Anybody ever reload anything specifically for a 30-40 Krag in a Contender Carbine? I have a 20" barrel that shoots pretty good with factory ammo, but I want to reload and was thinking about bullets in the 125-150 grain class. Any advice would be helpful...

Lyman No.48 has the most recent data for the Krag. Bullets of 150, 180, and 220 gn were tested with modern powders in a pressure barrel. Frankly, I'm surprised anyone even has a modern SAAMI barrel for this old cartridge -- kudos to Lyman!



Best fps will come with the same load which performed best in their 24" barrel. You can lower muzzle blast a bit by choosing the faster powders they recommend.



If you have an old T/C frame, you might want to load down. I wrote to T/C several years ago regarding this chambering, and they said it is a bit too much. SSK was chambering them at the time, but JD Jones admits to having stretched more than a few Contender frames. The new "G2" frames look stronger and might take it better.

Many thanks...

The G2 frames aren't stronger.

Not stronger.............but I like how easy they open. Buying one for my son in a couple weeks. I 've only seen one and its priced at $250 frame only. Is that about right or too high?

Hobie why aren't the new G2s stronger than the old style contenders? The G2 are certainly more heavily built. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the G2's can be loaded with high pressure rounds (30-06, 308...); but I do think there is more of a safety margin. I also don't think T/C would have made the 375JDJ a "factory" round with the old style contender. Just my $0.02.

TCA says the G2 is NOT stronger than the Contender. They are NOT chambering the G2 for cartridges which generate greater breach thrust. The G2 was really developed to address marketing concerns, i.e. to reinvigorate the brand and to provide greater branding identity by making a smaller version of the Encore that was already almost completely supported with aftermarket barrels, etc. The side reinforcements (for want of a better word) might reduce frame stretching (a big problem for TC due to their excellent warranty service) but I doubt that it is actually stronger.



Personally, I think that of all the cartridges which are most prone to stretching frames one must include the .35 Remington. People seem to tend to push this cartridge but it has sufficient case head size that it can't really be pushed past 43,000 CUP in the Contender. I know several people who've stretched frames with this very common Contender chambering.



Following this line of thought, I think that the .30-40 is a very usable Contender chambering with the same caveats. 220 at 2000-2100 fps from the 21-23" barrel is about all you could hope for. This is just above what the .35 Rem will do with the same case head size and due solely to additional case capacity. If you load the lighter bullets (and why not) just stay in the same pressure range, not above 43,000 CUP and 40,000 CUP would probably be a better limit.

I've got a 15 inch 30-40 barrel that was made by Mike Bellm and it is very nice, very accurate and very fast. I think the 30-40 is a great cast bullet round also, the long neck really helps with heavier cast bullets. Enjoy your Krag!~

I bought my 20" Bellm barrel used but in excellent condition. I have only shot factory ammo but look forward to reloading for it. I thought about trying 125 grain Noslers in it. I would think they would be great for Kentucky whitetails. I also have some cast bullets to try as well.