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Thread: 30-40 Krag to 25 Krag AI

  1. #1
    Boolit Grand Master

    Wayne Smith's Avatar
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    30-40 Krag to 25 Krag AI

    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.
    Wayne the Shrink

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  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    +1 on annealing the necks. As hard as 30-40 brass is to find today, no need to “roll the dice” when fire forming.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master

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

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  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

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    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 the Shrink

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  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Latest attempt

    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.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 20210419_103304_resized.jpg  
    Wayne the Shrink

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  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    25 Krag AI...?

    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

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master

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    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!
    Wayne the Shrink

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  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    405grain's Avatar
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    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.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wayne Smith View Post
    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
    Words are weapons sharper than knives - INXS

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    The tongue is mightier than the blade - Euripides

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by dtknowles View Post
    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.
    Wayne the Shrink

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  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wayne Smith View Post
    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
    Words are weapons sharper than knives - INXS

    The pen is mightier than the sword - Edward Bulwer-Lytton

    The tongue is mightier than the blade - Euripides

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master

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    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.
    Wayne the Shrink

    There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check