doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Krag sporter project?

I just sold a Krag sporter to a fellow who is going to build a 35 Krag on it. I've never heard of that caliber, but it probably would do OK.

In the Ken Waters' "Pet Loads" book there is an article on loading for the .35 WCF in an 1895 Winchester. If you are thinking about a .35 Krag, that is a starting point. The article also has a properly dimensioned drawing of the cartridge.

444 Marlin with 300-330 gr bullets, 405 WCF, 40-70 S.S., 35 WCF and 30-40 with 220s-250s. Perfectly adequate for anything in this hemisphere and any of the big cats anywhere.
Regards, Joe

I was told it came out of the old Niedner shop?? Solid gun,not the normal basement sporter....It loves cast bullets!

Another cartridge that might be interesting is the 38-50 Hepburn. It's a midrange target cartridge and older than the Krag but is basically a Krag case necked up to 38 (.375 to .378). It should make a dandy hunting round.

Jerry Liles

Based on the calibers and power of the loads you guys are talking about, I gather the Krag frame, despite its age and the materials used, is able to handle those kinds of pressures without concern. I'm glad, but kind of surprised, to learn that, given the rap on at least some other rifles of the same approximate era. Although I have no experience with them, I've always been attracted to the Krag sporter, mostly for the nostalgic reasons others have mentioned. TT

If you're in Greeneville (that IS the right spelling, we're the only State that spells GreenEville right), then I'm the Dave the rifle's going to.

I'm a Krag enthusiast. If you have ever hunted with one and tried some fast shooting, you will know why. That said, they are products of an earlier era. Why do Krag bolts crack so often? Is it related to design or headspace problems?

Neither, really. I have always said the Krag bolt cracking was from too hot of loads for casehardened steel; showed up with the abortive attempt to make service ammo make 2200 fps in 1898 and disappeared when the M1898 ammo did. Came right back in civilian rifles as they became surplus and were shot IMHO with loads suitable for High Walls and 1895s. I have had my Krag since 1988-89 and never have had a problem with it after probably thousands of handloads.

Well, thanks for the comments on the Krag. I guess nostalgia seems to be the big selling point for this rifle and I have no argument with that. I'll keep passing them by for you guys that will enjoy them so much more, but I'll think about the comments here when I do stumble across another.

Brent