Custom 1898 Krag Target Rifle

[browningautorifle]

Lots of custom stuff there...completely. I take it you haven't printed it yet?

[cprher]

Lots of custom stuff there...completely. I take it you haven't printed it yet?

I worked up some initial test loads when I first got the rifle. One load in particular with a 190 grain Sierra Match King held 2" at 200 yards from a rest using iron sights. I've just had my gunsmith fit a Redfield 3200 to the gun. It not only looks period correct, but should allow me to extract a bit more accuracy from the gun and make load testing easier and more consistent. He's testing the rifle and the loads this week.

Keith

[browningautorifle]

We'll be watching...expectantly. Bet it's sweet.

[Calif-Steve]

The rifle looks modern, certainly not a 1920-30's job, bluing appears hot dip and not rust blue. The trigger looks like a '03 trigger, cut off and welded in place. This was a very expensive gunsmithing project and well done at that. Nice find.

[cprher]

The rifle looks modern, certainly not a 1920-30's job, bluing appears hot dip and not rust blue. The trigger looks like a '03 trigger, cut off and welded in place. This was a very expensive gunsmithing project and well done at that. Nice find.

Steve,
I have to agree with you. Greg Roberts at Dayton Traister was kind enough to look at the pictures of the trigger and identified it as one of theirs with the exception of the trigger shoe, which appears to be an original Krag (maybe 1903 Springfield) that was welded on to the DT trigger, most likely by Armitage, the gunsmith. Greg stated that DT made a few Mark II triggers for Krag rifles, mostly in the 50's and 60's, but sold some as late as 1985 when the company was sold, so that lead doesn't help me date the rifle's build. He recognized the one on my rifle as a DT Mk II Krag trigger saying "they were all a rather crude modification of a standard Mk II trigger." I've yet to come across any other pictures of a DT Mark II trigger for a Krag.

If it was built in the 50's or 60's, which I suspect, the main question is why? There were much better platforms available ('03 Springfield, Mauser 98, etc.), and the cost of this build must have been substantial. Still scratching my head on why.

Keith

[andiarisaka]

Why? For the love of Krags, of course. I've got this action.....

[browningautorifle]

, the main question is why

I'd love to have a Krag done up like this. They aren't sloppy like 1903s...M'98s...

[Calif-Steve]

It is a Target Rifle in a hunting stock?? It is a little off-beat in my opinion. Not a cheap at all, but what did they end up with? Hunting from a stand, I'll guess. Hardly used, as well. Somebody had it custom built then likely had a heart attack or died. Looks hardly used.

[browningautorifle]

It is a Target Rifle in a hunting stock??

That looks about right. I don't think it was for hunting at all though. This is typical of target rifles, the bedding and specifically the sights set up...trigger...sure, it would be fine for hunting. You'd be able to guarantee your shot placement.

[cprher]

Here are a few quick pics of my target rifle with the Redfield 3200 mounted. I only had time for three 4-shot groups with three different loads: 175, 180 and 190 Sierra Match King. The 190 shot nice 1.25" cluster at 200 yards. It was loaded over 40.5 grains of IMR4350 and ignited with a CCI200 primer. The 180 shot a little over 2" and the 175 vertically strung the group over 4". The chrono showed that the 190 load averaged 2052 fps out of the 26" barrel, with an SD of 23 and an ES of 57.







Keith