Care and feeding of the Krag

[pony express]

As long as you didn't "bell" the case mouth as you would for cast bullets, then you probably don't need to crimp. I don't crimp rifle most ammo, other than if it's for a tube magazine rifle like 30-30.

[Niederlander]

I've always used the Lee factory crimp die on both jacketed and cast bullets in my Krag "just because".  You can probably do without it if you have good neck tension.

[1961MJS]

Thanks

I'll shoot a few with a full magazine and see if they get bopped on the head and set back or not.  I made 7 too many of the 40 grain IMR4350 loads.  The worst one took 7 raps on the Lyman bullet puller, the easiest took 3. 

Later

[Pitspitr]

I don't crimp my bottlenecks, but that's just me.

[1961MJS]

Hi

The PLAN was to go out and do some load working today, but it was windy.  Anyway, I think I worked out the pedigree on my Carbine.  This is an 1896 Krag Carbine.  The receiver is labeled "1896 SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 35xxx.  This serial number indicates that it is a Carbine made during June of 1896.  The Table on Serial numbers also states that Carbines in that range may have been used for ammunition testing.  It looks just like the pictures in Joe Poyer's book, but it doesn't have a Saddle Ring.  This could be because the carbine was built to use in ammunition testing, so they didn't put on the Saddle Ring.  This carbine has a Type 2 Barrel Band.  The cartouche is JSA 1896 and is shaped like the picture in the book.  There is a U and a P (for Proof) behind the trigger guard.  The toe of the stock is rounded off as per this era of Krag.  The wrist of the stock from side to side is 1.520 inches, but it should have been either 1.8 inches or 1.685 inches.  I'm probably measuring the wrong place.  The book says that the1896 Carbines were refurbished and got re-stocked in 1900.  It appears that this carbine was not restocked (JSA 1896) but did have an 1896 rear rifle sight added instead of the carbine sight.  The base is calibrated from 300-600 yards and the leaf is calibrated from 700 to 1800 yards.  The grind marks show that it is a Type 1 or 2 rear sight.  This was just under $1000 out the door including a new Extractor, magazine spring, and cleaning rod from a second vendor.

The only current fault I have with it is the Safety.  It WORKS, but it doesn't go all of the way over from Left to Right.  The Safety goes from 0 to about 95 or 100 degrees and stops.  I had it apart and cleaned EVERYTHING again, but must have missed something.  The safety is ON at about 45-60 degrees somewhere.

Later

[TomcatPC]

Great!  After seeing this, I now want to find a Krag!  Most people in my generation are into the AR-15 craze and here I am wanting rifles from the turn of the 20th Century! 
No, seriously a Krag has been on my wanted list for a while now.  Maybe not the top one of the list right now, but more interest is growing.
Anyway, new here and just wanted to comment.
Mark

[Baltimore Ed]

My 1899 Constabulary/school rifle is one of my favorites. The bayonet's dated 1899 too.

[Pitspitr]

Great!  After seeing this, I now want to find a Krag!  Most people in my generation are into the AR-15 craze and here I am wanting rifles from the turn of the 20th Century! 
No, seriously a Krag has been on my wanted list for a while now.  Maybe not the top one of the list right now, but more interest is growing.
Anyway, new here and just wanted to comment.
Mark

Welcome!

If I'd been at the auction my brother was at Saturday, I'd have one for sale. He said there was one there that was in really good shape that sold for only $250

[TomcatPC]

I am so far away from actually actively looking for a Krag, I have other things to take care of first.  Still need to do research and actually get to know a lot more than I do now. 
Given a choice, I think finding a Magazine Lee-Metford/Magazine Lee-Enfield would hopefully be first in line, but that is not written in stone.  But that is a long term goal as well.
I guess this might be one of those "at the right time and place" things?  Meanwhile I'll lurk about here and see what I can learn.
Mark

[1961MJS]

Hi

I went to the range today and shot my 5744 210 grain loads.  I got a LOT of Keyholes from 80% to 100% of max loads.  I have cleaned the barrel out a lot better than my original trys.  The barrel appears to be decently clean.  The barrel and the bullets are the same size (I'll check again tomorrow).  Is it LIKELY that buyng a larget diameter bullet would help this?

Thanks

[Cowtown Scout]

Hi

I went to the range today and shot my 5744 210 grain loads.  I got a LOT of Keyholes from 80% to 100% of max loads.  I have cleaned the barrel out a lot better than my original trys.  The barrel appears to be decently clean.  The barrel and the bullets are the same size (I'll check again tomorrow).  Is it LIKELY that buyng a larget diameter bullet would help this?

Thanks

The first lead bullets I tried in my Krag were not gas checked and they all keyholed. It was suggested that the .30 cal lead bullets would do better with gas checks. So I tried some with gas checks and no more keyhole shots. I've been using 200 grain lead with gas checks in my Krags and they have worked great. Use the same bullets in my 1903s and they work great there also.
Scout
Scout

[1961MJS]

Hi

Unfortunately, that's the same bullets I've been using.  I have a sort of decent load, but will probably miss on the tactical parts of the match.  I stlll have to work a load on the jacketed stuff.

Later

[Niederlander]

Are you loading the lead bullets for the skirmish portions of the Muster?  If so, around 13 grains of Trail Boss under a 200-220 grain gas checked bullet should work just fine.  I personally use the Lyman 220 grain bullet.  I would use jacketed bullets for the long range portion of the Muster, loaded to 2000 fps.  That load should match the sight settings.

[Drydock]

For long range, either the jacketed 220 grain RN Sierra or Hornady, loaded over 40 grains IMR 4350, will shoot to the sights.

For skirmish rounds, fill the case 70% with Trail Boss, under a 180-220 lead bullet, and set the sights to 4.  The bullet should be .001-.003 oversize.  I use a .311 sizer on mine.

[1961MJS]

Hi

Interesting, I tried the Trail  Boss and got crummy groups, but fewer keyholes.  I used 5744, I'll update with the load data in a while.  I found the Trail boss really annoying to load, Oklahoma has wind, even inside and them damn donuts went everywhere.

My 5744 were from 22.7 grains to 27.7 grains of powder using Hornady brass and WLR primers.  The minimum load is 18 grains.

The 26.6 grain loads made what I'm pretty sure was a one inch 4 shot group at 50 yards with a keyholed flyer a foot or so away.

Not sure what to think.  I cleaned the heck out of the Krag before I shot the 5744, but it was dirtier when I shot the Trail Boss.

Later

[Baltimore Ed]

I tried TB and went through a rcbs green powder hopper so fast during my load development that I loaded a few without any powder. But loading a few and then shooting a few I discovered my oops. Luckily I didn't stick any bullets in the bbl.  I'd never gone through a hopper of anything that fast. It IS bulky. 

[Drydock]

I  have found, unless you have a tight perfect bore, with a perfect crown, that you will need gas checks to get decent groups.  My 1895 Winchester musket has such a barrel, and shoots great without the checks. (that rifle was a dumb luck acquisition all around)  All my Krags need gas checks.  With the checks however, they will make nice tight little groups.

[Niederlander]

I decided years ago to use gas checks on all my rifle bullets.  For whatever reason, I could never get plain bases to shoot well.  Just seemed easier to use the checks, as it simplified everything.

[cpt dan blodgett]

I use 11 grains AA2 in my Krag and 03 behind 200 or 210 grain gas checks.

[Galen]

My krag carbine shots about three inches to the right. Any ideas of how to correct?