30-40 krag questions

tdoyka · December 16, 2014, 09:31 PM

i'm thinking of using my 30-40 krag with cast bullets for hunting deer. i have my 1898 springfield armory cleaned and the lead slug pulled out at .3085". since i don't have everything needed to cast, i chose lead bullets i can buy.

i choose hunter supply ( http://hunters-supply.com/shop...t8m4fmscr8h25okjd5m2 ) and their 193gr fp. what my problem is is this the lee die ( http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...ize-kit-311-diameter ) that will put the gas checks on ( http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...cm_vc=ProductFinding ). and should i use the lee neck expander (m) die ( http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...-die-30-caliber-long )?

thanks for your help!!!

Gary L. Griffiths · December 16, 2014, 09:51 PM

I clicked on all your links, and repeatedly came up with the dreaded 404 error, page not found. From the description, though, it looks like you're setting up to get a die that puts .311 gas checks on your bullets. That's .303 British diameter, not .30-40 Krag. Your bullet weight looks good, though.

If you're asking if you should use a neck expander to enable you to put .311 bullets in .30-40 cases, the answer is NO! If you try to shoot .311 bullets in your Krag, it will put quite a bit of extra pressure/stress on a rather fragile old action!

HiBC · December 17, 2014, 02:49 AM

You might try Oregon Trail Tru-cast.IIRC,they have something .309,approx 200 gr,with lube and gas check already in place.

These are the Lasercast folks,they make a good bullet.

WIL TERRY · December 17, 2014, 01:47 PM

I have shot LFN bullets of .309", .310", .311", and .312" through all of my 30USA [ 30-40KRAG ] rifles and carbines With no--none--nada problems and damn fine accuaracy from most all the bullets that were at least .002"O.D. over BBL groove diamter.
When I tested them in the ballistics lab the pressure was all but IDENTICAL other than the normal swings [ 3000lbsPSI common ] of average pressure in the pressure gun.
And so it goes...

T. O'Heir · December 17, 2014, 03:13 PM

.309", .310", .311", and .312" are the wrong bullet diameter for .30-40 Krag. Just like using a .308" bullet out of a Lee-Enfield is the wrong bullet diameter.
The only thing the .30-40 and the .303 British have in common is the shell holder. You need a .30-40 Krag die set. $30.99 at Midway. Throw the silly scoop away though and use a scale. Reloading is not done with liquid volume measuring.
I'd re-think a 193 for deer too. Even though a 220 was the Ball standard. A 150 will be easier on both you and the rifle.

Howard31 · December 17, 2014, 08:13 PM

Many Krag barrels are over size. Best to slug barrel first. I had a problem with a Krag that wouldn't shoot. Went to a 303 Hornady that miked .3105 and it tightened the group very nicely. I reduced the reloads a bit just to be safe when I first started. I had a friend make me gas checked round nosers around 200 grains and although I never did it I wouldn't think twice about taking a deer with it. Krags love round nose.

Blindstitch · December 18, 2014, 05:24 AM

Your links don't work but I would say to use the neck expanding die. It's only like $14 and well worth the price not to smash brass or shave lead.

On the upside you can form 303 british into short 30-40 krag brass if for some reason you can't find 30-40 brass to start with.

December 16, 2014, 09:31 PM	#1
tdoyka Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2013 Location: windber, pa Posts: 300	30-40 krag questions i'm thinking of using my 30-40 krag with cast bullets for hunting deer. i have my 1898 springfield armory cleaned and the lead slug pulled out at .3085". since i don't have everything needed to cast, i chose lead bullets i can buy. i choose hunter supply ( http://hunters-supply.com/shop...t8m4fmscr8h25okjd5m2 ) and their 193gr fp. what my problem is is this the lee die ( http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...ize-kit-311-diameter ) that will put the gas checks on ( http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...cm_vc=ProductFinding ). and should i use the lee neck expander (m) die ( http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...-die-30-caliber-long )? thanks for your help!!!

December 16, 2014, 09:51 PM	#2
Gary L. Griffiths Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: AZ, WA Posts: 1,466	I clicked on all your links, and repeatedly came up with the dreaded 404 error, page not found. From the description, though, it looks like you're setting up to get a die that puts .311 gas checks on your bullets. That's .303 British diameter, not .30-40 Krag. Your bullet weight looks good, though. If you're asking if you should use a neck expander to enable you to put .311 bullets in .30-40 cases, the answer is NO! If you try to shoot .311 bullets in your Krag, it will put quite a bit of extra pressure/stress on a rather fragile old action! __________________ Violence is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and valorous feeling which believes that nothing is worth violence is much worse. Those who have nothing for which they are willing to fight; nothing they care about more than their own craven apathy; are miserable creatures who have no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the valor of those better than themselves. Gary L. Griffiths (Paraphrasing John Stuart Mill)

December 17, 2014, 03:13 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	.309", .310", .311", and .312" are the wrong bullet diameter for .30-40 Krag. Just like using a .308" bullet out of a Lee-Enfield is the wrong bullet diameter. The only thing the .30-40 and the .303 British have in common is the shell holder. You need a .30-40 Krag die set. $30.99 at Midway. Throw the silly scoop away though and use a scale. Reloading is not done with liquid volume measuring. I'd re-think a 193 for deer too. Even though a 220 was the Ball standard. A 150 will be easier on both you and the rifle. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

December 17, 2014, 08:13 PM	#6
Howard31 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2009 Location: Hudson Valley,NY Posts: 231	30/40 krag Many Krag barrels are over size. Best to slug barrel first. I had a problem with a Krag that wouldn't shoot. Went to a 303 Hornady that miked .3105 and it tightened the group very nicely. I reduced the reloads a bit just to be safe when I first started. I had a friend make me gas checked round nosers around 200 grains and although I never did it I wouldn't think twice about taking a deer with it. Krags love round nose.

December 17, 2014, 02:49 AM	#3
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	You might try Oregon Trail Tru-cast.IIRC,they have something .309,approx 200 gr,with lube and gas check already in place. These are the Lasercast folks,they make a good bullet.

December 17, 2014, 01:47 PM	#4
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	I have shot LFN bullets of .309", .310", .311", and .312" through all of my 30USA [ 30-40KRAG ] rifles and carbines With no--none--nada problems and damn fine accuaracy from most all the bullets that were at least .002"O.D. over BBL groove diamter. When I tested them in the ballistics lab the pressure was all but IDENTICAL other than the normal swings [ 3000lbsPSI common ] of average pressure in the pressure gun. And so it goes...

December 18, 2014, 05:24 AM	#7
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,692	Your links don't work but I would say to use the neck expanding die. It's only like $14 and well worth the price not to smash brass or shave lead. On the upside you can form 303 british into short 30-40 krag brass if for some reason you can't find 30-40 brass to start with.