Gallery load in .30-40 Krag

[richhodg66]

Gonna take Dad shooting today good Lord willing and the creek don't rise. One of his favorites is a repro High Wall in .30-40 Krag he got just before we had to move him and Mom to assisted living, he was always a single shot rifle aficianado.

The last couple of times I took it out for him to shoot, I just loaded eight grains of Alcan 120 (think red Dot) and a Saeco bullet that weighs about 115 grains which he had a bunch of cast up. I ran out of Alcan 120, so substitued nine grains of Unique this time, mainly because I was lazy and had things set up to throw that charge and had the Unique out. The Alcan 120 worked great as a 50 yard load, accurate, no recoil and hit right where we wanted at 50 yards, so hoping no sight changes.

Nine grains of Unique is pretty light and below minimum in the Lyman book for similar case capacity things and I got thinking about that after loading 50 rouds. I'm 99% sure it'll be fine, but just wanted to ask if anybody thinks it may cause hang fires or other problems?

 

[Ben]

You should be fine with the 9.0 Unique load.
I'd feel better if the bullet were heavier.
If possible point the muzzle up and try to place most of the powder against the primer. You will most likely end up with quite a bit of carbon on the case necks. However, the load should be safe.

Ben

 

[richhodg66]

Thanks.

The cases hardly took any effort at all to resize, so this level loads is obviuosly extremely low pressure. Been wanting to use up these light bullets since I had so many, might would have been a good idea to use 700X or Bullseye instead. I get a little queasy thinking of double charges with Bullseye, though.

I need to do some experimenting, this is a fine rifle and I won't ever get rid of it, so I guess I need to work with it more. It isn't the kind of thing I'd have bought for myself most likely, but I cannot fault it for anything.

 

[Rick H]

I would love a Hi-Wall in 30-40 Krag. Sounds like a great rifle.

 

[richhodg66]

I believe this one is a Cimmaron, top quality rifle and (dare I say it?) probably better in most respects than an original.

The .30-40 was one of Dad's faves and has become one of mine. It may be the perfect cast bullet cartridge.

Uberti is making a "Stalking Rifle" on a repro High Wall, closest it comes is .303 British for a chambering, but that's close enough for me. I WILL have one of those eventually, just a tad pricey at the moment.

 

[todd]

the Krag has become one of my favorites and it is the best cast boolit cartridge EVER!!!!!!!!!!

i have a sporter 1898 krag that has passed down since my great-grandfather. my great grandfather, grandfather, dad and late uncle had it. the krag was given a Bishop's stock sometime in the early '60s. when my grandfather died, my neighbor found the original sporter stock in my pap's basement's rafters. i stripped the stock off and put on minwax antique oil. i also found a Redfield No-Drill 102K aperture sight WITH screws to put on. i use 165gr Ranch Dog(173gr actual wgt) with h4198 that goes 1926fps. 8 or 9 deer all agree, the Krag is a DRT round.

i have another one that i rescued from the rust pile.

i have 2 Krag actions

 

[Bret4207]

I believe this one is a Cimmaron, top quality rifle and (dare I say it?) probably better in most respects than an original.

The .30-40 was one of Dad's faves and has become one of mine. It may be the perfect cast bullet cartridge.

Uberti is making a "Stalking Rifle" on a repro High Wall, closest it comes is .303 British for a chambering, but that's close enough for me. I WILL have one of those eventually, just a tad pricey at the moment.

DANG MAN!!! Now I'm drooling all over the key board!!!!

1885 "Courteney" Stalking Rifle | Uberti USA Replica Rifles and Revolvers

www.uberti-usa.com

 

[richhodg66]

They shot well considering I don't shoot the rifle very often, didn't do any load development, didn't even mess with seating depth in relation to the throat, just seated where it "looked" about right. I need to do more with this rifle. Ten shot group at 50 yards with a tang sight and front post.

 

[fiver]

reminds me of the 98-11 the boy shoots.
this LEE scoop is about 10 grs. of unique, these mag-tech primers cost me about 20 bucks a brick,,, and i got a bunch of these bullets.
here Boy go to town.
the groups looks pretty similar.

 

[richhodg66]

I really should get off my butt and get some 311284s and some 4198 loads together and see what that rifle will really do. My sporterized Krag likes that combination quite a bit.

 

[richhodg66]

Pic of this rifle with my Dad shooting it about a year ago. It was a good but at the same time kinda rough day yesterday, he's gone downhill a lot since this picture, and while he enjoyed being out, didn't want to shoot much and was frustrated with his inability to shoot a revolver very well at all. It's rough as hell watching the debilitating effects of old age, the man was a S.C. state champion on the Bullseye pistol circuit for many years shooting a Gold Cup and Match Target Woodsman and holds a doctorate in history from the University of Texas and was a leader in everything he ever did. Hard watching what old age will do to someone. I guess I should be thnakful, he's doing a lot better than many of the folks in that assisted living place.

 

[Ben]

Does me good to see your Dad enjoying his day at the range.

Ben

 

[Missionary]

Rejoice in every day you get with your dad.
Tang sights / receiver sights sure do help the older eyes see the front sight and target.

 

[popper]

I run 9 1/2 to 10 gr unique under 145gr PB, very accurate in 30/30 and lots of fun. I did use same with the half jacket hornady but seated out so far it caused spit necks. And fps is pretty high.
Spend lots of time with your dad, may get frustrating but they need it.

 

[dale2242]

10 gr of Unique has worked well for a light load in everything from 30-30 to 30-06 and all calibers of the like size.
It works well for me with bullets that weigh from 150gr to 200+ gr.

 

[Bret4207]

My dad died at 47 when I was 20. Trust me, I envy anyone who gets to spend some of their adult years with their father. You are blessed! Cherish every moment.

 

[richhodg66]

I think it was from a member here, I bought a mold that makes a plain based 311284, which has been the best shooting cast bullet in the '06 and Krag. I may still have some cast up, gotta look for those and try them out, seems like the Krag was made for heavy bullets.

 

[RicinYakima]

I think it was from a member here, I bought a mold that makes a plain based 311284, which has been the best shooting cast bullet in the '06 and Krag. I may still have some cast up, gotta look for those and try them out, seems like the Krag was made for heavy bullets.

220 grain, straight sided bullet with a hemispherical nose with a cupronickel jacket.

 

[PED1945]

Good of you to take your dad to the range. Beautiful rifle.

I have made reduced loads for lots of old military cartridges using 10 to 12 grains of Unique and cast bullets.

You are right about the new reproduction High Walls being expensive. The Uberti in 303 or 45/70 is $1795. Very tempting. Still have my 311299 mold.

 

[richhodg66]

Actually got loose from work at a decent hour today, weather was beautiful and I had some more loads for the High Wall ready to go, same exact load except 7 grains of 700X instead of 9 grains of Unique. I think this charge is probably better with this bullet weight.Dad sure liked that bullet, I have a lot of them and now I believe it is not a SAeco design but the 311441. Whatever it is, this rifle seems to like it retty well. This is three groups shot at 50 yards, two ten shots and one eleven shot. Would probably be better if it had been mid day when the light was better.