I spent way too much time on a bubba mut Krag “carbine”

[five.five-six]

I got this fairly obvious 1898 krag carbine conversion. First thing was to load ammo for it but It was hard close/open on the bolt. We’ll find out but it sure seems like the brass I bought is about 0.020” over at the shoulder. I didn’t have a proper bore scope and somewhat suspected a broken case neck stuck in the chamber.

Not a borescope (construction inspection scope)

After 4 try’s, I got a good casting

By the time I learned how to take a cerrosafe casting of my chamber, there was bits of molten metal all over the gun I decided to boil it to get all the metal out…. Enjoy


Ghetto steam boxes.



Boy, that rusting sure looks looks horrible!






After converting the rust, carding off the ferric oxide and oiling, it looks a lot better!

 

[five.five-six]

After converting the rust to black oxide, carding off the ferric oxide and a liberal application of used diesel oil, it sure looks a lot better!





Hey, it’s a gun again!!!

 

[Yetiultimate]

Love me some Krag! So smooth, and just tossing rounds into the box seems so weird but it works. What load data are you using?

 

[five.five-six]

Love me some Krag! So smooth, and just tossing rounds into the box seems so weird but it works. What load data are you using?

From the Lee book (modern reloading) 150 grain pills with 3031 starting at 38.2 grains and maxing out at 42 grains. I just don’t seem to have any 180 grain .308’s well I might but I stopped looking. Lots of 150’s, 168’s and 220’s

 

[Yetiultimate]

I'm out of 3031 but it was a favorite for my older bolt actions. Using Rx15 now and it seems pretty close. BTW, if you ever start experimenting, .303 Brit data is nearly identical to Krag data. Just don't go max pressure since the Krag's only got one lug as opposed to two (Brit).

 

[five.five-six]

I'm out of 3031 but it was a favorite for my older bolt actions. Using Rx15 now and it seems pretty close. BTW, if you ever start experimenting, .303 Brit data is nearly identical to Krag data. Just don't go max pressure since the Krag's only got one lug as opposed to two (Brit).

I have about 4 pounds of 3031 left and it seems to work in just about everything. I actively look for other powders for other guns but I did develop a .303 with 3031 and it ended up being the exact same as my 30-30 load, the only distinction being the 30-30 uses RN bullets.

I think I used it for 7.5 Swiss too, I’d have to check my notes. The thing with these old rifles is that I seem to work up a load, then make a box or two. It’s not like my modern guns where I may dump 500 rounds in an afternoon.

That single lug was the death of the US Krag. It just couldn’t keep up with the Mauser actions. If it had 2 lugs, it may have served up until the garand. It’s really a fantastic rifle.





No I’m thinking…. Starting load for .30 army (.30-40 Krag) in the lee book is 38.2 grains max is 42 grains….. and I was loading .303 with 27 grains. I’ve researched and Lyman’s and several others published very similar loads… then again, the Springfield 1892-99 was not the only rifle chambered in 30-40 krag. There were a lot of different sporting rifles that picked up that cartridge back in the day. I don’t know that my only lug can handle all that. I think I’m going to stop by home and cook up a few more rounds starting at 27 grains.