30 40 krag Sporter
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Jim Watson
Member
The DCM and NRA did not sell Krag SPORTERS, they sold made up carbines. The carbines were selling much faster than rifles and with fewer on hand, so the DCM got Benicia Arsenal to alter rifles to carbine length.
Most if not all had real carbine stocks, not cut down rifle wood. There must have been a bunch of spares left over when the 1903 came in.
A collector might spot some oddities in sights and trim but the common identifying feature is a 1903 front sight. That somewhat clunky barrel band affair is hard to miss in comparison with the neat base and blade of an original Krag front sight.
If yours has Redfield and Weaver sights, it is an aftermarket sporterizing job. They might have started with an NRA carbine, no way to tell for sure.
Most if not all had real carbine stocks, not cut down rifle wood. There must have been a bunch of spares left over when the 1903 came in.
A collector might spot some oddities in sights and trim but the common identifying feature is a 1903 front sight. That somewhat clunky barrel band affair is hard to miss in comparison with the neat base and blade of an original Krag front sight.
If yours has Redfield and Weaver sights, it is an aftermarket sporterizing job. They might have started with an NRA carbine, no way to tell for sure.
RPRNY
Member
Not a CMP Sporter or carbine (Nov 1896, Model 1896 Rifle), BUT, I finallly have a rifle and photo able to rival SP and I'm not passing up the chance!!!! 
Somebody did a good job on this one @ 1964? Fajen stock, reblued, a nice new true .308 barrel, reblue, trigger lightened, scope safety and a good job of blanking the mag cutoff shaft. I really love this rifle.
Somebody did a good job on this one @ 1964? Fajen stock, reblued, a nice new true .308 barrel, reblue, trigger lightened, scope safety and a good job of blanking the mag cutoff shaft. I really love this rifle.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
My understanding is that the Krag receiver is limited to 40,000 psi because of the single-lug bolt. That would mean down-loading somewhat with a .308.
Jim Watson
Member
One hopes that he means a true .308" groove diameter barrel, still chambered in .30 Army. Period barrels had rather wide swings in dimensions.
Munging up the magazine to handle another case shape would be a major project not even considering the chamber pressure.
Munging up the magazine to handle another case shape would be a major project not even considering the chamber pressure.
RPRNY
Member
Yes, a true .308" diameter as opposed to the .309 -.311 barrels the Springfield Armory managed to turn out. It remains chambered for the .30 US, aka 30-40 Krag.
AK103K
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- Dec 27, 2002
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This is my second Krag. My dad picked it up for $10 back in the 70's from a boy we were staying with one hunting season. It was a tad rougher then than it looks now, as it was neglected for years in a corner and not cared for. My dad didnt do anything with it either, and basically put it in a closet, where it sat until his death last spring. Ive since replaced the stock with a cut down rifle stock I got off EBay for $35, as well as the front barrel band, and tried to clean it up a little. Basically just steel wool and oiled the rust spots and that was it. It appears to have been a cut down rifle, that had the rear sight removed and a Pacific rear apeture sight fitted in the mag disconnect slot (the disconnect has been removed. Front sight is an aftermarket '03 type that slips on and is secured with a screw.
I loaded up a couple of boxes of .30 150 grain FMJ's I use for my 30-06's and .308's, and went to the range to see just how bad the years had been to it.
This was my first target at 25 yards, 10 rounds offhand, just stroking the bolt and firing. The one at 8 o'clock on the edge of the black was the first round, and was me and I called it. 8 of the next 9 went into about an inch, with one back down at 8 o'clock that I didnt call. I figured right then Id keep it.
My first Krag was another "carbine" I picked up at 14 from a friend for $15, three boxes of ammo included. It was in very good shape, and had a folded sheet steel peep fitted to the bolt, an '03 front sight (not an aftermarket), and its stock was an original carbine stock with a steel plate fitted where the saddle ring was. It looked very much like the one above, just in a lot nicer shape. I gave it to my younger brother when he turned 12, and he still has it.
I loaded up a couple of boxes of .30 150 grain FMJ's I use for my 30-06's and .308's, and went to the range to see just how bad the years had been to it.
This was my first target at 25 yards, 10 rounds offhand, just stroking the bolt and firing. The one at 8 o'clock on the edge of the black was the first round, and was me and I called it. 8 of the next 9 went into about an inch, with one back down at 8 o'clock that I didnt call. I figured right then Id keep it.
My first Krag was another "carbine" I picked up at 14 from a friend for $15, three boxes of ammo included. It was in very good shape, and had a folded sheet steel peep fitted to the bolt, an '03 front sight (not an aftermarket), and its stock was an original carbine stock with a steel plate fitted where the saddle ring was. It looked very much like the one above, just in a lot nicer shape. I gave it to my younger brother when he turned 12, and he still has it.
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