Well, I own a bolt action 1898 Krag, with an original 24 inch carbine barrel on it that is accurate at 200 yds with open sites that would put a few varmint rigs to shame.

Probably do even better is the guy pulling the trigger could see a lot better.

So I would go with the Krag! I am still waiting to take a black bear with mine. I just Love a Krag!

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

PS, good luck also!

A elk shot with one or the other well never know the differants. Pick the one you like the most.

Have you considered the 405 Winchester? Factory ammo and brass is available. I think I would load at least a 350grain bullet for Elk.

I have a rolling block action for which the .30-40 and the .35 WCF are about tops. The .30 sends 220 gn at about 2100 fps, and the .35 sends 250 gn at about 2150. One offers greater SD and the other more cross section. I've shot stouter cartridges without flinch, so I don't think that a factor.

Would the .35 be the more effective hunting round? Enough so to be worth the hassle of forming its brass?

Perhaps Atkinson has some experience here. I think he once wrote he was around when these cartridges were introduced.

As a kid I hunted Washington elk with a M1896 Springfield my Father sporterized for me (it was nice too I still kick myself for selling it as does the Old Man, that is when he can get is foot that high ). The ol' 30-40 does a good job of dispatching elk as I recall, but ranges were never over 80 yards. I seem to recall getting higher velocities than 2100 fps though with the 220 Round Nose Remington bullets we handloaded (I was thinking ~ 2250 fps). Then again that was a LONG time ago and my memory seems to get worse every day. My rifle has a measely little 20" barrel to boot.

I know this though, if you are using a modern Remington Rolling Block, which is my understanding of your post, you can easily beat the Krag loading for the 30-40. The Krag was loaded to 42,500 CUP. the 30-40 has more case capacity than a 308 (~ 2 grains more under the bullet), I would guess that you could get ~2350 or 2400 out of it with the right powder and keep pressure down to 50,000 CUP no problems. That should not bother a modern Rolling Block Remington.

Anyway, if it were me I would do the 30-40 Krag or the 405 Winchester. I would skip the 35. The absolute truth is that any of these cartridges will kill effectively if the bullet is properly placed and the ranges are appropriate.

ASS_CLOWN

Yes, I did consider the .405, and planned to use that brass for forming .35 WCF brass, which is a chore since the rim must be thinned. However, I haven't found the pressure rating for the modern .405 loadings. Data from Hodgdon's runs to over 45 ksi, so SAAMI is likely beyond that, all a bit over the Krag. OK, I must admit, the recoil does start to concern me at the .405 level. I can control the 28,000 CUP .45-70 in a friend's Marlin (300 gn, 2050 fps), but the shoulder keeps reminding of all the fun for a few days after. It was a hoot to shoot, and I was pretty accurate with it, but it did sting for a while.

Krag components are easy to get, and I'm favoring it. I keep remembering Keith's words, though, so I thought I'd seek out the advice of modern hunters.