.30-40 Krag

[uscra112]

I've got pictures of cracked lugs, but the server is currently choking on something and won't let me access them. Will try later.

[alamogunr]

The Krag cartridge is IMHO the finest .30 caliber cast-bullet cartridge there ever was or ever will be.

Sorry to go off topic but this comment on the .30-40 cartridge got me thinking. I've got a 1895 Browning Miroku in .30-40 Krag. Right now it is a safe queen. I've never shot it but have dies and brass. Haven't given much thought to a mold. I have several .30 caliber molds, just not sure which one would work best.

The only reason I bought it was it was different and I understand that .30-40 is not very common in that rifle.

[uscra112]

Almost anything will shoot well in the 30-40. It likes heavy ones. The .311284 was designed for it, and I can testify that even my worst worn Krags liked it. Only modern rifling with narrow lands will upset it, because it's a bore-rider. 311299 is another bore-rider that is supposed to be good in worn barrels. For a while I played with the little 115 grain 311008 (3118) .32-20 bullet for plinking, using 6 grains of Red Dot. (Bullseye would do as well.) In a pinch that would make a usable small game load out to about 50 yards. The Ranch Dog ought to work fine. In all cases size to fit the throat, not the bore.

Here are the cracked bolt pics.

[444ttd]

here are some pictures of 165gr ranch dogs in my krag.



165gr rd with .429" boolits


100 yard groups (bench)




7-10 shots(h4198) are a group. 1-6 shots i was trying to zero my krag

[MOC031]

Sorry to go off topic but this comment on the .30-40 cartridge got me thinking. I've got a 1895 Browning Miroku in .30-40 Krag. Right now it is a safe queen. I've never shot it but have dies and brass. Haven't given much thought to a mold. I have several .30 caliber molds, just not sure which one would work best.

The only reason I bought it was it was different and I understand that .30-40 is not very common in that rifle.

I have an original, stamped "30 U.S.", manufactured circa 1897 according to the collectors. The barrel is so worn or was manufactured so oversize that it has a rifle bore that should be on a .303 British despite the chambering; it's a barn door rifle with jacketed bullets for hunting until I load it with cast bullets of the proper size.

This probably doesn't help nor would fit your modern Miroku's barrel, but these two from Accurate Molds really make my 1895 step up to the plate; maybe a similar design in an appropriate bore size would work in your modern 1895.

[alamogunr]

I have an original, stamped "30 U.S.", manufactured circa 1897 according to the collectors. The barrel is so worn or was manufactured so oversize that it has a rifle bore that should be on a .303 British despite the chambering; it's a barn door rifle with jacketed bullets for hunting until I load it with cast bullets of the proper size.

This probably doesn't help nor would fit your modern Miroku's barrel, but these two from Accurate Molds really make my 1895 step up to the plate; maybe a similar design in an appropriate bore size would work in your modern 1895.

I'll have to look into those two. Accurate should cut a mold to whatever size I need.

My problem is that I start in too many directions and don't do justice to anything.

[MOC031]

I'll have to look into those two. Accurate should cut a mold to whatever size I need.

Indeed. And if you look at the pic, that's exactly what I had him do after I'd done a cerrosafe cast of the chamber/ball seat/leade and micro'd it up. The bullets dropping from the mould are bang on; couldn't ask for better.

The measurements were of a Lee-Enfield chamber, not for my 1895 that has a barrel with bore and groove dimensions that belong on a .303 British, but his moulds drop exactly what I asked for. I'm pretty lucky that the one mould works very well for both rifles of supposedly two different calibers. If my 1895 needed smaller .30 cal bullets, I'd be checking through his catalogue to see what he offered in a .30 cal equivalent like the two above.

[alamogunr]

I looked up the two molds you showed in your post. They are both in his catalog. Number 31-184C differs in his catalog in that the diameter of the driving bands is .311 instead of .315. One other dimension that differs is what may be a bore ride diameter and location on the nose of the bullet. I didn't go any further comparing dimensions. So apparently that mold is available without modification for normal .30 calibers.

The other mold(31-170Y) shows .315 dia. drive bands and other dimensions look the same as your mold. I also didn't compare every dimension for this bullet.

I'm not a bullet designer so I might be inclined to order 31-184C as shown in his catalog if it matched my barrel after a pound cast but not the other since it is beyond my understanding of other dimensions.

[gnoahhh]

Decide what alloy you intend to use before having custom molds cut, and tell the man what the alloy will be. Surprising size differences occur between hard and soft alloys, tin/lead alloys, and alloys containing antimony.

I gave up looking for a better mold for Krags long ago, once I tried good old 311284. Ten or fifteen Krags later, it still cuts the mustard across the board. (How's that for a mixed metaphor?) Granted though, I was never unfortunate to get a Krag with an oversize barrel. (I've heard plenty of tales of woe in that regard but, knock on wood, it never befell me.) The two I currently own are a moot point as they both wear new Criterion barrels, but still the 311284 shines in them.

[Krag 1901]

For lighter boolets the Lee 312-160-2R is excellent in my rifle. The nose is almost a 314299 shape and fits a bit tighter. With 2400 or 4198 it has done well.

[Baltimoreed]

I recently bought a lee C312-155-2R. Is this the same mould? Thinking about pc’ing them but haven’t cast any yet.

[Krag 1901]

I recently bought a lee C312-155-2R. Is this the same mould? Thinking about pc’ing them but haven’t cast any yet.

No, the 312-155-2R is a lot more pointed and does not have the full nose of the 312-160-2R. I have both and find the 155 works well in my .308 but not as well in the Krag. I believe this is due to the lead in the Krag which is made for the heavier boolets. I don't think that you can load the 155 long enough to be as accurate in the Krag as the 160. the 160 has a good BC of .267 as well. Not as good as the BC of the 314299 which has a BC of .377!

The 170 gr ".30-30" boolets seem to work okay as they have a full flat nose and might be a better hunting boolet.

[Baltimoreed]

Thanks 1901. My usual Krag and ‘03 BAMM load uses a 193 gr .311 GC Hunter’s Supply flat point boolit. I thought that I’d do some ‘sperementing with the Lee. Also curious if it would work in a 300blkout I'm trying to get to run.

[444ttd]

try the bull shop. its cheaper than the $60 that hunter's supply is selling you.

https://bullshop.weebly.com/-30-cali...t-bullets.html

[trenches]

When I worked at the shop I snagged a bubba'd krag. looked like someone had stuck the muzzle in the dirt for awhile. The stock had been cut down but nicely done.
Bought it for $75. Cut the muzzle back to good rifling then recrowned it. I refinished the stock with artist grade linseed oil. Removed the piece of 1/4" rubber that was the butt pad and installed a Pachmyr rifle pad. Dog-gone I forget how to spell Pachmyr. Getting old. Also put a picatinny rail on it and long eye relief sight. The old eyes aren't what the used to be. It does have a receiver sight of unknown origin mounted on the cocking knob.
Anyway the rifle loves Hornady 220gr SN bullets. And 200gr. cast ones.
Nice find OP. You'll like that old rifle.
last time I went hunting I carried that old Krag. But didn't see a deer.

[NorthMoccasin]

Try the Lyman 311299 or the NOE clone. Shoots really well in my 1895 Winchester and my Krag sporter.

[DxieLandMan]

You will love the Krag. I bought one and then started reloading for it. Shoots like a tack driver

[Rich/WIS]

Had a sporter that loved the 311284 sized.310. When I thinned the herd it went down the road. Still have two Krags, but they Ruger No 3's that have had the stocks replaced with pistol grip styles, they prefer the 311291 sized .310. As stated the Krag is a really fine cast bullet cartridge.

[bob208]

i have 7 rifles and three carbines and they all shoot the 311299 bullet

[DxieLandMan]

You will love the Krag. I bought one and then started reloading for it. Shoots like a tack driver

Went to the range with my gunsmith yesterday and he could not get over how much he loved shooting it. You will too