New to me sporterized 1898

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03-22-2021, 01:34 PM
Kyle M.

New to me sporterized 1898

So I know how everybody including myself feels about sporterized rifles, but I've wanted a handy Krag-Jorgensen carbine for years. When I was 16 I traded my way into a 1898 carbine which was mostly original, the handguard had been lost and a smaller barrel band fitted, and the cutoff had been replaced with a pacific peep sight. The guy I got it from believed it to be a sporterized rifle, so did the guy I sold it to. It wasn't until several owners down the line did we discover it was a legtimate carbine.

Over the past 15 years I've passed on some nice Krag rifles and a few sporters, fast forward to last Saturday and I traded my way into what is not only one of the best looking sporterized rifles I've seen but definitely the best sporterized Krag I've come across. This appears to be a model 1898 made in 1901 based on the Serial # 329228 with a mint bore. Whoever did the work kept the original stock and handguard and did an excellent job of checkering and carving a Schnabel forend, as well as adding a pistol grip and filling in the cutout in the handguard for the rear sight. I don't think the recoil pad was necessary but it was also fitted well. They also added a Pacific peep sight that fits into the hole for the magazine cutoff, I'm not sure what the front sight is as it doesn't appear to be marked. I'm guessing the rifle was reblued and that was also done well as none of the markings appear to be heavily buffed. The barrel was shortened to 26".

I have a set of dies and 100 pieces of brass on the way from Grafs, I have several bullet molds from 150-220 grains and sizers for .309", .311", and 312". I also have about 500 .308 jacketed bullets from 150-200 grains so I should be good for awhile.

Here are a few pics.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...021/03/1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...021/03/2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...021/03/3-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...021/03/4-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...021/03/5-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...021/03/6-1.jpg
03-22-2021, 03:40 PM
pickax

That is nicely done, I'd be proud to own it.
Congrats!
03-22-2021, 04:54 PM
Kyle M.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickax

That is nicely done, I'd be proud to own it.
Congrats!

Thanks, it makes me glad that I passed on the last one I almost bought.
03-22-2021, 06:39 PM
browningautorifle

Very nice, I see the sight opening was filled on the handguard. I wouldn't mind that one either. Looks like you could shoot it all day. I have dies still too...
03-22-2021, 10:11 PM
Kyle M.

Quote:

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Very nice, I see the sight opening was filled on the handguard. I wouldn't mind that one either. Looks like you could shoot it all day. I have dies still too...

Yes I’m surprised what a good job someone did on the handguard and added pistol grip. Looking at the underside of the handguard it appears that acraglass or something similar was used.

My plans are to work up a 50 yard cast load for plinking. I only have about 50 yards here at home and I don’t need a full power load with jacketed bullets for punching paper.
03-22-2021, 11:16 PM
browningautorifle

Maybe about a one hundred or so grain bullet cast and gas check...something like Trail Boss powder?
03-23-2021, 12:04 PM
Kyle M.

Quote:

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Maybe about a one hundred or so grain bullet cast and gas check...something like Trail Boss powder?

I was thinking about trying a 150 grain and about 18 grains of IMR4198. That’s what I use in my K31 and what I previously used in my 1889 Schmidt Rubin. There are definitely lighter loads but it’s by no means a heavy load. The 150 is the lightest bullet I have a mold for, I may try Unique as well but I don’t have much left and it’s hard to find right now.
03-23-2021, 04:52 PM
browningautorifle

I have scads of molds for .30 cal...except a really heavy one. Yours should work too.
03-23-2021, 07:51 PM
butlersrangers

I'll bet your 'sporter' will be a "tack driver" with scads of loads! Nice looking Krag.
03-23-2021, 09:31 PM
Kyle M.

Quote:

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I have scads of molds for .30 cal...except a really heavy one. Yours should work too.

I also have scads of molds but they range from .380” to .735”. I have more .459” molds for my .45-70’s than anything.

---------- Post added at 09:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by butlersrangers

I'll bet your 'sporter' will be a "tack driver" with scads of loads! Nice looking Krag.

Thanks.
03-29-2021, 01:45 PM
jon_norstog

That is a really nice sporter, and one with all the right stuff. The Pacific (and its cpies) peep sight is easy to lose in the field unless you loctite the big screw down. Don't ask me how I know this. There are better aperature sights, including the Williams FP-krag which may still be available new, also sometimes you can find an older Redfield for the Krag - both sights heve better windage and elevation adjustments than the Pacific.

Unique is great powder. It just takes a little and it lights up easily even in a large cartridge. It is very predictable.

Good luck!

jn
06-29-2021, 09:03 PM
baltimoreed

1 Attachment(s)

Attachment 118302 Attachment 118301
Nice sporter Kyle. This is mine. I’ve been using 10.0 gr V-V Tin Star and a 193 gr gc bullet in my Krags and ‘03s. My first Krag was a faux carbine [I shouldn’t have bought] that I rebuilt as a Scout rifle with a Kraghaus scope mount and a Nikon IER scope. Cut and faced the already cut bbl to 19 inches. Added the cheek pad and ammo carrier. The cheek pad puts my eye right behind the scope every time.