What's the 30-40 Krag like?

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MacEntyre
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What's the 30-40 Krag like?

Post by MacEntyre »

Found a very nice 20" 1895 yesterday, made in 1904 and chambered in 30-40 Krag. I'm thinking of trading for it. I always wanted an 1895 Winchester, but I figured I would find one in 30-06.

What's the 30-40 Krag like? The reloading data is similar to the 308 Winchester.

Can you get brass for 30-40 Krag?

Thanks!
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Hobie
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Post by Hobie »

Oh, yeah. I think of it as a rimmed .300 Savage or the US version of the .303 British. I love mine (a Browning).
Sincerely,

Hobie

"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
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WCF3030
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Post by WCF3030 »

I don't know what they are like, even though I owned one once briefly.
But I know that if you have one everyone wants it. :wink:
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error.

http://thewoodsman1.blogspot.com/
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Gun Smith
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Post by Gun Smith »

20" barrel? Was this a cut down rifle? 28" was standard factory length for 30/40. 20" barrels were special order, but very uncommon. Carbine barrels were 22" standard. The 30/40 Krag and the 303 British cartridge loads (reloading) are interchangable. You need to use heavy 180-220 grain bullets for best accuracy in an original M.95 Krag as the rifling was designed for the heavier bullets. If it's orginal you have a very special gun. The 30/40 brass is available from several manufactures. They are easy to reload too. Because of the weight of M.95's they are easy on the shoulder and fun to shoot.
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Ridgerunner
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Post by Ridgerunner »

my Krag has the most butter smooth bolt action I have ever used. That .30/40 round is no slouch properly loaded....
Confederately yours,

Ridgerunner
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Slick13
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Re: What's the 30-40 Krag like?

Post by Slick13 »

MacEntyre wrote:Found a very nice 20" 1895 yesterday, made in 1904 and chambered in 30-40 Krag. I'm thinking of trading for it. I always wanted an 1895 Winchester, but I figured I would find one in 30-06.

What's the 30-40 Krag like? The reloading data is similar to the 308 Winchester.

Can you get brass for 30-40 Krag?

Thanks!
As has been mentioned, that barrel length is short for an 1895, and it's very possible that the gun has been altered.

Brass is available from Winchester (as is loaded ammo), probably Remington too.

I have no experience with .30-40, but looking at the case and the cartridge's ballistics... .30-30 Magnum comes to mind as a description.

Would love to have an 1895 sporting rifle in this caliber.

~Michael
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390
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Post by 390 »

I picked up a Ross straight pull in 30/40 last month. Shoots well. I want to get some dies and run 220s through it.
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Hobie
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Post by Hobie »

Hey 390, where in the valley are you? A Ross converted from .303 sounds pretty neat, is it a conversion or original? Is it a sporter?
Sincerely,

Hobie

"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
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MacEntyre
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Post by MacEntyre »

Turns out it has a 22" Tapered Barrel. It has a Williams peep sight (added). The finish on the barrel has all grayed and has no barrel markings. The bore is nice. The wood has been refinished, and it is import marked. The action is excellent! They want $750.
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tman
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Post by tman »

sounds like a nice bear gun when loaded with the 220grn. cool gun!
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octagon
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Post by octagon »

I shot the rifle length 1895 in30-40 last year when a buddy brought one to the ranch in West Texas. Nice shooter, easy recoil, would have bought it - he wasn't selling.
The only ones at the ranch that did not like it were the two fat does he nailed from the truck (bad leg, he can't walk far). Both deer neck shot at about 80 yards, not bad for an old crippled guy.
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MacEntyre
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Post by MacEntyre »

Hobie wrote:...think of it as a rimmed .300 Savage...
Just what I thought when I looked at the loads.
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Swampman
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Post by Swampman »

I'd way rather have it than a .30-06. It's my favorite .30 caliber cartridge.
"I have reached up to the gun rack and taken down the .30/30 carbine by some process of natural selection, not condoned perhaps by many experts but easily explained by those who spend long periods in the wilderness areas."~Calvin Rutstrum~

"You come to the swamp, you better leave your skirt at the house"~Dave Canterbury~
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2ndovc
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Post by 2ndovc »

95 Winchesters work better w/ a rimmed cartriidge. I have several, my oldest and favorite is an SRC in 30-06. It doesnt always feed the rimless rounds from the magazine. Mine however has had a lot of use and many, many rounds through it. I've been wanting a 30-40 95 for some time. My Krag is a super shooter and very accurate.

8)
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"


" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
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bogus bill
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Post by bogus bill »

This one is in .30 army (30/40). It was built right near the end of production in 1931. I bought it sans rear sight. A friend gave me the old winder? sighr and was able to fit it without drilling. I have the handguard for it, but it wont fit over the longer sight. I reload for it and it is accuarate.
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Ysabel Kid
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Post by Ysabel Kid »

Ridgerunner wrote:my Krag has the most butter smooth bolt action I have ever used. That .30/40 round is no slouch properly loaded....
+1

Dang that thing is so smooth!!! :D
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Old Time Hunter
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Post by Old Time Hunter »

Bogus Bill,

Is that a Buffington sight?

The .30-40 is an excellent round, maybe not for the military (it only lasted a few years), but can handle almost all critters here in the Western Hemisphere. Load it like a .30-30 and it shoots like a .30-30, just with lighter kick, load 'er up with 34-35 grains it'll kick like a .30-30 but hit on the other end like a .375 Win, but will reach farther.
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JollyWhiteGiant
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Post by JollyWhiteGiant »

My Great Uncle used to use the .30-40 for hunting everything from moose to elk to deer. Had plent of heads on the wall to show for it. Brass is availible from Winchester and Remington. Recoil is very mild.
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levergunluver
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Post by levergunluver »

When my grandpa gave me his 30-40 Krag and bought a .270 Winchester,I thought I was in Hog Heaven as a young pup knowing the animals he kilt with the old war horse.

If you do your part it does it's.

Merry Christmas.
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CaptainFinn
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Post by CaptainFinn »

It's important to remember that although the .303 load info can interchange with the .30-40 Krag, the Krag is a .308 bore with a 1 in 10 twist, while a .303 uses larger diameter bullets (.311 I think).

I am still working on my 98 springfield Krag carbine, hope to have it up and running by next years' deer season.
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