Pig Hunter
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What are you favorite bullets and loads for the 30-40 in real US Krags?
30-40 Krag
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rockquarry
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Study at least a couple of load manuals. Lots of good loads. I've had at least a half-dozen Krags, two Ruger #3s, and a Winchester /Miroku 1895, all in .30-40. The Krag is not a stout action with it's single locking lug, but safe and useful jacketed and cast bullet loads can be handloaded for the cartridge.
I seldom fired jacketed bullets in any of my .30-40s as I preferred cast bullets. However, I've seen good accuracy with the 180 grain Hdy. Spire Point and H4831 or IMR-4350, but there are many other suitable bullets and powders. Don't use any "Ruger #3 only" data for the Krag. That data is too hot.
Examine your bolt carefully for any cracks. I've never seen one, but cracks are somewhat common in Krag bolts.
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It is true that the 180 gr round nose has killed a lot of animals in this old rifle.
I used it on my first trip with the 180 gr RN bullet to take a 110 pound Black Tail deer in the St Helina Calif, when I was 20 years old.
It will work on any animal in the US of A if placed right, including big bears
just that I might want enough yardage to get in three shots !!
If you reload it does well with a 165 or 150 gr spitzer with a flat base
and I also enjoy shooting the light 100 gr "Plinkers" from the two companies that make these light bullets.
Just that the rifles design is old and ment for only medium heavy loads
due to the bolts lock up system.
I just love how smooth the bolt is when at a 20 degree angle, and it slides back into the open position.
Enjoy.
I used it on my first trip with the 180 gr RN bullet to take a 110 pound Black Tail deer in the St Helina Calif, when I was 20 years old.
It will work on any animal in the US of A if placed right, including big bears
just that I might want enough yardage to get in three shots !!
If you reload it does well with a 165 or 150 gr spitzer with a flat base
and I also enjoy shooting the light 100 gr "Plinkers" from the two companies that make these light bullets.
Just that the rifles design is old and ment for only medium heavy loads
due to the bolts lock up system.
I just love how smooth the bolt is when at a 20 degree angle, and it slides back into the open position.
Enjoy.
Sierra 220 grain RN, 40.8 grains of H4350, seated to the cannelure or longer (if firing single shot). It makes tiny 150 yard groups and will penetrate any elk you ever met end-to-end.
old tanker
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My paper punching load is a Lyman 311284 over 18 grains of SR4759. At somewhere around 1600 fps it's not too hard on the rifle or the shoulder. Two inch groups out of a hundred and twenty-five year old rifle are pretty good, I think.
rockquarry
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It seems few handloaders cast bullets these days, but the .30-40 Krag cartridge is one that you can get full jacketed bullet velocity when using heavy cast bullets in the 200 -220 grain range. You have to be an experienced caster with a good background in bullet sizing diameters, alloy mixes, etc., but it can be done.
I shoot the same load as old tanker. 18gr 4759 with the 311284 bullet in both my Krags. I just neck size with a Lee .303 collet sizer. My guns like fat bullets, so I size to .312. This load is easy on the gun, and the brass lasts almost for ever. Great for offhand shooting at 100 yard gongs.
Green Frog
Member
Once upon a time I was invited to go groundhog hunting and the only rifle I had available at the time was a sporterized Krag carbine. I grabbed my Lee Loader and a box of 110 grain bullets, Loaded up 20 rounds and was good to go. The only groundhog I shot that day was dragged (live) out of the bushes by my enthusiastic young bird dog by the scruff of its neck and held at bay within ten feet of me. Accuracy at that distance was excellent!
Green Frog
Green Frog
Assuming your Krag is original military version, they fired .310" 220 grain bullets. I shoot both 220g jacketed and lead round nose bullets. Keeping velocities down, not to exceed 2000 fps is very important since this rifle has only one bolt lug. If original, your sights go no lower than 400 yards, so shooting target present a challenge. There is a higher front sight insert available to help get the gun on target at 100 yards.
If you recently obtained the gun, have a gunsmith closely inspect the lug to make sure there are no stress cracks showing up. Remember your head is directly behind the bolt!!! My Philippines War set-up includes a 30-40 Krag, Model 1899 US Army revolver, US Army ammo belt, and bayonet. No documentation exists to know where all those 38 Army revolvers went, but timing was right so maybe a few ended up there.
If you recently obtained the gun, have a gunsmith closely inspect the lug to make sure there are no stress cracks showing up. Remember your head is directly behind the bolt!!! My Philippines War set-up includes a 30-40 Krag, Model 1899 US Army revolver, US Army ammo belt, and bayonet. No documentation exists to know where all those 38 Army revolvers went, but timing was right so maybe a few ended up there.
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OP
Pig Hunter
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While I cast pistol bullets sometimes figuring out the right sizer for my Star lube sizer and finding the best mould and size etc. is more work than I care to do to only shoot my rifle once in a while. Both are sporterized '98s . One was a gift from a good friend and one was a demill I brought back to life. Both bolts are in good shape. I am aware of the 40,000 PSI limit of the action. I want to try some round nose flat base bullets but of course they are all out of stock everywhere I've looked. I have some 180 gr boat tail spitzers I'm going to try. I have an old DuPont manual that shows pressures for the listed loads for 150 and 180 grain bullets and IMR 3031 4064, 4198 and 4350. I have several brands of primers including some Federal 34's. Have any of you noticed loads being sensitive to primer selection. I had read the actions didn't feed spitzer bullets well but they both fed my dummy round smother than the Remington factory rounds I have. Thanks for the responses. All info is appreciated.
My Krag story is that of a reloader with dies, brass, bullets but no Krag to fire.
Obtained an entire box of reloading supplies from a father/son team who were done with hunting and reloading. Got a Pacific press, whole assortment of supplies including all the Krag stuff. Like 100 rounds of unfired brass, dies, you name it. Sits unmolested in the box all these years later.
Had one friend with a Krag but never fired one myself. Oh well, maybe someday...
Obtained an entire box of reloading supplies from a father/son team who were done with hunting and reloading. Got a Pacific press, whole assortment of supplies including all the Krag stuff. Like 100 rounds of unfired brass, dies, you name it. Sits unmolested in the box all these years later.
Had one friend with a Krag but never fired one myself. Oh well, maybe someday...
rockquarry
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I've yet to run across any bolt-action rifle (Krag and '98 Mausers included) that wouldn't reliably feed spitzer bullets, but maybe there are exceptions.
rockquarry
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I sold all my Krags and other rifles chambered in .30-40. I can't say I miss any of them, but like so many other rifles I've gotten rid of, I enjoyed them for a long time. With the .30-40 rifles, I gained a lot of much-needed cast bullet experience and even shot a couple of deer with cast bullet loads.
Both my Krags are sporterized. One's a carbine, with a Rice aperature sight, and the other is a rifle, with a shortened to 26" barrel, and a side mount scope. They were that way when I aquired them.
The best full power load, according to the guys at the Krag Collectors Forum, is 40.0 gr 4350, and a 220 Hornady RN bullet. The guys over there compete with that load in military rifle matches. Duplicates factory ballistics. Do not excede 40.0 grains, as you are pushing your luck on cracking the one locking lug. As with any load data, no matter the source, start low and work up.
The best full power load, according to the guys at the Krag Collectors Forum, is 40.0 gr 4350, and a 220 Hornady RN bullet. The guys over there compete with that load in military rifle matches. Duplicates factory ballistics. Do not excede 40.0 grains, as you are pushing your luck on cracking the one locking lug. As with any load data, no matter the source, start low and work up.
old tanker
Member
An old Army buddy of mine has a 95 Winchester with a Lyman #21 aperture sight in .30-40 Krag. His favorite hunting load is 215 grain paper patch bullet over a moderate charge of Reloader 19. By all accounts, it kills well with several deer, and a two elk to its credit. He cites the cartridge's long neck as ideal for cast bullets, and I agree.
Here is my Krag carbine. I made up a scout setup, with a Leupold 2x scope. I have the Rice sight on it, but my eyes have trouble with irons now, so I recently added the scope. I made a mount using a Weaver base, for a Mossberg shotgun, contouring it to fit the taper of the barrel. I used the existing two mounting holes that attached the rear sight, to secure the mount. It's a handy setup. Makes ringing the 100 yard gongs much easier now.
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Targets Guy
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I've shot this rifle since 1968. It is the only ammo I have ever used in it and it is getting harder and harder to find.
I've shot this rifle since 1968. It is the only ammo I have ever used in it and it is getting harder and harder to find.
Yet another reason to use this Forum's service to post your images??? This is where link leads me now on my computer.
