Care and feeding of the Krag

[1961MJS]

Hi

I have a Krag question, if this should be its own thread, feel free.

I'd like to get a Krag, either a rifle or Carbine.  I'd like to get a book on the Krag, but with a specific purpose.  I need a book that shows enough detail to be sure I get a FULL rifle or a FULL Carbine and not something that will cost me a lot to bring back to its original state.  Which book would be best for that purpose.  I need to know before the Wannemaker Tulsa Gun show in November 2017.  It's my understanding that the CMP will rebarrell Krags, but for a price. 

Thanks

Mike

[Drydock]

https://www.buymilsurp.com/the-american-krag-rifle-and-carbine-2nd-edition-revised-p-5397.html

Criterion makes the Barrels, they come indexed, most any gunsmith can screw them in.  Get them from CMP or from the manufacturer.  CMP installation is seriously backlogged from what I hear.

[Pitspitr]

Yep, That's The best book i know of

[1961MJS]

Hi Y'all

Headed off to Tulsa Wannemacher show this weekend.  My current nefarious plan is to purchase the first whole 30-40 Krag that has a decent looking barrel.  My plan includes wanting to find a carbine, but as I don't yet own SAM / Philippine Insurrection uniforms, I don't care so much.  Not like I already have a horse to feed.  If memory serves, Carbines are in "short" supply and I don't really think I want a sporterized model.

I have two of the suggested books and have been reading a little.  I"ll be taking both with me.  I'd have shopped gun broker more, but none of the entries had pictures of the bore.

Later
 

[Drydock]

Good luck!  Take a pull thru and some Ballistol.  A lot of bad looking bores are just dirty!

[1961MJS]

Ll see about getting a 30 cal pull through after I get off the range.
Thanks
Mike

[1961MJS]

Hi

I haven't had time for pictures yet, but I managed to purchase a decent, reasonably correct Krag Carbine from 1896 at the Tulsa Gun Show.  The sights are Rifle sights, but I now ALSO own a correct Oiler and cleaning rod for the butt stock.  When I picked it up, it had three of the middle pieces of a Krag cleaning rod.  I also have a replacement hopper spring and an ejector.  Larry Brown out of Indiana is a great Krag guy.  The bore has rifling but it's shallow.  I'm ordering brass, and cleaning supplies for it.  This is my FIRST .30 caliber so I have no brushes, jags etc.

So, Krag Carbine = Philippine Insurrection for Expansion Era right or Spanish American War for Victorian era match right?

More later.

[Drydock]

Yep, Krag works for everything.  Doubt the rifling is "shallow" , might be a lot of copper fouling in there.   Took me a long time to get down to steel in my 1st Krag rifle.  Get some of that foam cleaner, works great.  And a lot of .303 brushes!  I look forward to pictures!

[1961MJS]

Hi again

Full length size or neck size the 30-40 Krag?  I neck size on the other bottle neck cartridge bolt action rifles I own.  I don't own full-length sizing dies for those.

I plan on ordering Oregon Trail 200 grain bullets.  I"m not sure on the powder yet, but I have SOME Trail Boss and loads of 4350.

Later

[Drydock]

I neck size mine.

[Niederlander]

Hornady now makes a really easy to use neck sizing die that's less than thirty bucks.  Works great!

[Baltimore Ed]

I use a .308 sizer die. I'm thinking that I robbed my .310 expander ball from my 7.62x39 die set. Works fine.

[1961MJS]

Hi

I finished reading Foyer's "The American Krag Rifle and Carbine."  I have an 1898 Model built in June 1898.  It lacks a cut out in the stock for the saddle ring, which seems to imply that it was re-furbished in 1902.  It also has an either type 2 or 3 1898 rear sight.  There was very little copper in the bore, but a lot of burnt powder, the rifling seems to be much more distinct after a little cleaning. 

It was suggested that I clean the stock with Hoppe's, it is greasy.  Good idea or not?  How do I find out if this sucker saw any action or not?

Thanks

[Pitspitr]

http://springfieldresearchservice.com/

I full length size my brass but that doesn't mean that's necessary the right way to do it.

[Drydock]

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Midwayusa+cleaning+the+rolling+block+video&view=detail&mid=04373E51EA0FE59101B304373E51EA0FE59101B3&FORM=VIRE

[1961MJS]

I noted that Larry Potterfield mentions that what he was doing won't mess up the collector value of the Krag.  I also noted that the CMP offers re-parkerizing or re-bluing of the Krags.  That's not a good idea right?

Later

[Drydock]

I'm currently building a Krag out of Ebay parts and a Criterion barrel.  That would be a candidate for rebluing.  As would a cut down or sporterized rifle.  If you have an intact Krag, a reblue will affect value negatively.

A parkerized Krag?  *shudder*

[1961MJS]

Thanks Drydock, according to the guy at the Tulsa Show (Krag fixer and parts guy), I have a pretty much intact Krag Carbine.  I hope it shoots as good as it looks.  It has been re-furbished, but in 1902, so no big deal there.

Thanks

[1961MJS]

Hi

I've found .30-40 Krag Brass in Hornady, Remington, and Grafs.  Midway is out of Remington, and Hornady is pretty high.  Is there any reason to get one over the other?  I'm considering using one head stamp for lead and one for Jacketed for consistency.

Later

[1961MJS]

Hi

I bought a box of 32 caliber round ball to swag the barrel on the Krag to see what I should be getting.  I didn't do this right somehow.  I came up with a bore of .299, which is almost certainly mis-measured.  I think I need a fatter ball to start with.  I have .38 Special lead cast bullets, don't know how hard they are.  Is using the .38's (.357) lead bullets to check the bore on a .30-40 Krag a stupid idea or a REALLY stupid idea?

Other better ideas?  Midway DOES sell 0.315 round ball, but I don't see that making a difference. 

Thanks