Reduced load Cast bullets from the Krag

[cpt dan blodgett]

Tried 10 grains of AA 2 behind two different 170 grain flatpoint bullets.  Lost label that came with them but either .308 or .309 as I recall.  Definitely not sized .310.  That much I remember.
First bullets were plain blue lubed 170 grain flat points seated out till just the lube was covered.
1st 3 rounds at 25 yards 2 rounds in one hole about a half caliber out of round vertical.  3d round 1.25 inch high 1/2 inch right.
2nd 3 rounds essentially and equilateral triangle 1.25 inches on a side.

2nd Bullets Bear Creek Molys seated with entire lube groove about .060 out in front of case mouth.  These are sized .310
1st 3 rounds in a slightly Left leaning straight line from bottom to top with approx .060 of paper between each hole.

Both loads printed about 1.75 inches below point of aim at 25 yards.

Moved out to 50 yards and ran the sight forward to the B.  Shot 3 round group nice triangle that a quarter covered.  This printed in the 9 ring at 3 O'clock taking a 6 O'clock hold on a standard military 100 yard bull.  Looked at the sights and notice I had a little right cranked in.  Centered the sights

Do not know how fast this load is, but kinda sounds like a 22.  Cannot be too fast as 10 grains of AA2 sends a 44 mag 180 grain JHP out of a 20 inch barrel at 1419.  The Krag has a lot more case so I am thinking this should be a legal load for GAF.
It sure wants to shoot.


Appears to be pretty accurate in my krag with a new barrel.  I need to find some more of those .310 bear creek 170 grainers

[Sagebrush Burns]

Sounds like you got something good going there - too bad you don't get to have any fun with that Krag...

[cpt dan blodgett]

I did get in a little practice with what will pass for service loads for the Krag (210 grain gas checks) with max lyman manual load of Varget.    All I can say is I need a lot of work to get back into groove.  This stuff was so much easier when the front sight post was crystal clear.  Sometime over the last 15 years the damn thing has grown a coat of fur.

Thinking a little dry firing and position work will help.  Hope to do decently at WR with this rifle

[Niederlander]

Do your rounds feed well from the magazine?  Feeding problems seem to be the primary issue with lighter bullets in the Krag.  If yours feed well it sounds like you have a winner.

[cpt dan blodgett]

They feed ok, but I have them seated way out to help with that.  I am not real fast with the bolt either so that might help.
One of these days I do hope to go shoot with Bow Maker.

[Charles Isaac]

 The Krag I use for cast didn't like feeding the 170gr.

I use "The Load" as advised by Col. Drydock. Upped the load of Trail Boss by 1 grain and used a 215gr .309 of the type cast for a .303 Brit and they work fine. I really do not care for under powered loads, but it was the only option to shoot a Krag in the GAF.

[SGT John Chapman]

Yes this is a 1903A3 and Yes it's 30-06 but if I had/when I get a Krag I'll load it the same.
I loaded 9 grains of Unique with a Lyman #311359 gas checked bullet.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000152660359

Shoots REAL nice.

This is two quick strings of 5 at 50 yds or so..... one of the groups was shot in the film clip.

[G.W. Strong]

Well today I finally found a load my Krag did not like. So far it has liked every thing I have tried. 308 boolits, 311 boolits, heavy charges, light charges--anything I throw at it sticks.

Last night I made up three batches of rounds with identical primers and powder.

One batch was made with a 165 grain flat nosed plain base ranch dog style boolit I use for a Winchester 94 and the rest with my normal 180 grain round nosed boolet form a lee mould. Half of these I used with the gas check and half without. 

The Lee boolits ran equally well and made 2" groups at 50 yards. I could discern no difference with or without the gas checks. However, the lighter bullet would not group anywhere. (I mean anywhere!) I wish my krag liked that boolet because it casts up really easily in its five cavity mold but no such luck. I am going to stay with the same bullet I use in my 1903a3 rifles and leave the gas checks off since it does not seem to make a difference at 50 yards.

[Mustang Gregg]

Sgt J Chapman:

Subject:  .30-40 Krag cast loads

Nice video & groups!!
Years ago, I have used a similar load of Unique in my .308's & .30 WCF's.  But I never had a Krag at the time.  They were accurate and fine out to 100 yds, where they seem to drop considerably more.  I also used a small amount of Kapoc (sp?) to keep the power over the flash hole.

My bullets were not the flat nosed ones, though.  I will find that Lyman mold and post the number.  They weighed in at about 182 grs, I recollect.  I think the data said they weighed 190 gr in #2 alloy, maybe.  Mine were made of straight monotype metal with gas checks and Zambini Rooster Red lube.

I will try to get some loaded for the Krag I got a while back.

Mustang Gregg

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I have tried reduced loads in .30-30, .308., .303Brit., 8 X 58R, and both 7 X 57 & 7 X 57R.  Bullet weight in the .30-30 were both 120gr LEE and 170 gr LEE and Lyman.  For the .303, .308, 8 X58R and 7 X 57s I prefer the heaviest bullets available.  I suspect as the factory bullet in the Krag is heavy, a similar weight bullet would work best.

For rifles I seldom lubrisize.  LEE Tumble-Lube works on any sort of bullet.  Cast checks can be left off if the mv is kept to modest levels.

I have an old Lyman CAST BULLET HANDBOOK which is my guide for these types of load.  I have tried UNIQUE (the classic) but also HERCO as I inherited a lifetime supply, and Universal Clays.  All work similarly.  Charges are between 7 to 9 grains in the .30-30, and usually 11 grains in the larger cases. 

For the Krag the HANDBOOK says the following for UNIQUE;  (Mvs all suggest gaschecks would be optional)
bullet 120gr;   9 to 13 gr
    "    155gr;   9 to 13 gr
    "    173gr;   8 to 12gr
    "    183gr;   8 to 11gr
    "    213gr;   8 to 11gr

Where you might want to use jacketed bullets and cast alternately, there is a problem noted by the Experts at the NRA;  Jacketted fouling and alox lube residue do not mix and require thorough cleaning before switching from one to the other. Years ago when Mike Venturino was a beginning gun writer, I saw an article he wrote about using TEFLON TAPE wrapped around the cast bullet.  Not the thin 1/2 inch stuff sold at a DIY store, but the wider and thicker stuff used by gasfitters.  The teflon does not leave a troublesome residue and rounds can be used alternatively with good results.  The only discernable difference is that mid-range loads usually shoot lower and require a higher sight setting.  With a scope I tend to used the lower post on a duplex reticle at 25 yards - death on rabbits and fool hens.

Maybe there is food for thought in my experience?