Scope mount for 30-40 Krag?

[BGunther]

I had to pick this one up last year; despite it's horrendous condition it's got a great bore and Krag's are scarce here north of the 49.

I can get a new stock from Macon but the sights are...stolen off a low grade .22?
I was thinking about trying a no smith scope mount from S & K. Has anyone here any experience with this type of mount?

Gotta love the blister grafted on to the wrist of the stock to 'fab up' a pistol grip.
It was checkered at one point too.
But it's an early model, that I recall. Maybe a '94?
I'm working 'patch 800 miles from home so I can't just open the safe and look.

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.

[JOHN42768]

Tokguy, If you have a chance take a look at the Krag Collector Association site. Also check the classified heading as many parts are listed. I don't have scopes on mine. There also is a no drill mount available. John

[andiarisaka]

The S&K mount has a ring that clamps around the receiver. You'd have to do some minor inletting for that. If the original rear sight screwholes are still on the barrel, kraghaus makes a couple mounts for LER scopes or red dot sights. Ammunition & Sight Rails for .30-40 Krag Rifles I've used the short kraghaus mount for a light LER scope, works fine, despite having only two short screws holding it on.

[jon_norstog]

Tok,

That is not a bad rifle, if the barrel is good. You might want to look at a couple other options besides a scope. redfield and Pacific made peep sights that screwed in where the magazine cutoff lives. No mod necessary - poor man's scope.

Also, the 1901 sight is pretty decent. It is adjustable for windage and has a funny little peep sight stuck into the ladder. Unless you are really into bench rest shooting, either sight will be fine.

It looks to me like the barrel was never cut? If so your rifle is a prime restoration candidate. All you would need is a fore-end, some stock hardware and a rear sight. You can indulge yourself a little because most Krags got in-service mods, you caqn kind of pick and choose.

good luck!

jn

[westkraut]

Tokguy: I bought an S&K no drill mount to try on my Krags. It actually was a far better fit on my Norwegian Krag than it was on the US Krag 30/40. On both rifles you need to do some wood removal to allow the S&K Split ring to fit into the stock. In both cases as well the scope (a 40mm) prevented use of the safety and would require you to grind off 3/16" of safety lever or raise the scope....not easily done with the S&K mount. I have it currently on the US Krag and will try this at the range but am not sure if the mount will remain stationary with the 30/40's recoil. The S&K fits much more snuggly on the Norwegian Krag. I have also ordered a used peep sight that will mount on the US Krag without drilling any holes. This may work well enough for short range hunting for deer or moose and allow me to put the scope onto a Norwegian Krag for longer range shooting. Good luck with yours.

[andiarisaka]

Get a low scope safety rather than grinding the original. They show up from time to time on ebay or gunbroker.

[andiarisaka]

This is a Miller Kodiak Dreamount on a Krag. The mount can be quickly removed and the bolt replaced with one that has a Rice peep sight on it. Originally. the front of the Dreamount would have attached to a band specifically cut for the Krag's barrel diameter. Lacking that barrel band, I had to improvise. Sorry the pics aren't in the proper order, but you get the idea. Low mounted, 32mm objectives work, with some inserts that raise the scope, 42mm objectives will work. The 6x24x40 scope is fun to use for cast bullet matches, but the boosted Alaskan looks classier.

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[westkraut]

I thought I would share some more information about the S&K mount for US Krags. I finally decided to add the scope mount to my Norwegian Krag in 6.5x54 MS just becuse the mount fits more securely than it did on the US Krags. I cut a narrow strip of aluminum in 20 mil thickness to shim beneath the receiver loop that comes with the S&K mount. The scope ends up about 1.3 inches to the left of the center of the bore line of sight but the scope ring set screws will allow for the scope to be aligned to whatever bore sighting distance you choose.......I am using 300m as don't want to have to take out the rifle bolt unnecessarily. The scope seems secure now but again, shimming is needed because all of the Krags had receiver fronts that were smaller then the S&K receiver loop.

[westkraut]

Back to the drawing board! Another problem with the S&K mount that seems to be resolved by the Miller Kodisl Dreammount andiarisake describes above, besides all the others already mentioned, is that it is impossible to install or remove the bolt of either the Norwegian or the US Krag rifles after the mount is secured. On the Norwegian mentioned above with it clamped in a rifle vice I bore sighted to long range, then removed the rings and base leaving the receiver clamp and mag cut off pieces (turned down) in place. Unfortunately, nothing seemed aligned after reinstalling the scope and rings and base. I assume some of the movement relates to the positioning of the mag cut off as there was no movement to the receiver clamp. It may be possible to drill through the receiver clamp in two locations and thread shallow holes to secure the clamp. It would also be necessary to drill and tap a hole through the rear of the left side of the receiver to allow a screw to secure the shaft of the S&K mag cut off piece in place after it has been returned to the upright position. It is looking more and more that S&K are $135 richer and I have a dud scope mount. Anyone want to buy a slightly used S&K Krag no drill mount??? It may be more practical to drill and tap the left side of the receiver and install a side mount then an elevated set of offset rings that allows for the scope and rings to be removed to permit for bore sighting and removal/addition of the bolt. Also, does anyone know the hardness of the U.S. Krag receivers? My titanium and carbon steel bits don't do more than marr the surface! The research continues!

[andiarisaka]

I don't know the hardness, but I have read that spot annealing is necessary before drilling. Tiny torch, pinpoint flame, I'd guess. The Miller Kodiaks are getting hard to come by, Savage 99 collectors will pay $400 for them on ebay, and I only have 3!