30 - 40 Krag and 303 British Brass

[zeegadget]

Trying to find 30 - 40 Krag brass is like trying to find a needle in a hay stack.

I saw some people using 303 British cases to make 30 - 40 Brass.

Has anyone in the group done this?

Tom
SW Penna.

[Eric in NC]

Rim is a bit smaller in diameter (might not extract depending on your gun), case head is a bit smaller in diameter (bigger problem - will bulge on first firing) and it is shorter in length (not that big a deal). I think the 303 is thinner than the 30-40 too. Not a good solution.

Buffalo Arms usually has it in stock - have you tried them?

Remington and Winchester make it once a year - when you find some buy a couple of hundred.

[zeegadget]

Eric.... Buffalo Arms had those 30 -40 Krag cases in stock so I ordered 200 cases. I have been
hunting for these all over the place.

Thanks for the other info too.

Tom
SW Penna.

[Eric in NC]

Glad they had it - not the cheapest but they will take time and talk with you on the phone to get whatever bizarre rig you have up and shooting.

Do you have a Krag, 95, High Wall or some other gun in 30-40?

[zeegadget]

I don't have a Krag. The Chaplin at the prison where I work has 3 of them and he and his boys use them for
deer hunting. He couldn't find any loaded ammo and asked me if I could help him out.

I am currently playing around with a new barrel on my Savage 116. I put a McGowen barrel on chambered
for the .416 Taylor. I had it shooting a little under one inch groups at 100 yards until my mount screws came
loose and a screw head broke off. I ordered a new mount and epoxyed it on and got some heavy duty
Farrell rings. Now I have to go back down and sight it in.

[Eric in NC]

My 30-40s like IMR 4350 and heavy bullets (180-220 grain)

[zeegadget]

My 30-40s like IMR 4350 and heavy bullets (180-220 grain)


The load I looked up form him was IMR 4350 and 44.4 grains with a 220 grain round nose bullet.

[Eric in NC]

That is on the hot side for my Krag - no problem in the High Wall, but I would think brass wouldn't last long if you fired that in a Krag.

Might be happier around 42!

[zeegadget]

Ten Four on the 42 grains... Thanks

Tom

[JCalhoun]

Krags have a single bolt lug. Althought it makes for a very smooth action they are not all that strong. Be wary about loading modern powder and bullets in them. Always start low and work up.

[GaCop]

+1 on that. Problems can also arise with overly large bore diameter ruining accuracy. I had wanted a Krag carbine for many years. Finally got my greedy paws on one in 2005. Loaded for it and couldn't get bullets to hit the target at 100 yards. Moved closer to 50 yards and 200 grain round nose were going thru the target sideways (the few that hit paper). Turns out my carbine had a .314" bore. Looked bright and glass smooth, no indication of being shot out, just oversized. Ended up being a wall hanger until I sold it to a collector who didn't shoot his pieces.