30.40 Krag

[largecaliber]

A few weeks ago I pulled out an old Krag from the closet that I've had since the 70s and decided to clean it up and mount a scope on it. Being a 30.40 Krag it requires a side mount and no where could I find one so I made my own in my little shop and it works great. I really like this old gun and it will take anything in North America. I was just wondering if any of you on the THR have one and how you like it? I think its a fun old gun to shoot but ammo is something you have to wait for until its run once a year unless you re-load which I am now going to do.

 

[Eric F]

I almost bought one in the 80's it had a scope mount on it already,it was a grneric scope and mount. The only reason I did not do it was because the ammo then was expensive and I did not have any way to reload. It was going for 300-400 at the time..........I wish I had bought it now.

 

[rocky branch]

Very fine rifles.
Slickest action made.
They seem to have slid off the raders of newer folks.
They pretty much require hand rolling to shoot.

 

[SaxonPig]

A friend's dad used one for deer hunting when I was a kid. I was impressed with the slick action and wanted one. Couldn't find one at a price I wanted to pay (I was looking to spend no more than $150) until 1992 when I wandered into a show just as I was getting ready to move out of CA. First table had a rather shoddy home "sporterized" Krag. Guy was asking $90. Resisted urge to go for wallet and offered $80. We settled on $85. Found a used set of RCBS dies at another table for $5 and I was in business.

I swapped the stock a few years later. Got this VERY semi-inletted stock (needed a bunch of work to fit) for $100 and did it myself.

I have picked up several others at great prices over the years but friends always talked me out of them at my cost. Not this one, though.

 

[Gordon]

A weaver side mount I pulled of my other wise fine Krag carbine 10 years ago when I got it BTW I spent good money finding the original sights to put on it (actually I put the last design 1902 ones on) as NOTHING looks better and they work pretty darn good even with my OLD eyes!

 

[kragluver]

As you can probably tell from my username, the Krag is one of my favorite rifles. It has by far the slickest bolt throw of any bolt action military rifle. The ability to top off the magazine with the bolt closed is not a feature often found in bolt action rifles. Mine is a cut-down 1898 rifle that once belonged to my grandfather (he did the work -- nice job of it too). It has an over-sized bore, but is a tack driver using cast bullets sized .312. It will hold hunting accuracy with full snort 220 gr loads, but on the target range I use reduced cast bullet loads. The Krag will make you handload, that's for sure I found one of the Redfield "No Drill" aperature sights that were made to fit in the Krag magazine cut-off hole. Its an excellent target sight and I encourage you to look for one. You will occasionally find them on ebay or gunbroker.

 

[alistaire]

Use a Scout Scope (long eye relief) so you can mount it in front of the receiver.

 

[sprice]

I also have a krag

I ruined it though (at least thats what others think) by giving it a camo paint job, I like it because I can always take off the camo. I got it from my grandpa. It is a sporterized carbine model.

 

[bannockburn]

SaxonPig

Most definitely a keeper. Very nice sporter conversion. I took an old Model 1898 that had been a chromed plated parade rifle, stripped off the chrome, refinished the stock, and restored it to its original configuration. One very slick and well balanced bolt action rifle.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Not to rain on the parade,but don't forget the Krag is made of the same steel as low number Springfield's. Keep the pressures down.

 

[lionking]

factory ammo safe to shoot in them?I have this one that I want to take to the range one day but have been reluctant being it is in such great shape.I have factory Winchester and Remington ammo,is that ok to shoot?

 

[kragluver]

Any factory ammo is safe in the Krag. While the Krag was made from the same heat treat process as the low number '03s, the failure mechanism is different. The Krag cartridge is entirely supported in the chamber back to the rim. Blown cases are almost unheard of in the Krag. In extreme cases of over-pressure, the receiver ring may blow off, but it doesn't come back at the shooter. In the Mauser based actions, the last 1/4" or so of the cartridge head is unsupported on the bottom when the shell is chambered. This is typically where a blown head will send high pressure gas down into the receiver and can shatter a brittle receiver. Read Ackley Vol 2 where he tested military actions - the Krags that he tested to failure were surprisingly strong (not so strong as a Mauser-based action though) and the failure modes were not dangerous. Still, the .30-40 is not a cartridge to hot-rod. Stay within book limits and you will be fine.

 

[largecaliber]

Yes, factory ammo is fine for the 30.40, I shoot 180 grain bullets through mine without a problem.

 

[lionking]

excellent thanks