Barrel Repair

Art Eatman · March 29, 1999, 02:01 AM

I picked up an old Krag-Jorgensen pretty cheap. It has a nice Redfield peep sight mounted at the read of the action.

There are two holes drilled and tapped into the barrel, located four inches and almost six inches forward of the bolt face.

Question: Are these attachment holes for the original military rear sight? They appear to be a #8, if not a #10. What perturbs me is that they are drilled rather deep. Not much steel left from the bottom of the holes to the bore...

The possibility of just living with blind screws exists, of course, since I don't plan on much shooting, and then with mild loads. Or, possibly careful wire-welding from the bottom up? Dunno.

George, you have any ideas?

Regards, Art

George Stringer · March 29, 1999, 07:50 AM

Art, if I read you right the holes don't go through and actually into the bore. I've done the following with several rifles after either drilling & tapping for scopes or if that was done at the factory and the owner just wants the sight screw holes filled in. Buy or make threaded plugs in mild steel about 1/16" longer than necessary. Screw in, pean them down then polish and blue as usual. Very rarely can you even tell they are there. Welding would probably work just fine as well. George

George Stringer · March 29, 1999, 07:53 AM

Almost forgot. Yes, these are screw holes for the old rear sight. George

Art Eatman · March 29, 1999, 09:59 AM

George: Thanks. I'll just use the blind screws; I have some which will let me follow your notion.

James K · March 29, 1999, 11:01 AM

I don't know how "sporterized" that Krag is, but you might consider using regular plug screws. They are easy to get used to and that way if you ever want to restore that Krag, you can remove them and put on the original sight. Krags are becoming pretty valuable.

Art Eatman · March 30, 1999, 12:42 AM

Yeah, Jim, there were two other Krags at the gunshow I was at, and both were rather ratty-looking. And the guys were asking around $600! I thought mine at $250 was more like it...

March 29, 1999, 02:01 AM	#1
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I picked up an old Krag-Jorgensen pretty cheap. It has a nice Redfield peep sight mounted at the read of the action. There are two holes drilled and tapped into the barrel, located four inches and almost six inches forward of the bolt face. Question: Are these attachment holes for the original military rear sight? They appear to be a #8, if not a #10. What perturbs me is that they are drilled rather deep. Not much steel left from the bottom of the holes to the bore... The possibility of just living with blind screws exists, of course, since I don't plan on much shooting, and then with mild loads. Or, possibly careful wire-welding from the bottom up? Dunno. George, you have any ideas? Regards, Art

March 29, 1999, 07:50 AM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Art, if I read you right the holes don't go through and actually into the bore. I've done the following with several rifles after either drilling & tapping for scopes or if that was done at the factory and the owner just wants the sight screw holes filled in. Buy or make threaded plugs in mild steel about 1/16" longer than necessary. Screw in, pean them down then polish and blue as usual. Very rarely can you even tell they are there. Welding would probably work just fine as well. George

March 29, 1999, 07:53 AM	#3
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Almost forgot. Yes, these are screw holes for the old rear sight. George

March 29, 1999, 09:59 AM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	George: Thanks. I'll just use the blind screws; I have some which will let me follow your notion.

March 29, 1999, 11:01 AM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I don't know how "sporterized" that Krag is, but you might consider using regular plug screws. They are easy to get used to and that way if you ever want to restore that Krag, you can remove them and put on the original sight. Krags are becoming pretty valuable.

March 30, 1999, 12:42 AM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Yeah, Jim, there were two other Krags at the gunshow I was at, and both were rather ratty-looking. And the guys were asking around $600! I thought mine at $250 was more like it...