Krag rifle help....

Hello from Florida new member been looking at a Krag rifle and need some help. Possibly purchasing but can't really find information, original , modified, sportized, fake. attaching pictures hopefully this will help. Thanks[IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...ps86eb49d0.jpg[/IMG][/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...psac57b0df.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...psc06aa198.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1e64cffb.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...psfd49bf3d.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...psd1e67e2b.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2ed826b7.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...ps633c4d31.jpg[/IMG]

MannyR: The Krag you are considering is a Model 1898 Rifle that has been cut-down and 'sporterized'. I believe the 'banded' ramp front sight is a Redfield. The rear 'peep' sight is a 'no-drill' Redfield 102K. It is held on by a longer commercial side-plate screw and a plate that hooks into the opening for the (removed) magazine cut-off lever. The Stock has been shortened, sanded, and re-shaped.
Such a Krag "Sporter" is worth around $300 to $350, but, difficult to re-sell. Such rifles are pretty fun to shoot and useful for hunting. The Redfield 102K is worth about $100.
You would have to like this Krag "As Is". Restoration is financially too costly! I frankly enjoy playing with 'sporterized' Krags. It is what happened to many during the 1920s and 1930s, when they could be bought for a "buck-fifty".

Attachment 55487

Thank you butlersrangers for your help asking price is $600. glad I posted. Rifle looks very nice but can wait for a original.

MannyR: You should be able to buy a correct and decent Model 1898 Krag Rifle for $750 to $850. Stay patient and save up for it. The 'sporterized' Krag that you posted pictures of would only be worth $350, if broken down for Parts. It could be a fun utility rifle, but, nobody with knowledge will pay much for it.

There were only about 9 or 10 different Variants to the US Krag !............Which one is it, or was it ?...................

It appears to be a Model 1898 Rifle.

Here is my "from memory" list of major Krag models:

(1) Original unaltered M1892 Rifle (scarce)
(2) M1892 Rifle altered to 1896 (uncommon)
(3) M1896 Carbine (uncommon)
(4) M1896 Rifle (common)
(5) M1896 Cadet Rifle (virtually unknown - extremely rare)
(6) M1898 Carbine (uncommon to scarce - in original form)
(7) M1898 Rifle (very common)
(8) M1899 Carbine (common)
(9) M1898 Rifle with 26" barrel (very rare)
(10) M1898 Rifle Gallery Practice (.22) (very scarce)

Variations in markings, stocks, and especially sights, would probably triple that. I have been collecting for 45 years, and have specimens of all items except (5).

I intentionally omitted the M1892 Carbine because only two (2) were made and they are both in museums.

The rest - with the exception of the Cadet - are out there. I have even acquired two (9)s "out of the brush".

Adding some more pictures, thanks again .[IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9e8965e8.jpg[/IMG][/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...ps58e5eda6.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...ps99f07d59.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/...psf89486b9.jpg[/IMG]

I think it'd make a sweet little hunting rifle.

Manny,

That is almost identical in configuration to my elk-hunting rifle. My brothers and I hunt in the mountains of central Idaho, where 65 yards is a long shot. The Ktag is perfect. I like 220 gr RN in front of a strong dose of 4350 for elk, 150 RN for deer.

That sporter is easily worth $300 provided the barrel is good. I would suggest making an offer. Good luck!

jn

Got one (sort of) like OP's. Paid $125 in 1995 at local gun shop. I even put a moldy Boyt sling on it like the one pictured above! Great shooter except for one tiny flaw: excessive head space. I think sometimes I would like to make a collection of 'poverty sporters' and related pieces from the period. :)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...edium800-1.jpg

MasterChief: If your Krag is stretching fired cases and causing case-head separations, you might give a 'new' bolt a try. Frankly, from my experience, Krags are not prone to show problems with head-space. However, in the old days, some gunsmiths lapped the locking lug in order to get the bolt's guide rib to also bear on the receiver. If this was done to your Krag, it adds several thousandths of free travel between the barrel breech and the recessed bolt face. This is easily remedied with a new bolt.

Note: Norwegian Krags were fitted so that the bolt contacted the receiver both at the locking lug and bolt rib. U.S. Krags were fitted so that there was a gap between the bolt rib and receiver. If a U.S. Krag is wearing its original barrel and the bolt rib is making contact with the receiver, it is likely someone lapped the bolt lug. This would increase the head-space.
Attachment 55809

Wow, that would seem to me to be a recipe for disaster. :eek:

In theory, the rib contacting the action gave the bolt more support. If a new barrel was being fitted, things could be adjusted to keep head-space in limits. With the rimmed .30-40 cartridge, excessive head-space probably caused case stretching and short case life, but, the case rim and walls probably sealed gas from coming into action.

You may not have a problem with headspace. Headspace for the rimmed Krag is measured on the rim only and not from the bolt face to the shoulder. The chamber is going to be, shall we say, generous and the case shoulder will move forward on firing. If you full length resize and move the shoulder back it will stretch again on the next firing and eventually cause case head separation. Neck size your cases and don't move the shoulder back and you should eliminate the problem.

Jerry Liles

If the bolt has moved back, of course the headspace increases. That means the cartridge no longer resembles it's original shape. But, he IS having separated cases.

MasterChief never stated in his post, if his rifle's "excessive headspace" was causing problems. I assumed something must be happening for him to conclude he had a headspace problem.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MasterChief

Great shooter except for one tiny flaw: excessive head space.

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I should think this means there's a tiny flaw...(problem)

Mind, I've had many .303s that would separate brass after several shots and that wasn't a problem for me. I just discarded brass after so many shots.

Thank you all kindly for your replies.

I deduced excessive head space after the 5th round blew back the hair hanging down my forehead. Then I found 4 blackened primer pockets and one completely blown primer. I Sherlock'ed this was probably due to excessive head space. These were Remington factory rounds from circa 1950's, new rounds, not reloads.

Someday (and that day may never come) I would like to try the neck up/neck down trick to create a temporary artificial shoulder for first-firing/fire-forming new brass and ressurrect this old wallflower.

I will check the bolt fit.

Thanks again and best wishes. Dave

MasterChief: If your Krag was backing out primers with factory loads, your assumption about excessive headspace sounds likely.
If you have an empty .30-40 cartridge case, you can improvise a headspace gauge. You can 'glue' a washer on the base of the case. File the washer so that the maximum dimension from the front of the rim to the back of the washer is .073 inches. This is the dimension of a 'Field' headspace gauge. A 'stripped' Krag bolt (Striker/extractor assembly removed) should not close on the built-up .073" rim, with light finger pressure on the bolt handle.

Attachment 55993

It may be a problem with headspace if the primers are backing or protruding from the primer pocket in the fired cases. It would take a heck of a lot of excess headspace for them to back out far enough to blacken the pockets and give a blast of gas to the hair. Are the primers pierced or have the primer pockets expanded or have the primers backed out of the pocket? Ammunition from the 50s that hasn't been stored properly may be the cause of the problem rather than excess headspace.

Jerry Liles

One more thing, Krags only had one locking lug & if they have been "hotrodded" the lug could be cracked, making the rifle unsafe to shoot. Someone familiar with Krags really needs to examine before you buy it. :dunno:

---------- Post added at 09:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 PM ----------

Quote:

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Originally Posted by butlersrangers

MasterChief: If your Krag is stretching fired cases and causing case-head separations, you might give a 'new' bolt a try. Frankly, from my experience, Krags are not prone to show problems with head-space. However, in the old days, some gunsmiths lapped the locking lug in order to get the bolt's guide rib to also bear on the receiver. If this was done to your Krag, it adds several thousandths of free travel between the barrel breech and the recessed bolt face. This is easily remedied with a new bolt.

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A new bolt could fix it - or make it worse. The real problem is where to find a bolt. :beerchug:

Not hard to do at all. Watch eBay, Guns for Sale - Online Gun Auction - Buy Guns at GunBroker.com
, or check out the parts suppliers at The U.S. Springfield Trapdoor Rifle Information Center.