Newbie questions -- Found a 1898

Hi,

I've got a newbie question as I am very new to collecting. I found a 1898 Springfield (Krag) with what appears to be 1901 sights. Other than that the rifle looks like it has not been sportized. I didn't get a chance to check out the barrel as we was not sure how to remove the bolt. There was very little rust. The only thing that had some rust was the trap door and a coupel of small pits on the outside of the barrel. I do not believe it was a carbine.

The price was around $650. Good price?

When I look at the bore what should I be looking for?

Besides the cartouches, what else should I look for?

In the end I would like to collect and shoot the rifle. Any suggestion would be appreciated?

Thanks,
CM

The short answer is go to the Krag Collectors Association website and look at the various pictures of full length rifles and carbines posted there. $650 for an unmodified full-length rifle is a good price. If it has been sporterized in any way, $650 is way too much.

As far as shooting goes - Krag's make great cast bullet shooters. Krag bore sizes (made before late 1899) tend to run all over the map. My Krag for instance has a bore that slugs .312. It does not shoot .308 jacketed bullets very well (no surprise). It is a very accurate cast bullet shooter with properly sized bullets. I suspect it will shoot .311 jacketed bullets (e.g., .303 British bullets) well. I know others have had success with this. The Krag is a very easy cartridge to handload for.

Thank you Kragluver.

So I guess based upon your response there is no special things to look at regarding the bore. Other than it is clean. I was thinking I needed to look for something regarding bore wear like I would for a M1 Garand.

Looking at the Krag Collectors Association website, it definitely looks like the unmodified photo.

So I am off first thing to tomorrow to double check the barrel and bring it home. :)

Thanks again.
CM

To remove the bolt, pull up on the front of the extractor while trying to raise the bolt handle. Once the extractor is clear of the receiver the bolt will come out. Watch for an eroded throat in the barrel, the ammo was corrosive back then, and some of the rifles were used to shoot blanks without cleaning. You couldn't push a patch through one of my 98s until the corroded throat was smoothed with a stainless steel brush. New barrels are available from the CMP, but having to get one would certainly lower the price you should be willing to pay.