.30-40 Krag questions

[JustJim]

I'm contemplating trying to work up a full-power cast load for the Krag: 220 RN bullet at 2,000 fps. The goal would be to wind up with a load that matches military sights out to ~600 yards, and for hunting. I've got two sporters equipped with aperature sights (one with a Western peep sight, the other with a newly-fitted Rice sight).

Has anyone done any work with this? Suggestions on moulds to begin with? Powders to try?

I'll probably lay in a supply of new brass for each rifle before beginning. Some of my current plinking brass is older than I am.

 

[RicinYakima]

If a SA barrel, Lyman 311284 (or clone) and 28 grains of RX7 will get you very close. Never had a Krag with any other barrels, so don't know for them.

 

[Missionary]

I am near 5000 miles from my Krag notes but very do-able.
220 RN is about all we shoot in numerous Krags. They each seem to be diameter sensitive if best accuracy is desired.
One shoots .316 best. Another .309. The rest fall between and .310 works in a couple. Throat wear is the bugga-boo.
We enjoy shooting bowling pins at 50 ad 100 yards. Sitting is alot of fun ! Standing is a challenge !

 

[4060MAY]

I have been shooting the 30-40 since 1982, first rifle is a Martini I re-barreled with a 03 2groove barrel, the hottest I ever loaded it is 27grs of Reloder 7, 314299, sized .311, was brutal to shoot
next rifle I picked up was a No.3 Ruger chambered in 30-40 Krag, started shooting Silhouette with it at Ridgway in 1991, RCBS 30-180-sp, with Unique was good to the Turkeys, too hot for a regular Military Krag, so I won't list the charge, velocity is in the 1700FPS range, John Kort being my mentor on the rams , I tried to load a 314299 to 2100 FPS, if you can hang on to the rifle , it works, I used VARGET for years, this year I backed the charge to 24 grains of Reloder 7, easier to shoot, accurate enough to hit Rams at 500M, and knock them down, velocity is in the 1800fps range
and I placed third in the production class,
Third rifle is a Model 95 Miroku Winchester, 30-40 Krag, used for Lever Sil, not legal because of the mag. but I'm an old guy and they make allowances
Fourth was a Sporter-ised Military Krag, shot well, Reloader 7, 314299 again
I have tried 311284, three different moulds, non were as accurate as the 314299, In MY rifles

Some of the powders I tried, surplus WC680, 2200, both were ok, pulldown 4350 OK but not as good as Varget
fooled with WC852 a bit, stopped because it sounded like detonation, didn't hurt anything but better safe then OMG what was that.

 

[Bret4207]

I don't have anything in front of me, but there should be scads and scads of info on the Krag and cast at 2K out there. I'll try to remember to look when I get back out to the shop.

 

[Rushcreek]

IMR 4350 is perfect for that criteria using jacketed bullets. It should be ok for cast use as well with fine tuning.