyman, it was OK, a 314299 was better. I never invested in the 311284 krag bullet mold.

[Little Big Oz]

I have a #3 in 30-40 Krag. The Lee 170 works well for me with either 2400 or AA #9. These are powder coated and sized 0.311". 10 shot groups are typically 2.5 inches at 100 yards, 2 inches on a good day.

[augois]

Very good to know....thanks

[lotech]

My first try was 311291 from Lyman, it was OK, a 314299 was better. I never invested in the 311284 krag bullet mold.

I've found the #311284 shot well in .30-40, but the #314299 was a little better and it's also been a more accurate bullet in the .308.

[richhodg66]

I've been shooting quite a few gallery loads with 110 grain cast bullets in a Cimarron High Wall in .30-40 using about 8 grains of 700X, both plain based and gas checks. They are as accurate as I can shoot iron sights at 50 yards, haven't done much with it besides that, but the cartridge will work fine with lighter bullets.

My sporterized Krag really liked the combination of the 311284 and IMR4198.

[augois]

Interesting

[MOA]

I had JES rechamber my 30-30 Handi rifle to the Krag. I wanted a short range thumper in a single shot and the Ruger #3 was a choice, but all of the ones I looked at were too pricey for me. I had the Handi already so it was rechambered. Should be the ticket if it will shoot accurately to 200 yards. using Lyman 311041 and Lyman 311284 molds. Have yet to shoot them yet due to the weather here in Northern Arizona. All load data is from Lyman cast bullet manual. Finished loading them up last week. 60 rounds of each bullet. Used rem 9-1/2 primers, sized to .309, and 20 trains of accurate 5744 in both loads to start with.

https://i.postimg.cc/QdgLDFZR/IMG-20221218-135754818-4.jpg (https://postimg.cc/JshYc4nq)

https://i.postimg.cc/7YFDwvGT/IMG-20221216-133359606.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PPQ0QRMt)

https://i.postimg.cc/vZ5ymPf2/IMG-20221216-134509880.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mPZJXyd7)

https://i.postimg.cc/fy3nQ5MK/IMG-20221216-134327041.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PvkFmWpp)

https://i.postimg.cc/W3YLyxcz/IMG-20221220-121845241-2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/gXhTXSJb)

https://i.postimg.cc/6qsJwnTx/Screenshot-20221211-162724-2.png (https://postimages.org/)

[augois]

Looks good, I loaded some of the Lee 170 gr (more] like 179gr with GC and PC). Haven't had a chance to try them yet.308944

[MOA]

Looks good, I loaded some of the Lee 170 gr (more] like 179gr with GC and PC). Haven't had a chance to try them yet.308944

Should shoot fine. You can play with the OAL an the powder, and charge weight for accuracy.

[Bigslug]

Take a look at the Accurate 31-199D: http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=31-199D

This was designed specifically to fit the case neck and throat of an 1895 Winchester .30-40, so you may need to have Tom massage the various diameters and exact front band location for your specific bore, however, it shoots well in the Winchester and absolutely astounded when some were haphazardly selected (they were cast up and on hand) to use for fireforming brass for my new .30-06 (Ruger Hawkeye):

308971

Loaded in an '06 of course, but you get the idea:

308972

[augois]

Loaded some with 4759, and some with 2400