Krags making a comeback!

Niederlander · June 02, 2009, 01:12:59 PM

I've noticed a lot more guys have recently aquired or plan to aquire Krags for the forthcoming muster. I love it! The Krag has always been my favorite bolt rifle, and I'm looking forward to seeing a bunch of them in action!

Mustang Gregg · June 02, 2009, 01:55:13 PM

Neiderlander:

Damn!, I sure wish mine would make a comeback.
I swapped it off for a Winchester back in the '70's.

When I occasionally need one, I have to borrow our Chief of Scout's (Col Terry Lane aka Nebraska's Buffalo Bill) Krag.

MG

Charles Isaac · June 02, 2009, 03:18:32 PM

Outstanding observation Mr. Niederlander!

My favorite turnbolt rifle also, but I can not say that it has always been my favorite. As a young boy, I allowed my opinion of the Krag to be skewed by older gentlemen, now long dead, that cited the lack of an ability to clip load and a high trajectory as making it inferior to the Mauser type rifles, thus, a less than desirable arm . I still hear these same complaints to this day, however, I have noticed that whenever these negative opinions are expressed, the outstanding accuracy of the Krag is never mentioned, only the smoothness of its action, causing me to wonder how much actual shooting experience the naysayers have with the Krag.

And if you have noticed a shortage of Krags, I helped to create it!

Niederlander · June 02, 2009, 09:53:19 PM

I used to own two, and thought about buying a third so I could have a proper stack, but then I decided I'd just have to get by with one. I kept my best one, of course. I'm told it hung in a local doctor's office for years, and his son (who sold it to me) said he'd shot several deer with it. Great rifle!

Hunter · June 03, 2009, 06:35:56 PM

I have an 1896 model U.S. Krag rifle that I adore. It is an accurate reliable firearm. It's old as dirt and sometimes I worry about it suffering parts failures while I'm shooting it. I just pray the new regs for marksmanship qualification are posted before I too become old as dirt and begin to have parts fail

If there is anyone here from Michigan please contact me either here, or at my email address Hunter300sav@aol.com God Bless.

Wesley J. Bodine
Member #439
NRA Life Member

Hunter · June 03, 2009, 09:19:13 PM

Many of the Krag's alleged shortcomings are over emphasized, much of which can be explained by our troops advancing on a fixed position where the enemy held the high ground (tactics). The ballistic superiority of the 7mm Mauser (as it was loaded in 1898) is also over emphasized in regards to the issue loads of the day. While it's true that the 7mm Mauser had a slight advantage in trajectory to the 30 caliber U.S. Krag, the heavy 173 grain round nosed FMJ loads used in the 7mm at the time did not posess the magical advantage many are lead to believe. These men were ordered to attack a fixed position, up hill, against a determined well trained enemy. Our troops suffered casualties yet they prevailed.

Bull Schmitt · June 04, 2009, 10:42:50 AM

I have a carbine I bought over 50 years ago for $35.

It is a honey and shoots great.

One weak spot on a Krag is the locking lug on the bolt. Some of the bolts have developed a crack at the locking lug/bolt juncture. If this lets go there is not much to keep the bolt from blowing out of the rear of the action.

If you have a Krag please examine your bolt to be sure it is safe.

Col Bull

Drydock · June 04, 2009, 04:52:15 PM

A point of context as regards the Krag Bolt. This is taken from "Description and rules for the management of the M1892 Rifle and Carbine" Goverment Printing Office, 1894.

Page 27 "The shock of discharge is sustained by the bolts locking lug. This locking lug is fully equal to the strain brought upon it; but in case of its failure the shoulder of the guide rib and the base of the handle, in their respective bearings in the reciever, will successively perform this function of the lug and permit continued use of the piece."

Its interesting to note that the Army considered the arm fuctional even with a failed foward lug. Would I encourage this? HECK NO! But if you have a good bolt to begin with, and stick to the loads the weapon was designed for, there is a signicant margin of safety built into the arm. Please check your bolts, as there were some fools who hot loaded the Krag over the years. BUt there is indeed something to keep the bolt in place should the lug fail.

Forty Rod · June 05, 2009, 10:51:57 AM

If someone wants to reintroduce the Krag action just like the originals, made of modern metals and chambered for either the .30-40 round or suitable others, they'll find me waiting in line for one or two of them.

I can just imagine a classic full Mannicher-stocked 20"carbine with a beavertail cheekpiece built in .243 or .30-40 around a Krag action.

Oh, please don't throw me in that briar patch.

Hunter · June 07, 2009, 01:15:00 AM

Quote from: Forty Rod on June 05, 2009, 10:51:57 AM
If someone wants to reintroduce the Krag action just like the originals, made of modern metals and chambered for either the .30-40 round or suitable others, they'll find me waiting in line for one or two of them.

I can just imagine a classic full Mannicher-stocked 20"carbine with a beavertail cheekpiece built in .243 or .30-40 around a Krag action.

Oh, please don't throw me in that briar patch.

Actually, Pedersoli did make a reproduction Krag rifle and carbine in 1998 for the centennial of the begining of the Spanish/American war