Finally found my Krag

[ssgross]

I think you could get in there with a dremel or a die grinder and just fair up that joint. The metal on the side cover is case hardened and will take some work. Be careful not to cut deep into the receiver, which is a lot softer.

Jon - are you saying the feed angle at the joint needs to be lessened? If I hear you right - removing some material from where the side-plate and receiver mate would make the feed slot closer to parallel with the receiver (of course I don't mean grind it parallel, just grind or file in that direction) should change the point at which the case gets it's first "bump" over to the right? Wouldn't removing material from that area move the round time more towards the lip of the chamber, instead of further to the right? In my rifle, the hangup is the nose of the round hitting the flat to the left of the chamber, not snagging on the joint where the sideplate mates with the receiver.

Another question for the group...was the original ammo jacketed? I found this picture labeled as Winchester 30 US Army from 1895. If authentic, it looks like jacketed with a soft lead nose.
Attachment 110996

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[butlersrangers]

So much for trusting memory, I studied the feed of various .30-40 loads in a model 1896 and a model 1898 Krag, today. I studied the interior of a couple of loose side-plates.

The inside of the Krag side-plate has a 'ridge' and it is farther back than I described.
This 'ridge' appears to act on the taper of the cartridge-case body and does not touch the case shoulder.

With the initial movement of the Bolt, the top cartridge rim is just contacted by the bolt-face.

The initial movement moves the cartridge forward and the cartridge tip 'dips' downward. With further movement the bullet tip makes contact with curved surfaces of the side-plate and receiver that form a ramp, directing the bullet nose toward the chamber. It is very important that the seam between the side-plate and receiver be smooth. Round-nose bullets have an advantage riding over the seam.

While the cartridge is moving forward, the ridge on the side-plate and edges of the receiver opening to the magazine continue to act on the cartridge and may influence the angle it takes toward the chamber mouth.

[jon_norstog]

Jon - are you saying the feed angle at the joint needs to be lessened? If I hear you right - removing some material from where the side-plate and receiver mate would make the feed slot closer to parallel with the receiver (of course I don't mean grind it parallel, just grind or file in that direction) ...
Attachment 110996

I was thinking of the case where the bullet nose is snagging on the joint between the side plate and receiver. Not taking out a lot of material, just smoothing that joint. If the round isn't getting pointed into the chamber that is something different - maybe a new used sideplate would do the job. I've never had THAT particular problem.

Good luck!

jn

[butlersrangers]

The U.S. Krag and 1903 Springfield were "Magazine Rifles" designed to be used as 'single-loaders', with the contents of the magazine held in reserve.
Both rifles had a magazine cut-off switch and a bolt 'hold-open device, to assist single-loading.

On command, the magazine contents could be utilized. The 1903 Springfield had the added virtue of rapid reloading of the magazine with 'Chargers', (a.k.a. Stripper-Clips).

Back in the early 1900's, when the Krag was utilized in International Palma Matches, (fired in three stages, of 800, 900, and 1,000 yards), projectiles with superior ballistics were used. These cartridges, with improved projectiles, might not function through the magazine. This was not a problem. Match-Cartridges could be single loaded directly into the chamber during slow-fire.

Hunting and Rapid-Fire Matches require smooth feeding of all five cartridges in the magazine.
Bullet profile and over-all cartridge length play a role in making things run smoothly.

The bullet tips help position the cartridges in the Krag magazine. When the rifle is 'fired', inertia causes forward movement of cartridges in the magazine.
Cartridges near the maximum length, allowed by the magazine, keep things positioned correctly.

I have loaded Krag rounds with 110 grain RN bullets, intended for the M1 Carbine. This makes a fun, but very short, 'plinking' round.
When five of these rounds are put in the magazine, the first couple might feed from the magazine.
With continued firing, the remaining cartridges will move too far forward. A cartridge rim or the case -body will ultimately wedge in the magazine opening and jam the bolt.

The jam can be cleared by retracting the bolt, opening the magazine-gate, and pushing all remaining cartridges to the rear, before re-closing the gate.

It is wise to test a Krag's feed reliability with the ammo that is going to be used for Hunting or Rapid-Fire Matches by filling the magazine and monitoring feed function at range sessions.