Char-Gar
03-24-2006, 04:36 PM
It was a clear, sunny, still 50 degree day here in Deep South Texas and going to the range seemed to be the order of the day.
My last time at the range the accuracy of my old Krag went South and I was concerned. I gave it a good cleaning and wanted to see it that did the trick. I thought it would be good time to play with other rifles in 30-40 as well.
I loaded 311467 U (.309), 311467 (.311), 311407 Mod. (.311), 311407 Mod. (.314) and 311291 (.314) over the magic load of 16/2400
FIRST up was my 1895 Brownchester levergun. I shot the .311467 U sized .309 and a standard 311467 sized .311.
The undersize bullets cut the nicest round five shot groups at .9" you ever saw. Time and time again. When I switched to the same bullet from a different mold at .311 the groups opened up to 2.5". Smaller is better in this rifle.
SECOND up was my 1901 vintage Krag sporter. The 311467 and 311407 Mod when sized at .311 produced the expected 1.0 - 1.2" groups.
When I switched to the 311407 Mod and 311291 at .314 the groups shrank to .5 to .75" , just about half of the .311 groups.
THIRD up was my 1895 vintage Krag sporter. The results were just the same as Krag #1, except all groups were about .25 larger. This rifles has always shot well, but not quit as well as Krag #1.
When it comes to the Krags with worn throats...bigger IS better.
I don't think any of this proved anything we don't already know, but it is nice to have things verified on the target from time to time.
Now a couple of incidential observatons and/or comments
1) The brass was FA 11-06 for the Krags and 1920's vintage WRA for the levergun. Hundred years old brass in hundred you old Krags just seems right.
2) I am beginning to belive there might be something magic to the 16/2400 charge. It is turning in steller performance in the 30-06 and 30-40 rounds thus far.
3) Anybody want to SWAG the velocity of the 16/2400 loads in the Krag? I am guessing around 1,700 fps.
4$ I shure would like to find some top quality crisp light triggers for the Krag rifles. I have polished contact surfaces and cut the spring and things are better, but still far from having a truly good tigger on these rifles.
5) 311407 outshot qll the others in the Krags. Makes feller poud, when one of his chilern do well.
Das all....
My last time at the range the accuracy of my old Krag went South and I was concerned. I gave it a good cleaning and wanted to see it that did the trick. I thought it would be good time to play with other rifles in 30-40 as well.
I loaded 311467 U (.309), 311467 (.311), 311407 Mod. (.311), 311407 Mod. (.314) and 311291 (.314) over the magic load of 16/2400
FIRST up was my 1895 Brownchester levergun. I shot the .311467 U sized .309 and a standard 311467 sized .311.
The undersize bullets cut the nicest round five shot groups at .9" you ever saw. Time and time again. When I switched to the same bullet from a different mold at .311 the groups opened up to 2.5". Smaller is better in this rifle.
SECOND up was my 1901 vintage Krag sporter. The 311467 and 311407 Mod when sized at .311 produced the expected 1.0 - 1.2" groups.
When I switched to the 311407 Mod and 311291 at .314 the groups shrank to .5 to .75" , just about half of the .311 groups.
THIRD up was my 1895 vintage Krag sporter. The results were just the same as Krag #1, except all groups were about .25 larger. This rifles has always shot well, but not quit as well as Krag #1.
When it comes to the Krags with worn throats...bigger IS better.
I don't think any of this proved anything we don't already know, but it is nice to have things verified on the target from time to time.
Now a couple of incidential observatons and/or comments
1) The brass was FA 11-06 for the Krags and 1920's vintage WRA for the levergun. Hundred years old brass in hundred you old Krags just seems right.
2) I am beginning to belive there might be something magic to the 16/2400 charge. It is turning in steller performance in the 30-06 and 30-40 rounds thus far.
3) Anybody want to SWAG the velocity of the 16/2400 loads in the Krag? I am guessing around 1,700 fps.
4$ I shure would like to find some top quality crisp light triggers for the Krag rifles. I have polished contact surfaces and cut the spring and things are better, but still far from having a truly good tigger on these rifles.
5) 311407 outshot qll the others in the Krags. Makes feller poud, when one of his chilern do well.
Das all....