trapdoors in 30-40

[Charles Isaac]

If you read the disclaimer a International Military Antiques (IMA-USA) it states that AL their firearms are sold as "NON-Shooters"/Wallhangers ONLY...

Oh yeah, I read that-Ha Ha! The fine print! That was quite a find, all the antique British equipment they saved, wasn't it!

Most of the stuff I have was sold as "non firing" or "for parts only, not to be assembled into a working firearm"

[Charles Isaac]

           FWIW, the Marine Corps never liked the Krag........

        No wonder these guys look so mean and pi$$ed off!

[Niederlander]

FWIW, the Marine Corps never liked the Krag but it sure was an improvement over the "muzzelfuzzels".

Sir, I don't doubt what you say, but could you give the source or sources for that statement?  Thanks!

[Charles Isaac]

For me, I can only go by my experience with Marines and rifles and knowledge of the era as to what those guys liked or not as far as the Krag and it's value as a combat rifle. Issue chargers that held all 5 cartridges for faster loading would be nice. But otherwise-what's not to like!

You know, I own both types of arms, the full length Krags and it's nemesis, the full length cock on closing Mauser.  If it's a choice between the two, the chips are down and I gotta start throwin' lead-I'm grabbin' the Krag!!!

[Pitspitr]

Issue chargers that held all 5 cartridges for faster loading would be nice.

Actually, I've loaded my krag side by side with 1903 shooters using stripper clips, and I was faster.

Given a choice between stripper clips and a double row mills belt, I'll take the mills belt. It does take a little practice though. You should watch Drydock sometime!

I'm convinced that most of the negative Krag comments were completely political.

[Charles Isaac]

Actually, I've loaded my krag side by side with 1903 shooters using stripper clips, and I was faster.

Given a choice between stripper clips and a double row mills belt, I'll take the mills belt. It does take a little practice though.

Ooo! Ooo! Pvt. Issac will play!  "Charger" loading VS "handful of cartridges and gravity" loading! You Colonels be bitin' off more than you can chew! This was proven through testing over a hundred years ago. Hey, we can just recreate some history!




Untill then, watch this guy with a Norwegian Krag charger-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK8fSVuxVaU

You should watch Drydock sometime!

Ha Ha! You know I've watched Colonel Drydock run a Krag-watched real closely!   WooHoo!!! 

[Drydock]

Frankly, if pure speed of reloading was the crucial factor, I'd want a Mannlicher bloc clip action.  Probably one of the reasons those marines grabbed those 88s.  (The Lee Stripper clip is a PIA.  Y'know, I've stripped off so many thousands of rounds of 5.56 into M-4 magazines, and no 2 of those clips acted the same.  Same with Mauser and Lee Enfield clips.  At least with the Mosins the interrupter meant I didn't have to worry about stacking the rims)

If you know your SYSTEM (Krag, Mannlicher, Mauser, etc) and are willing to work with it, they're all good.  I like Krags myself.  As for the Marines and the Krag, I suspect, like so many things, it just depends on who you ask. (or whose letter you read)  Certainly they liked it better than the Lee.  Though the Lee, like the 03, has drifted into the haze of Legend . . .

I can load a Krag pretty fast.  But when it comes to shooting one, I bow to the Legend of Sgt Isaac.

[Pitspitr]

I can load a Krag pretty fast.  But when it comes to shooting one, I bow to the Legend of Sgt Isaac.

Amen!

[Pitspitr]

Pvt. Issac will play! ... Hey, we can just recreate some history!

We'd love to have you!

[Charles Isaac]

I can load a Krag pretty fast.  But when it comes to shooting one, I bow to the Legend of Sgt Isaac.

OK I'm blushing-and quit promotin' me! From Private to Sergeant in one thread-Gee!

But that single loadin' thing. You could have loaded those M-4/M16 mags with single rounds-that gets old real fast!

The Krag is the BEST loose cartridge loading rifle far as I'm concerned. The smoothness, ergonomics and sights do a lot to make up for the loose cartridge loading.

[Niederlander]

Ahhhh, you gamers!  I can't load a Krag overly fast, but I shoot slow!

[pony express]

Charles, don't forget that for the game we play, things have evolved somewhat in the last few years. We don't have many "stand and deliver" stages anymore. It's all move and shoot, which reduces any speed advantage that the charger loaders may have. Shoot a couple rounds, then top it off as you're moving to the next shooting spot. For doing that, the Krag beats them all. Mauser type, not too bad. Mannlicher packet loaders, forget it, unless you want to eject partially loaded clips all the time, just to load a fresh one. And for my old tube loader Lebel, I leave the Magazine cutoff engaged while I'm walking and shooting one's and twos, when I come on a bunch of targets, flip it off and shoot from the magazine, the way it was designed.

[Drydock]

"OK I'm blushing-and quit promotin' me! From Private to Sergeant in one thread-Gee! "

We Colonels can do that y'know.     

[sail32]

I agree with Drydock that the Mannlicher clip is the easiest and fastest to reload of the various clips and chargers.

I like the Swiss cardboard chargers as the best of the chargers for reloading.

The Lee-Enfields chargers were easy to use but the Mosin Nagant chargers were a pain.

The US did experiment with a charger system for the Krag.

The chargers guides were on the rear of the magazine and the chargers only held the rims of the cartridges, similar to a Mauser charger.

I could not find a web picture.

[Charles Isaac]

The US did experiment with a charger system for the Krag.

The chargers guides were on the rear of the magazine and the chargers only held the rims of the cartridges, similar to a Mauser charger.

I could not find a web picture.

Google Parkhurst Krag

[Charles Isaac]

Shoot a couple rounds, then top it off as you're moving to the next shooting spot. For doing that, the Krag beats them all.

Hmmmm, now let me see here................this course of fire was designed and set up by people that shoot...........................what kinds of rifles?

Oooo! I remember now!!..................................KRAGS!!!


But when I talk about the clip/loose rounds thing I'm speaking of the system and it's value as a combat weapon. The GAF shooting is great stuff though and I view it as much more than a game. For me it's a pilgrimage.

And really, loading a Krag from the prone position gets kinda weird sometimes.

[Drydock]

This years winner: MLE. 

Last years winner: Martini-Henry/Snider  (this was also the year my son won the regional with a Mosin-Nagant)

Previous years winner: Trapdoor Springfield

Pony is a little too modest, he's set fast time on several Skirmish runs with his Lebel.  We've found that skill in target acquisition and the ability to hit at longer ranges is more important than rifle design.  You need to get out here Charles, I think you might be surprised at how this works.

[Niederlander]

The ironic thing was that we initially thought we'd have to protect the Krags because we'd all read how slow they were compared to clip loading Mausers.  In reality I think the Krag is faster to reload if you know what you're doing with it.

[cpt dan blodgett]

If you are skilled the Krag can be loaded quite quickly with 5 rounds in hand.  The real time eater is the pulling from the mills belt loops

[Pitspitr]

If you are skilled the Krag can be loaded quite quickly with 5 rounds in hand.  The real time eater is the pulling from the mills belt loops

With a double row mills belt you can usually grab 5 at a time so it isn't that slow.