i got one!

T

tdoyka

New member
my grandpa gave me a 30-40 krag with a box of bullets(winchester 180gr silvertips) and 9 empties. its a springfield armory model 1898 that has been "sporterized"
(meaning a "new" piece of wood) and a 22" barrel. the serial # says that it was born in 1903. all i have to do now is get a set of dies and a hundered brass and i'll be good to go. well, almost good. i plan to go with gas check cast bullets. i (meaning my dad, one handed, thats me:D ) am going to slug the bore. what(have to buy rather than make) gc cast bullets are there that will take a black bear(100-700 pounds)?

i have had a stroke, so the right half of my body doesn't work. maybe in a couple, three years i'll be able to cast my own.:)
 
The Krag is a good candidate for cast bullets.

The original calls for a 220 gr RN bullet loaded to a velocity of 1900-2000 fps. You don't want to load anything hotter as it may crack the lug, but you don't need to.

For jacketed 220 gr loads I use 40 gr of 4350, and for cast bullets (180 gr) I use 26 gr of 5744.

These are safe and accurate loads for the Krag.

The bore of the Krag's is .308. But for cast bullets size to .311. I tried sizing cast bullets to .308 but I got a few keyhole.

Both loads match the Krag's sights.

The Krag is a pretty accurate rifle (assuming the barrel is good).

Way back when, the turn of the century, the Krag had been used to kill every animal on the planet. even elephant and cape buffalo using fmj bullets. And as back up for grizzly/brown bear.

You can get cast bullets to 1800-1900 fps without leading if using gas checks and a good lube (I tumble lube in with the Lee liquid lube).

You wont have any problems taking black bear with your Krag.

If for some reason your barrel is shot, you can get a new barrel from the CMP (civilian marksmanship program).

I use mine in CMP GSM matches and even in three gun. The Krag use to be quite popular, but today its under rated.

I love my Krag, but yours have to be special since its your grandfather's rifle.
 
Krag's

The Krag still showed up in the woods now and again as late as the early 60's, but not too often. They sold to the public through the DCM affordably at some point and were common as blue collar deer rifles. I have a Krag rear sight that came out of my Granddad's house, and my Dad likely took his first whitetail with a Krag in the late 40's (sight likely belonged to it) . I even found a very old spent case in my Dad's things.....kind of stuff as hunters/shooters we hang on to I guess. Never saw the rifle though.

Jeff COOPER liked the Krag, to the extent that handled and shot well it could solve most rifle issues a guy was likely to face. He modified one and wrote about it in one of his commentaries.

As an aside, not to hijack, always thought a Ruger No3 in 30-40 would be a neat carbine.
 
I load 36 grains of imr 4064 behind a 180 grain round nose. it works for me in my Remington Lee as I have never shot stock ammo in it. It only took almost 2 years to find a box on the shelf so I had to buy it.

When loading for the krag remember that the brass is produced in limited runs. Usually runs $67 for 100 so if you can find it you might pick up 200 pieces of brass.
 


this is my 30-40, the pic kinda sucks, i only have my computer, no cell phone pics---i can't talk to good either:)
 
That should work.


If it were me, I'd just run Hornady 220 gr RNs in it. But, if you really want a cast bullet:
Beartooth Bullets offers a 220 gr RN designed for the Krag. (Sized 0.309" or 0.310", but you may be able to get custom sizing for 0.311" if desired.)
Montana Bullet Works offers 180 gr and 173 gr flat nose bullets in two different alloys. (Sized 0.309" or 0.310".)
Western Bullet Company offers a hollow point version of the RCBS 180 gr flat nose (same bullet as Montana BW 180 FN). (0.309" - or 0.310" custom sizing, if you call.)

I would favor the FN or FNHP bullets, since those are all BHN 18+.


I wouldn't drop to 160 gr or less, and I would avoid spitzer designs (if you shoot jacketed bullets). Krags feed quite well and generally don't have issues, but if you are going to run into feeding problems, it will be with light (short) bullets and/or spitzers.
 
Last edited:
I would recommend the Lyman #311284 for a cast bullet in the Krag. It's a 220 gr. round nose that IIRC was designed for use in the Krag. I have that mold and plan to use the bullets in a Browning 1895 replica of the 1895 Winchester in 30-06. I'll most likely load it to Krag velocities.
Paul B.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top