The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Sporterized Military Rifles Do you suppose a .30-40 Krag couldGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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be rebarreled and chambered to a more modern and more readily across the counter cartridge? What would it be? Don't ask me what happened, when I left Viet Nam, we were winning. | ||
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could? Certainly, except the rim diameter and feeding issues would be a real bear. should? No! Just enjoy it as a hunting target shooting rifle with a link to the past, or consider selling it to someone who would and buy something with a stronger action. They are really neat old rifles... Rich | |||
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bluntly - not realy .. opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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In fact I doubt that it would even go to 303 British. Maybe, and I don't really know, it might go to 444 Marlin? | |||
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No. That action is pretty much limited to the 30/40, which in itself has a certain amount of class. ......civilize 'em with a Krag | |||
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The basic premis is...Why would you take a pigs ear and try to make a modern wallet out of it? There isn't anything wrong with the 30-40 as far as a hunting rifle is concerned for 90% of all N.A. game. It is every bit as good as the 300 Savage or 307 Win and not much behind the 308 Win as far as velocity is concerned. As it is OEM, it has nostalgia value beyond what you would get with a very costly hatchet job... And you could buy a very nice modern rifle for a quarter to third the cost of what a conversion(other than just a rebarrel to a larger cal using the OEM 30-40 case) and all the "issues" with case rim, feeding and pressure problems are fairly simple to solve and have been solved in the distant past. Military conversions seem to be comming back into vogue in todays world...and time is speeding up...us oldies are now seeing ourselves looking back to see if I'm looking back to see if I'm looking back at me. Hahahahahah But...Hey...if you want something for bragging rights it ain't nothing different than dropping a Chevy 454 into a T-Bucket and cruizing the drag...all it take is money and finding the right person to do the job...and understanding what will happen if you dump the clutch at the wrong time. Luck | |||
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Get some brass and load it up moderately with big whomping goddam cast bullets  http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php | |||
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No. You don't need anything else. | |||
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I had one on which somebody installed a take-off Savage barrel in 30-30 Win. Not sure why but that's how I found it. I had thoughts of converting one to .405 Win but getting the fatter bullets to "round the corner" in the magazine was a problem. | |||
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What he said ......civilize 'em with a Krag | |||
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Actually it was a 303 Olds in a Modle A coupe. The 454 Chev with twin turbos was the motor in my 105 mph jet boat. Thanks for everyones advice, I will leave it as is: 30-40. Just got the rifle yesterday. A little rough outside (as stated) but a sharp and shiney bore and a butter smooth bolt action. Don't ask me what happened, when I left Viet Nam, we were winning. | |||
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jet-boat, schmet-boat... PICS OF THE RIFLE!!!  (edited 3 January) Related, perhaps of interest; singleshot conversions were popular for the Krag back in the day:  -link on the Used Rifle page: Griffin & Howe-Krag Zipper Regular Price $8,100.00, Now $6,480.00 .22 Improved Zipper, Weight 10 lbs,3 ozs, Barrel length 24 ", Bolt Action, Hand Right http://www.griffinhowe.com/usedgun-rf.cfm | |||
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I sure wouldn't want a single locking lug U.S. built Krag chambered for any cartridge generating any higher pressure than the factory specs 30-40 Krag. The Norwegan Krags were built with better materials and utilize the root of the bolt handle as an auxillary locking lug, but even then I don't think that they are a strong enough action to hot rod. I value my sight too much to risk damaging it by shooting a rifle built of an action that may be only marginally strong enough for the cartridge it is chambered in. However, as with many things, YMMV. Jeff | |||
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Hey if the 30-40 was good enough for the Germans, it'll be good enough for you!  for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside | |||
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As Sgt. Schultz was often heard to say, "I know nothing!". Perhaps German POW guards were actually armed with captured rifles during WW2, so the Krag could be Danish or Norwegian. Or not. Jeff | |||
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I wouldnt bother with this one either. The Krag action is relativly weak. Anything it could be re-bbld to would be no better than the 30-40. AK-47 The only Communist Idea that Liberals don't like. | |||
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The 30-40 Krag is a pretty damn nice cartridge as it is, suitable for both deer and elk..What is the problem? It is the balistic clone of the 300 Savage with the option of shooting heavier bullets such as the 220 gr. Sierra or Hornady, both soft enough to perform well in the Krag.. Don't undersell the old Krag, it got the job done back when and will do so today in a nice gun with the slickest action ever. I killed a number of mule deer with a carbine Krag rifle with 180 Gr. Rem factory ammo when I was a kid, and it knocked big holes in the deer and at some very extended ranges for an iron sighted old gun and a kid that didn't know range was a consideration. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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I wish I had a dime for every Krag I saw in the deer woods, with its barrel and stock cut down to carbine dimensions. My uncle Harry had one up on his ranch near Stoneyford, California for many years prior to and just after WW II and it killed an awful lot of deer. I was impressed enough that I bought several of those "sporterized" ones myself over the following years. They all shot smoothly and accurately, especially with ammo loaded with their original bullet weight...220 grains. When the '03 Springfields came out, many in the Army thought it was a step backward. They found it much easier to teach new recruits to shoot well with the Krag than with the "New Springfield"" (the Krag was "the old Springfield" among the smokeless powder shooters). The Krag was very accurate out through 600 yards, and had much less felt recoil than the New Springfield. Back in the day (mid-1930s) they were fairly commonly converted to .22 Hornet of all things(!!), but even in that they weren't really considered safe for conversions. A fair number reportedly cracked their bolts right where the single locking lug meets the bolt cylinder. Wonderful rifles, but best used as standard .30-40s without hot-rodded loads.... (P.S.: If you really want to cry about our modern "government", when the Krag's were surplused out of U.S. federal and national guard service, they were sold through the NRA for $1.50 to NRA members. Back then both the Congress and the Administration thought an armed citizenry were real ASSETS to this country!) My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still. | |||
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260Remguy, I tend to agree about the Danish version. I have one that was slightly "Bubba'ed before I rescued it. The 8x58R Danish cartridge and rifle were 50,000 +/- PSI back in 1888 before the Model of 1889 started production. One of the cool things; that cartridge case is nothing, more or less, than the 45-90 WCF cartridge taper bottle necked down to 8mm. It looks a bit like a shorter fatter 300 H&H. I have reserved all of my Krag variations for 1400fps cast bullet loads. Just as deadly on tin cans or DWJ's out as far as these old eyes can focus. Enjoy them and save the bomber loads for your 300/338WM. | |||
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Have seen them re-barreled to: 405 Winchester 7.62 Russian 303 British As well as: 22 Krag 25 Krag 35 Krag DuggaBoye-O NRA-Life Whittington-Life TSRA-Life DRSS DSC HSC SCI | |||
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Dang, I killed my first deer just out of Stoneyford, California (Mendocino National Forest) in 1956. The only thing on the radio at the time was reports of the Hungarian Revolution. I used an '03 Springfield. Don't ask me what happened, when I left Viet Nam, we were winning. | |||
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I don't believe I would be loading to that pressure range.       | |||
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If you see the old films of the Landsturn "militia" marching out to defend Berlin in 1945 you'll see all sorts of things! Including Lewis Machine Guns and Vickers Machine Guns! The Germans certainly did equip units (where it didn't cause a supply problem) with captured equipment. I recall one picture of a German soldier with a Webley .455! Not as a "trophy" at all but as part of his equipment. So maybe it is possible....? | |||
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Yes indeed. I have a near mint No.1MkIII* Enfield that has German acceptance stamps all over it. I figure it was captured at Dunkirk or someplace early in the war and put into their system. | |||
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"Milice" Armed with captured British weapons- http://forums.accuratereloadin...&forum_scope=7811043 | |||
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There is a German flim clip taken with a German soldier crawling near some brush in the bocage. He is armed with a #4 Mk 1 (T). | |||
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During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, the German forces demanded that Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk build weapons for the German armed forces.[17] They placed large orders for the Krag-Jørgensen, the Colt M1914 (license-produced Colt M1911), and 40 mm anti-aircraft guns. However, production was kept down by sabotage and slow work by the employees. Out of the total of 13,450 rifles ordered by the Germans, only between 3,350 and 3,800 were actually delivered. Early deliveries was identical to the M1894, but with German proof marks and sub standard workmanship compared to M1894 produced earlier. During the war the model was altered to be externally more like the German Kar98K. This was achieved by shortening the barrel by 15 cm (6 inches) down to 61.3 cm (24 inches) and shortening the stock by 18 cm (7 inches), and adding a front sight hood similar to that of the Kar98K. These shortened Krag-Jøgensen's were known in Norway as the Stomperud-Krag.[18] A number of the Krag-Jørgensens manufactured for the Germans have been described as 'bastards', created from mismatched parts left over from previous production. Experiments with using the German standard issue 7,92 x 57 mm ammunition also took place, a cartridge as powerful as the .30-06 and the modern 7.62 mm NATO.[17] While information on the Wehrmacht's use of the Krag-Jørgensen is hard to find, it must be assumed that it was issued primarily to second line units since the Wehrmacht attempted to only issue firearms in standard calibres to front line troops. It was also issued to the Hird — the armed part of Nasjonal Samling (NS) ("National Unity"), the national-socialist party of Vidkun Quisling's puppet government. It's further likely that the experiments with 7.92 mm ammunition means that the Germans considered a wider use of the Krag-Jørgensen. 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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Another reference material post on the Danish Krag The various Krag-Jørgensens were manufactured for a wide variety of ammunition. Apart from various civilian calibres, the rifle was manufactured for the following service ammunition: Danish 8x58R, a 7.87 mm (0.31 in) rimmed round. Early rounds had a 15.3 grams (236 grains) long round nosed bullet, and was loaded so that it produced a muzzle velocity of about 580 m/s (roughly 1900 ft/s), while later rounds had a 12.8 grams (198 grains) spitzer bullet and gave a muzzle velocity of 823 m/s (2740 ft/s). US 30-40, a 7.62 mm (0.30 in) rimmed round loaded with 40 grains (3 grams) of smokeless powder. It gave a chamber pressure of 40000 lbf/in² (276 MPa), which resulted in a muzzle velocity of 609.6 m/s (2000 ft/s) in the rifles, and 597.4 m/s (1960 ft/s) from the shorter barrel of the carbines. 6.5x55 a 6.5 mm (0.256 in) rimless round. Most variations are loaded for a chamber pressure of 350 MPa (roughly 51000 lbf/in²). Early rounds, with a 10.1 grams (156 grains) long round nosed bullet (B-projectile) had a muzzle velocity of around 700 m/s (roughly 2300 ft/s), while later rounds with a 9 grams (139 grains) spitzer bullet (D-projectile) offered a muzzle velocity up to 870 m/s (2854 ft/s).[1] Contrary to some rumors, the Krag-Jørgensen action can be modified to fire modern, high power cartridges. During World War II, and also in the early '50s, several were produced in 7.92 x 57 mm, which can hardly be considered a low power cartridge. A number of Krag-Jørgensens have also been converted to .30-06 and 7.62 mm NATO for target shooting and hunting. However, it must be stressed that these were all late-production Norwegian Krag-Jørgensen rifles, made in an era when metallurgy was vastly more advanced than when the American Krag-Jørgensen rifles were made. The American Krag-Jørgensen also has only a single locking lug, whereas the Norwegian and Danish versions effectively had two lugs. Nonetheless, older rifles may benefit from milder loads. Modern European 6.5x55 rounds are sometimes loaded to a CIP maximum of 55000 PSI, but 6.5x55 rounds marked "safe for the Krag" are loaded to a milder 40600 PSI. SAAMI specifications call for maximum average pressure of 46000 PSI, sufficient for 2,380 ft/s (730 m/s) with a 160 grain bullet.[22] 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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Digging through a box of odds and ends at a gun show I found a nice US Krag bolt- nice except it had NO locking lugs. The one and only had been broken off below the surface of the bolt body. | |||
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I have a sporterized Calvary Model Krag built in 1898...it was sporterized somewhere back in the 1950s.... although I can load it up more, my standard load in it is 25 grains of SR 4759 with a Speer 180 grain RN...more of less a big brother 30/30.... easy to shoot and easy on the rifle.. it is a tack driver even with its original 1898 barrel on it... with 168 matchking bullets and the Lyman peep site on it, it will still manage a 3 inch group at 200 yds... its done well in military competition matches at our local range. | |||
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Go look at the 405 Grenadier in the Wildcat forum. Made from 7.62 Russian brass so its cheap and easy. It was intended for a Marlin lever action so who knows? Maybe? I always wanted to do a Krag in 35 Winchester, I'd just shorten the OAL a little. Cheers, John Give me COFFEE and nobody gets hurt | |||
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Some books and authorities will tell you that the U.S. Krag was loaded with a 220 grain bullet to either 2066 to 2100 fps depending on where the info came from. Then the 2200 fps load was reduced to 2000 fps as it was deemed safer and easier on the barrels. | |||
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Several years ago I saw a Krag that had been rebarreled to .25-35 Winchester. | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Sporterized Military Rifles Do you suppose a .30-40 Krag could
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