I went to my dads yesterday, and we were talking about guns as usual. He said he had a rifle to show me. It was a 30-40 Krag that my grandfather had handed down to him. I had never seen one before. Upon examining it I realized it's cool as hell. The way you have to load the ammunition is neat. I'm looking forward to shooting it. Anyone else have, or like these awesome rifles?
30-40 Krag
- Thread starter Machete
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B.D. Turner
Member
One of the best bolt actions ever made no doubt.
I have one 1898 Krag, and it is a beautiful, graceful, long rifle.
Accurate as heck, always turns heads at the range.
Also, once you shoot a Krag, all other bolt actions feel like they have sand in them--it's that smooth.
How about some pics?
Accurate as heck, always turns heads at the range.
Also, once you shoot a Krag, all other bolt actions feel like they have sand in them--it's that smooth.
How about some pics?
JNewell
Member
Lots of good things to say about the Krag and only a few bad. The only real bad is that they are definitely not suitable for high pressure loads. For those of us whose eyes have started to get old, the sights can be a little squinty, too, but there is a very slick receiver sight (Redfield, I think?) that mounted without need to drill and tap the receiver. I have one in the "sights" box, but haven't gotten around to trying it (note to self for warmer weather: put this on the list).
The good...lots to mention. The smoothest bolt ever delivered by the hands of man. Beautifully made, literally old-world craftsmanship. Nothing made after the start of WW1 really is on this level. Soft-shooting. Excellent performance on game, if you want to hunt with this cartridge. When you get used to the magazine, it's pretty slick, especially relative to other rimmed cartridge case repeaters - you don't have to worry about correctly staggering case rims. I could go on...take it out and enjoy it. The old 220 grain round nose load which was original issue with these rifles shoots particularly well.
The good...lots to mention. The smoothest bolt ever delivered by the hands of man. Beautifully made, literally old-world craftsmanship. Nothing made after the start of WW1 really is on this level. Soft-shooting. Excellent performance on game, if you want to hunt with this cartridge. When you get used to the magazine, it's pretty slick, especially relative to other rimmed cartridge case repeaters - you don't have to worry about correctly staggering case rims. I could go on...take it out and enjoy it. The old 220 grain round nose load which was original issue with these rifles shoots particularly well.
davek
Member
I've got a beautifully sporterized Krag that's hands down the most accurate firearm I own.
Harry Paget Flashman
Member
I found my 1899 Krag carbine after a 30 year search. Once you've owned and handled one you can realize why they are so hard to come by. No one wants to sell theirs.
JesseL
Member
I've got a lightly sporterized 1896 Krag that was my great-grandfather's. Slickest action I've ever felt. It's lotsa fun to shoot and easy to load for.
davek
Member
Here's mine 
selector67
Member
Bought mine for a $100 a few years ago.
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B. Adams
Member
My dad recently got an antique Winchester marked "30-40 U.S." as "compensation" for legal services. He gotten a few guns that way over the years, but most are crap.
I don't know how it shoots, since it's an antique he's afraid to shoot it. I don't blame him, I'd be scared too. It seems to be in fairly good physical condition as far as scratches and dings go, but the bluing is at about 0%, and we have no idea exactly how old it is. It's engraved all over the receiver, and it's a cool looking gun, but I don't know if it will ever be shot again.
I think I'll start keeping an eye out for one of those bolt action 30-40's though, those things look nice.
I don't know how it shoots, since it's an antique he's afraid to shoot it. I don't blame him, I'd be scared too. It seems to be in fairly good physical condition as far as scratches and dings go, but the bluing is at about 0%, and we have no idea exactly how old it is. It's engraved all over the receiver, and it's a cool looking gun, but I don't know if it will ever be shot again.
I think I'll start keeping an eye out for one of those bolt action 30-40's though, those things look nice.
30-40Krag dude
Member
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im pretty fond of mine as well
Zullo74
member
Davek,
That's the best looking sporterized Krag I've EVER seen!
Mine was just a plain 1898 long rifle built in 1901. I'm STILL kicking myself for selling it 10 years ago. It was in good condition and shot really well with handloads (I still have the Lee Die set). I haven't seen another since!Ben Shepherd
Member
I'm storing one right now for a friend that inherited it. He's not a gunnie at all, and I've almost got him talked out of it.
It's all original. Still has that long old barrel.
It's all original. Still has that long old barrel.
Fosbery
Member
One I remember seeing for sale in the UK:
deerslayer64d
Member
30-40
I have a 30-40-krag that my dad handed down to me , it has the smoothest bolt that I have ever felt on any gun !!! lol after 20+ yrs I shot my first deer with it last year !! its now my goto gun for short brushy shots out to 100yrds, that 180 gr will clear some brush lol . THANKS DAD WE MISS YOU !!!
I have a 30-40-krag that my dad handed down to me , it has the smoothest bolt that I have ever felt on any gun !!! lol after 20+ yrs I shot my first deer with it last year !! its now my goto gun for short brushy shots out to 100yrds, that 180 gr will clear some brush lol . THANKS DAD WE MISS YOU !!!
JNewell
Member
B. Adams, can you describe the rifle? A Winchester rifle chambered for the .30-40 Krag round would probably be marked .30 U.S. Army, if I recall correctly. It is almost certainly a smokeless-era rifle. If a gunsmith's inspection says it's in sound condition, it is probably perfectly safe to fire with factory-level reloads. Also in the category of "if I recall correctly" is that if the rifle is a Model 1895 lever action, it's probably stronger than the Krag bolt action.
Zullo74
member
deerslayer64d,
That's another beauty! Don't EVER sell it! Your Dad will never forgive you. BTW, I miss my Dad too, he'll be gone 21 years this April.
That's another beauty! Don't EVER sell it! Your Dad will never forgive you. BTW, I miss my Dad too, he'll be gone 21 years this April.
deerslayer64d
Member
NOPE IT WILL NEVER BE 4SALE it will go to my boy then his and so on !!!
Zullo74
member
B.Adams,
Here's a web page with some great photos of Winchester 1895 models....
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1895/model_95.shtml
BTW, The 30 US Army (30-40 Krag) was THE first smokeless powder cartridge used in this country and was introduced in 1892. The 30-30 Winchester (30WCF) was the first COMMERCIAL smokeless cartridge introduced in 1895). HTH
Here's a web page with some great photos of Winchester 1895 models....
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1895/model_95.shtml
BTW, The 30 US Army (30-40 Krag) was THE first smokeless powder cartridge used in this country and was introduced in 1892. The 30-30 Winchester (30WCF) was the first COMMERCIAL smokeless cartridge introduced in 1895). HTH
B. Adams
Member
Thanks for the info guys, and that was a great page Zullo. If I remember right, my dad's looks like the sixth one down, "Winchester 1895 Deluxe Engraved Rifle .30 US s/n 31095 mfg 1901 - 28”. It's about the same color, but maybe a little less blue. I do think I remember it saying "Model 1895" or something, but it was marked "30 U.S." with no mention of the word "Army".
Next time I visit my parents I'll take a closer look at it, and maybe take it to a gunsmith for a thorough inspection. It would be a fun gun to shoot if I can.
Ooh, and I'll get some photos too, that would be nice, especially if it's a rare gun. From what I can tell it might be worth a couple grand. I wonder if my dad knows that.
Thanks again for the info.
Next time I visit my parents I'll take a closer look at it, and maybe take it to a gunsmith for a thorough inspection. It would be a fun gun to shoot if I can.
Ooh, and I'll get some photos too, that would be nice, especially if it's a rare gun. From what I can tell it might be worth a couple grand. I wonder if my dad knows that.
Thanks again for the info.
Zullo74
member
B.Adams,
You are correct that the commercial 30-40 Krag was indeed the 30 U.S.
No mention of Army in the designation. Sorry for my blunder.
You are correct that the commercial 30-40 Krag was indeed the 30 U.S.
No mention of Army in the designation. Sorry for my blunder.
JNewell
Member
I think the blunder was mine. There was a twist on how the Krag cartridge was distinguished from the Springfield. Maybe the .30-40 was ".30 U.S." and the .30-'06 was ".30 Army" - except I think there was a third designation in there for the 1903 cartridge as well. I'll look it up and post back here.
10 year ago the Krag was surplus at the gun shows, Try finding a nice one today.
I hate what history says about the gun. It was blamed for the sh*# kicking of the Spanish-American War, They said there was a lac of fire power, due to the Spanish Mauser with the stripper clip.(7X57).
I am still searching for the right one.
We have 12 of them in the safe at the Legion Club for color Guard. We used them up to about 5 years ago for the firring squad. I think i will put it in my will for the Squad to use them for me on "that day"
They are the finest bolt and i love the magazine.
I hate what history says about the gun. It was blamed for the sh*# kicking of the Spanish-American War, They said there was a lac of fire power, due to the Spanish Mauser with the stripper clip.(7X57).
I am still searching for the right one.
We have 12 of them in the safe at the Legion Club for color Guard. We used them up to about 5 years ago for the firring squad. I think i will put it in my will for the Squad to use them for me on "that day"
They are the finest bolt and i love the magazine.
dodge
Member
I have a Winchester Model 1895 and on it is the stamp .30 Army. Mine was made in 1926 and was my father's until he passed away 5 years ago.
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