Krag Collectors Association Forum

Howdy from Miami,
I got this carbine a couple of years ago and added the Redfield peep sight that I got on eBay. Did some shooting with my handloads but was getting terrible groups I think due to the peep sight adjustments. I just wanted to post some pics of the rifle, the rifle has been reblued at some point but the steel underneath is perfect. There are no pitting or rust spots on the metal, the stock still has some cartouches visible.
Perhaps someone can tell me if this is a real carbine or a cut down rifle.
Thanks

'Sergio' - I'm curious about the loads you were trying in your Krag?

Is there any wiggle or movement in your Redfield 102K rear-sight?
The mounting-screw does not look right.
The screw-head should fit inside the recess machined into the base. (You may need to reduce the diameter of the screw-head).

Accuracy should be improved by using a receiver sight.

When sighting-in, it is helpful to use a large target-backer and shoot three or five shot groups, without changing sight-picture or settings.
Changing settings, after each shot, is a bad practice.

If a load makes a tight group on the backer, you know you have an accurate combination. Then, you can adjust the sight to move the group toward the 'X-ring'.

Your Krag appears, to me, to be a model 1899 Carbine. The receiver marking looks like "model 1899" and the serial number looks to be in the 352XXX range. Your stock and barrel-band are 1899 carbine parts. The rear-sight and hand-guard are wrong. They are model 1896 rifle parts.

I tried reworking a couple of your pictures for clarity:

Hi and thank you for the information. I just removed the peep sight there was no wiggle but the screw didn’t fit right. I thought I might have stripped the thread but was able to put the mag lock and screw back in with no problem.
Maybe the reason that the rifle doesn’t shoot good groups is that it has wrong rear sight? Which rear sight would this carbine have?
I loaded some 175gr Sierra in 308 diameter then moved up to .311 and still no improvement but like I said I was really struggling with the Redfield sight.

Thanks

'Sergio' - A .311" jacketed bullet is excessive for most Krag bores. Most model 1898 & 1899 Krag barrels, that I've 'slugged', seem to run about .3085" to .309" diameter and shoot .308" cal. projectiles well.

What is the condition of your bore? What powder and charge-weight were you using?

It is likely that your Krag was issued with the model 1901 carbine sight. I've attached a picture of the 1901 carbine sight (top) and rifle sight. The Krag hand-guards are specific (different) for the various sight models. The 1901 sight uses special screws.

At present, you can simply remove your model 1896 sight, if it gets in the way when sighting through your Redfield 'peep'.

If you remove your bolt and put your carbine in a solid rest, you can sight down the bore of the barrel at a target 25 to 50 yards away.
(Moving the Redfield Elevation Slide all the way UP, will allow the bolt to be removed).
With the Bolt out of your Krag, move the Redfield elevation-slide and adjust the angled windage-screws (using a coin), until the "peep" and front sight picture agree with the 'bore sighting' image. Lock the windage-screws and adjust the small perpendicular 'stop-screw' to preserve the elevation.

Put the bolt back in your Krag by loosening the big coin-slotted lock screw and lifting the elevation-slide. After the Bolt is installed, drop the elevation-slide until the stop-screw makes contact with the top of the Redfield base.

Bore sighting and moving the Redfield windage and elevation to match will have you in the Ballpark at 25 or 50 yards and save a lot of ammo. Shoot some groups using the same settings and sight-picture.
Once you have 'groups', then you can fine tune the sight adjustments.

p.s. If you have a small 'sheet-metal rectangle' with your Redfield sight, it goes on the outside of the slide like a washer under the large coin-slotted lock-screw. It serves as an indicator/straight-edge and cover.

Thanks for your help Butlersrangers…. The bore sighting doesn’t work with the Redfield sight because you can’t put bolt back on rifle with sight on.
The .311 I used were cast with gas check. I think I might have read here somewhere where the 30-40 shoots best with 303 Brit diameter bullets.
Do you think I should replace the rifle sight I see there’s one for sale on eBay and thanks again for the pics.

Thanks again

'Sergio' - If you send me a Personal Message (PM tool at top of page) with your address, I will send you a screw that will work with your Redfield sight.

I beg to differ, but, in my experience, if the 'elevation-staff' of the Redfield model 102K sight is fully raised, the Krag Bolt can be readily removed or replaced.

The set-screw, if utilized, allows the 'elevation-staff' to be accurately returned to the 'sighted-in' position.

Thats So very kind of you thank you but a little while ago I ordered an 03 swivel screw. And should come in about one week. I bet your right about the elevating the sight and bolt comes off.
Thank you so much for your help!
Sergio

'Sergio' - (FYI) - A 1903 swivel-screw will require alteration in order to function as a mounting screw for the Redfield 102K sight.

Reviewing your photos, I do not believe your Redfield 102 sight has the correct 'elevation-staff' for the Krag. Your elevation-staff is shorter than the one on my Redfield 102K sight.

Redfield made #102 sight models for a sizable number of different 'brands' of rifles.
On the bottom of a Redfield #102 'elevation-staff' will be found a small stamped letter. This is a 'code' for the arm that the staff is intended for.
The correct Redfield staff for Krag rifles and carbines is stamped with a "K".

More critical than height is the length of the 'top-leg' of the staff.
This governs the lateral position of the peep-aperture and how much adjustment is available for correcting windage.

If you find a small stamped letter on the bottom surface of your Redfield 'staff', I can tell you the arm it was intended for.

Some photos regarding Redfield 102 sights:

I also mounted a Redfield 102K on a sporterized Krag but, with mine I had to modify the magazine cutoff(an after market) switch to get it to work properly. In some of the pictures her3e it appears they haven't had to do this modification? Can anyone explain this to me?
Steve