Loading 30-40 Krag today

[Bullseye]

I used up the last of my 180 gr powder coated gas checked flat nose bullets today. I unloaded about 30 or so cartridges last Sunday at the range testing these "green weenies" out.
They were OK but I much prefer they grey lubed 200 grain gas checked that I have quite a few of loaded and still have some bullets to use.

So here I am using Varget all along.
I have to estimate the starting powder load using Varget using these lead bullets. My Lyman 49 lists no 180 gr cast data but does have 173 @ 27.5 and 190 @ 25
I settled for 26 gr Varget to start with these 180 gr cast which is light and so are the results. I'll be glad when they are gone.

I really get a great shooting load with these 200 gr cast bullets and they are loaded with 28.5 gr Varget.
That's on the low side but they are very accurate and fun to shoot 100 yds.

So here's where I scratch my head. I decided to load up a nice batch of Sierra 180 gr round nose soft points. I look in the book and the most accurate load in bold type is the starting load with Varget at 36 gr with the max being 40 gr.

I just don't understand how one cast bullet would have such a lower starting load in the same weight as the factory jacketed is. I have not seen such a spread in my experience for same weight/different type bullets. That is almost 30 % difference.

I checked and double checked and I think my figures are all well within the safe powder ranges.
I stayed low on purpose since the book tells me Varget is most accurate at starting loads.

Anyways, I'm stocked up for Krag with 98 cast and 20 beautiful deer hunting rounds I am rather proud of.

 

[zb338]

Just shoot them. If the bolt doesn't stick in your eye, then you are good to go. (ha ha)

Zeke

 

[Patocazador]

Beauty of a rifle. I've always wanted one to emulate my great uncle who carried one from the Spanish-American War until the Great War.

I milled some brass off the rims of 100 of the .30-40 cases and shortened them to make super strong .357-.44 B&D cases for my Contender.

 

[Bullseye]

Thanks Patocazador, I'd like to have one in original condition but whenever I get stuck in that mode I start looking at trapdoor springfields and get lost in them.
Cases aren't easy to come by anymore for 30-40 Krag.
Some of mine say Govt or Army. Every now and then a couple split at the neck and are goners Lost two last time out.
If I get a contender, it will probably be in 35 Rem. That is on my wish list ( along with a Schofield Italian and the trapdoor ). Waiting on a deal that I can't refuse.

 

[Ifishsum]

I wish my Krag had a smooth enough barrel to shoot cast boolits...it shoots them good enough but man does it foul something nasty. Apparently my Grandpa and his pop weren't real religious about cleaning...bore looks like a sewer pipe inside but it still shoots surprisingly well.

Brass is indeed getting scarce; luckily I have a bag of new production brass plus a couple boxes of loaded rounds, and the all empties I've fired over the years to play with.

 

[loose noose]

Went to a gun show last Sunday, and picked up 40 live rounds for $65.00, in fact one box was a box of 180 grain boat tail Lubaloy OP. EXP Bullet "Western Super X 30-40Krag". The other box was just Remington 180grn spire point. They shot really well in my Ruger #3.

 

[loose noose]

Went to a gun show last Sunday, and picked up 40 live rounds for $65.00, in fact one box was a box of 180 grain boat tail Lubaloy OP. EXP Bullet "Western Super X 30-40Krag". The other box was just Remington 180grn spire point. They shot really well in my Ruger #3. Can't wait to reload them a little later this week.

 

[mr wack]

If you can find 30-40 brass it's like your birthday and all is good with the world but in times I couldn't I have used 303 Brit brass ran through my sizing die and then a "mild" load behind a heavy 200 gn lead bullet will fire form the brass to the chamber.
Yes the brass is a little shorter than 30-40 but with a long bullet enough to reach the lands it will perform good for any kind of plinking fun.
Brit brass is easier to come by for me anyhow as I have a couple of LE's.
Your Krag could be mines brother cept I have the peep and you have the scope,,, nice rifle..

Click pics ..

 

[loose noose]

Sorry 'bout the double post, I too have a .303 British, and some S&B brass which like I alluded to in a previous post is garbage, (primer pockets too small), not only that I thought the 30-40Krag was .308, and the .303 was .311, I do believe you would have to put a serious crimp on the .303 cartridges in order to keep them from entering the case mouth, and creating dangerous pressures.

 

[mr wack]

Resize the 303 in your krag dies and the necks and shoulders will be very close to the krag cartridge , load your "308's" bullets and fireform the case to your chamber.
No problems seating LRP in the 303 or the 30-40.