U.S. Marines circa 1898.

I ran across this picture last night while 'google searching' a topic on Krags. The photo was captioned, "United States Marines with Krag-Jorgensen rifles". It's further stated to be 1898 and possibly Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

I have never seen this picture before. The men actually appear to have model 1895 Winchester-Lee rifles, bayonets and web gear. The picture looks 'posed' to me, but, at least two of the men seem to be inserting '6mm U.S.N. clips' into the magazines of their straight-pull Winchesters.

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Yes, Looks like Lee Navy rifles, I used to have the sporter version. I had enough brass to shoot it regularly too...

Here's my 95 Win rig I had put together over the years with complete with and almost impossible to find, original 95 Win sling and equally scare original pull through cleaning wire brush on it's original string.
I reloaded for it and shot it with light loads. Tried cast bullets first, but the type of rifling it had, I think was called Metworth, but can't recall if that is right for sure, but it was similar to the rifling on the Japanese rifles which also didn't work well with lead bullets either. Sad to say, I need to consider downsizing my collection and selling it because of age, one of my favorites. Ray

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Very nice piece. I have no pics mostly from not thinking about it. Also it was before digital so... Mine was a sporter, had been in a fire so I had a new stock made. I also reblued...I used original brass and ammo as much as possible, would strip the ammo and replace the primers and powder. One day I took out 40 rds for range, probably the most 236 ammo to be shot at one time in at least 50 years in the world. I think I was using 30 gr of IMR 3031...? I forget now. I had bullets vaporize out at 50 yds, disappear in a black puff. The ones that did make it struck the steel plate with a resounding smack, lacking nothing in energy. It would have been nice to have used it hunting just once...would have been a good story. I too sold it due to it and I getting older and wanting it to be where it should be, not just in my gun box because I was a gun hoarder...next guy likely won't shoot it either.

Jim what kind of groups did you get with that 30grs of 3031? I only fired my rifle about 20 times using 28grs of the 3031 and was a little disappointed with the grouping. Probably should have increased the charge to your 30 grs as the 28grs maybe did bump up the bullet and grip rifling enough. But had other rifles waiting to be shot, Ray

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More Marines, Sailors (Dewey Parade & Dedication - NYC 1899), and a Marine, actually with a Krag!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by rayg

what kind of groups did you get with that 30grs of 3031?

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I had to go check to be sure, yes it was 30 gr. The only notes taken were "Great!"...I recall it would hit where I wanted and at 200 yds was emphatic on the gong. The bore was poor as I suspect most are. Strong but had been rusted. I just remember seeing the bullets evaporate at about 50 yds towards the 200 yd. Nice clear black puff...just a few. Most were SP RN and both copper jacket and cupronickle SP. Very few FMJ if any, that I recall. Kept an example of everything for the collection...

Just for the heck of it with nothing better to do, here's photos of the sling, with the Win star proof, and the brush and cord. I have since picked up another original sling made for the two Win lever and Lee 95 rifles. Very very scarce slings, Ray

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I had one of the pullthroughs and it lived in the butt of the rifle. I believe it was still there when it sold, it was of no use for cleaning. It was pretty rough shape...