I have been experimenting with the Hornady FTX bullets for the 30/30 (30395) and the less fragile version for the 308 ME (30396) in my Dad's 30/40 Krag that I recently restored.

I found the 30395 to be too fragile when loaded to moderate pressure in the Krag case. In real world results, the 30395 proved to be too fragile for the Mv that the Krag was churning out. The bullet completely disintegrated on a straight on neck hit when it struck the neck vertebrae at 120 paces. That result was after penetrating over 6" through tissue. I hate to think what a 20 yard hit on the heavy part of the shoulder bone would be like.

I went to the more stoutly constructed 30396 version for the 308 ME. I haven't been able to evaluate any results on game yet, but Hornady assured me that the 30395 was being pushed beyond its design envelope and that the 30396 would be a better choice.

Which brings up a point for debate.

Will the 30/40 Krag SAFELY achieve ballistics equal to the 308 ME.

Why wouldn't it?

The 30/40 Krag has a usable case volume of 50.58 grains of H2O when loaded at 3.145" COAL with the 30396 bullet which functions flawlessly in the Krag magazine.



The 308 ME only has about 41.0 grains of usable case capacity with the same bullet when loaded to the SAMMI COAL of 2.610".

That's over a 23% advantage in case capacity for the venerable Krag.

The 308 ME has a SAMMI spec of 47,896 psi chamber pressure compared to 47,137 psi for the 30/40 Krag. That is less than 2% advantage for the 308 ME. Given those parameters, it seems that the 2550fps Mv that I am getting with that bullet at 3.145" COAL and Rl-17 in the Krag should be perfectly safe in the Krag action. The 308 ME, even with lightly compressed loads, lags by over 100 fps when loaded to the same pressure with Rl-17.

Those pressure levels are significantly less than the 30/40 Krag SAMMI spec at the same Mv with my handloads.

I have a Ruger No 3 in 30-40 Krag and since the case capacity is within a couple of grains of the 300 Savage, I was thinking that I should be able to get a 150 grain bullet above 2,600 fps, since I'm not limited to the 300 Savage's 47,000 PSI SAAMI spec.

owning both a marlin xlr 308me and a japchester 30-40krag in an 1895
. I can tell you, the hornady gummie grenades are accurate, but poorly constructed even in the heavier version loaded in factory ammo. I have shot 7 deer with it in the marlin and had them fragment with no exit wound on shoulder/lung shots on 100-150 pound deer. In the krag, I am shooting 220 grain round noses and they are range limited a bit, but they are a hammer. The krag made its rep with 220's and my carbine has the ladder sight set for 220's, so I go with it.
I use the barnes 150 grain X flat nose in the marlin and it works much better.

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
. I can tell you, the hornady gummie grenades are accurate, but poorly constructed even in the heavier version loaded in factory ammo. I have shot 7 deer with it in the marlin and had them fragment with no exit wound on shoulder/lung shots on 100-150 pound deer.

Have you tried the Monoflex 140 grain? I've been looking at it for my M788 .30-30, as it has slightly better BC than the 160 grain designed for the ME. I'd think being the same as their GMX would make it a lot tougher. I haven't messed with any of the GMX bullets yet but I do have a box of 125 to try one of these days in either my .30-30 or my daughter's .300 Savage.

I have a .30-40 Krag sporter as well, but I've been running just plain old 180 grain RN bullets in it. I removed a plain old buckhorn sight a few years ago in favor of a Rice aperture sight attached to the bolt. One of these days I'm going to have to kill something other than a prairie dog with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
I have a Ruger No 3 in 30-40 Krag and since the case capacity is within a couple of grains of the 300 Savage, I was thinking that I should be able to get a 150 grain bullet above 2,600 fps, since I'm not limited to the 300 Savage's 47,000 PSI SAAMI spec.

My No. 3 runs 47 gr of Varget with a 150 gr. Hornady, Remington brass, for just over 2700 fps. Essentially like a 308 win out of a no. 3

Careful with your pressures in the Krag. It is a lot stronger than it's given credit for and won't blow up with some pretty warm loads but it may crack the one forward locking lug. Even if it shears off the lug the massive guide rib/safety lug is more than adequate to keep everything together. Sure would be a shame to ruin a good bolt though.

quote:

Originally posted by taylorce1:

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
. I can tell you, the hornady gummie grenades are accurate, but poorly constructed even in the heavier version loaded in factory ammo. I have shot 7 deer with it in the marlin and had them fragment with no exit wound on shoulder/lung shots on 100-150 pound deer.

Have you tried the Monoflex 140 grain? I've been looking at it for my M788 .30-30, as it has slightly better BC than the 160 grain designed for the ME. I'd think being the same as their GMX would make it a lot tougher. I haven't messed with any of the GMX bullets yet but I do have a box of 125 to try one of these days in either my .30-30 or my daughter's .300 Savage.

I have a .30-40 Krag sporter as well, but I've been running just plain old 180 grain RN bullets in it. I removed a plain old buckhorn sight a few years ago in favor of a Rice aperture sight attached to the bolt. One of these days I'm going to have to kill something other than a prairie dog with it.

I have not tried the monoflex. I have been a bit turned off by Hornady after the very soft evo bullet. I started using the Barnes and they never fail. If I need a better BC, I load a Barnes XLC 150 grain spitzer in the chamber, then carry the X flat noses of 150 in the tube. I rarely need a second shot, so it works for me.

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:

I have not tried the monoflex. I have been a bit turned off by Hornady after the very soft evo bullet. I started using the Barnes and they never fail. If I need a better BC, I load a Barnes XLC 150 grain spitzer in the chamber, then carry the X flat noses of 150 in the tube. I rarely need a second shot, so it works for me.

Thanks, I'm interested in them for my .30-30 but that's about it. I really don't need a flex tip bullet as I'm not putting them in tube.