The 30-40 Krag, back at the range:

[Pirate69]

I only have one 30-40 Krag. It is a custom rifle from Johnson Automatics. I picked it up from a Pawn Shop and shot it a few times with reloads. It shot great. I then started to research its history. Below is a post from Ed Johnson, who is Mel Johnson's son. Have not shot it since then.
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Posted October 18, 2009 · Report post
Very nice photos. It would appear that this would have been a conversion of a Springfield Armory 30/40 Krag action with Springfield rear sight plus new custom stock with pad plus tapered barrel....I think you said 30:06?.....and blued components with new front sight...maybe Lyman?
It would have probably been a custoer's rifle conversion, done by my Dad's factory and not the subsequent "associates" group. Not sure of value but it would be pretty rare....call it perhaps a "one of a kind."
Ed J
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Pictures and other information can be found at:

Forums - Johnson Rifle Site Bulletin Board (johnsonautomatics.com)
https://johnsonautomatics.com/messageboard/

By the way, it is chambered for the 30-40 Krag round.

[Shiloh]

Krags seem to be made for cast boolits.
So many reports of them shooting well with cast.

Shiloh

[WILCO]

Krags seem to be made for cast boolits.
So many reports of them shooting well with cast.

Shiloh

I've heard the same things too.
So much magic in a Krag rifle.

[ttd444]

the 30-40 Krag held the bull elk record for years


https://www.boone-crockett.org/adven...lds-record-elk

https://throughahunterseyes.com/the-...c-proportions/

[BrentD]

There are a fair number of posts extolling the virtues of the 311284 bullet at 100 yds or less, but I don't see anyone shooting at 200 or beyond. I have found good accuracy with this bullet at 100 yds, or at least not horrible accuracy, but at 200 yds, it will not hold the paper, and sometimes not even the backer. That indicates, to me, that the bullet is unstable. I'm experimenting with a shorter bullet (311291) and having better success, but the jury is still out on this one. 16.5 gr of 5744 seems to work well, however, but I have yet to plot it at 200.

Anyone load developing and shooting 200+ with these rifles in a serious fashion? I'd be interested to see the results.

[Barry54]

Hmm. I came into a bulk pack of new 30-40 brass and was thinking about listing it for sale. All this talk about shooting cast so well makes me think I should look for a rifle instead...

30” barrel? I bet that’s really quiet with a round ball load!

[Tedly]

There are a fair number of posts extolling the virtues of the 311284 bullet at 100 yds or less, but I don't see anyone shooting at 200 or beyond. I have found good accuracy with this bullet at 100 yds, or at least not horrible accuracy, but at 200 yds, it will not hold the paper, and sometimes not even the backer. That indicates, to me, that the bullet is unstable. I'm experimenting with a shorter bullet (311291) and having better success, but the jury is still out on this one. 16.5 gr of 5744 seems to work well, however, but I have yet to plot it at 200.

Anyone load developing and shooting 200+ with these rifles in a serious fashion? I'd be interested to see the results.

I find that #311284 I can generally get about 6" extreme spread group off a bench at 200yds , 1898 sporter with an old Redfield no drill peep . So , 3 moa ? My load is #311284 sized to .311" w/Hornady GC , Alox lubed , ACWW medium crimp over 22.5 A5744 or Shooter's World Buffalo Rifle , Lovex D0 060?

[BrentD]

3 MOA is definitely better than I am getting at 200, but I would like to be closer to 1.5 MOA. I do not see a reason why that is infeasible.

[littlejack]

Teddy
Good numbers sir. I have the same Redfield sight on my 1898 , model 1903 manufacture Krag. The barrel on mine has been cut back to 25". I've playing with the 311284 boolit for a good few months now. I've been using H4227,
H4198, and Re-7. Shoots best with those powders at around 1400+ fps. I've been lubing with NRA 50/50, and now am doing some testing with powder coating same boolit.
Question: What type/style target are you using at 200 yard. Are you using white against black, or black against white, or other types of targets? With my aged eyes, for me the type and color of the target is important with the sight I have. My rifle, with my loads, will shoot inside a ping pong ball at 50 yards. Sometimes smaller.

[Krag 1901]

I have a sporter'd 1901 carbine I bought in a pawn shop for $75 back in the '70s, because it had a Redfield no drill sight on it. A few years ago I put a new Criterion barrel on it because the old barrel was pretty ratty, though it shot well. However the new barrel hasn't done much better than the old one. It is easier to clean and doesn't lead up.
I've found that the 314299 shot very well in it sized .310". But for a lighter load the Lee 312-165-2R shoots rather well. H4198 and RL-7 will get it over 2000 fps easily and has X ring accuracy when I can see and shoot well enough. The Lee bullet has the right nose profile to fit the throat well and lubed with Alox has no leading with ACWW alloy. I also have the 312-155-2R which works well in my .308 but not worth a darn in the Krag.

I have found that 40.0 gr H414 worked very well with heavy bullets, but maybe with Jacketed best.

+1 for a six o'clock hold at 100 yards, adjusted for 3" high on a 6" bull puts it in the X ring and dead on at 150 yards with my cast loads.