Plated bullets in Krags?

[Lord Eoin MacKenzie]

Has anyone tried the 200/ 220 grain Berry's bullets  in a Krag?  Since I am getting stir crazy.   I have Krag reloading gear coming in.   Or what would people suggest  for bullets and or loads.   I have Trail Boss, Red Dot, Unique, and  Herco.
I am looking for a 100 yard load (for when the ranges open again, LOL.

[Galen]

while we're on the Krag, how about a 100grn bullet load?

[pony express]

I didn't know they made a .30 cal bullet that heavy. Everything I've read on them says use the same data as for cast of the same weight. I'd probably start with 10-11 grains TrailBoss. I use 11.5 with a 185gr cast GC. There should be data out there for Unique or Red Dot, I haven't seen any data for Herco, but it should be possible.

On Berry's website, they list maximum recommended velocities for their bullets. I've used them in .30 Carbine with standard jacketed level loads with H-110 with no fouling, and recovered bullets showed no sign of "stripping" the rifling. According to the manual, those loads should have been traveling 1900fps or better.

[Delmonico]

If you don't find data for the other powders in a few days message me, I have an older Lyman Cast bullet manual.  I think I know where it is, not sure I can get to it.  My loading room was a mess and the kids moved stuff around to make room for my daughter to stay when we got home from the hospital.  Be a good project though.

[ira scott]

The Trailboss loads with cast bullets thread has a lot of information. I am using the Lyman #311284, which is 210 grain gas checked bullet recommended by N. Niederlander. I have always liked XMP5744 in reduced loads, mainly 45-70, and it works very well in the Krag @18 grains for a M.V. of 1429fps,(Lyman 50th ed.). However the last lb. of 5744 I bought was just shy of $50/lb. During some load development for 8mm Mauser loads for an 88 Gewher I tried Unique powder and found the accuracy to be very good and the velocity to be almost too consistent to believe. I know of other GAF members that use Unique as their  go to Krag powder.

[Pitspitr]

I use 220 gr.Bullets from Scruffy Skippy or Hunters for lead bullets. 13.5 gr Trailboss for skirmish loads and 4350 for target loads Off the top of my head, I don't remember how many gr. but it duplicates the Gov. load so that the sights are regulated.

I wouldn't use the light bullets. They won't feed properly from the magazine.

[Drydock]

For those of you who like 5744, but don't like the price, there is this:  https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/00130buffalo1/shooters-world-buffalo-rifle-smokeless-powder-1-lb-by-lovex

This is 5744 by the original Czech maker, they just can't call it that.

[ira scott]

Thank you Sir, that right there is valuable information!

[Whiskey Double]

I load 220 gr.  Sierra RN (#2180) , 40 grs. IMR 4350 they shoot well in my infantry Kraig however I have not shot through the chronograph but I did get all of my long-range hits the this year at The Grand Muster with that load.

[Drydock]

I have some of the Berrys 220 rns.  They are very soft, over 1600 fps they show signs of stripping. Good for light loads in rough bores.

Most of the time I cast Lee .312 160 tumble lube bullets. With Sage aluminum gas checks, over 12 grains of Unique, lubed with Lee Liquid Alox they run just under 1500 fps. These group very well at 100 yards.  Past that I use the same load as Whisky Double.

[pony express]

If you want to try a slower powder, you could try H-4895:

https://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf

I bought some to make up some loads for a Spanish Guardia Civil carbine, but that project got put on one of my many back burners. Apparently it has to be H 4895, don't try IMR 4895.

[Lord Eoin MacKenzie]

  I got some of the Berrys 150grn  plated 30-30 bullets, because they are good to 2000 fps.   I'll have to load long to try to minimize  feeding problems.   
I was given a couple cans of H 4895.   unknown age.   My gunsmith friend got them after his uncle passed.  he said he would test some 30-06 loads to see if the powder was still good. 
  Maybe I can try  black powder, LOL 

[Silver Creek Slim]

I use H4895 in .30-40, .30-06, .32-40, and .38-55.

Slim

[pony express]

 
I was given a couple cans of H 4895.   unknown age.   My gunsmith friend got them after his uncle passed.  he said he would test some 30-06 loads to see if the powder was still good. 

I don't have any H4895 that old, but-I have only recently finished off some 4064 and 3031 in metal cans, and still using 2400 from the cardboard cans, and it all still works just fine. Currently loading some 5.56 with BLC-2, that has a price of $14.50 on the lid. Stored in a non climate controlled shed beside the house. Still have a few of the big stash of primers I got after the Clinton scare, and I don't mean Hillary!

[Niederlander]

I was going to try some 220 grain coated bullets in the Krag, but he present silliness have them all sold out.  Hopefully they catch up soon.