Just relieved a fellow AR member of a Krag Carbine. I have zero experience with this model. Are factory loads safe to shoot in the rifle (assuming of course that the rifle is in good working order)? For example, the 180 grain Remington ammo? Thanks for the help.

You might have the bolt checked [magnetic particle or die penetrant] for cracks around the lug. The pressures are about 40,000 lbs so take it easy ! Factory loads will be OK.

I have an 1898 Calvary Carbine version in excellent shape.. I have to admit of not shooting factory ammo in mine..

As a handloader, I have come to rely on two powders for the Krag... SR 4759 and IMR 4198

both loads are less than max velocity, but I am interested in shooting, while keeping this 110 yr old rifle in good working order and enjoying it... even at 200 yds, it is a tack driver considering open sites, a 110 yr old barrel and my eyes..

I do a load of 25 grains of SR 4759 with about any bullet weight I use... 168 Match, 180 RN and 220 RN are the most common...

With IMR 4198, my charge is 30 grains, with any of the above bullets..

any of the above loads are very accurate to the 200 yds I normally shoot it, it has a Lyman peep site installed on it... and a Redfield front site..

I think you would find it very useful to acquire any one of the older Lyman Ideal Handbooks of #39 or lower.

The #39 is one I used from very early in my loading days. It was published in May, 1953 and is full of both jacketed and cast bullet loads for the older cartridges such as the 30-40 Krag, .35 Winchester, and so on.

BTW, it shows 23.0 grains of IMR 4759 to b a maximum recommended charge of IMR 4759 with a CAST 180 grain bullet in the Krag. It would be an even lower charge with a jacketed bullet.
(Those barrels varied a lot in bore diameter, so I would not personally exceed recommended Lyman maximums.)

Thanks for the input and the replies. I will drag out my "old" (80's vintage) Lyman Manual and see what is in it.