SRS request

U.S. Military Krags
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King carp
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SRS request

Post by King carp »

Could one of the forum members with access to the SRS data check this serial no. for me? It is a 1898 rifle. the no. is 239927. It is in very good shape with a great bore. I hope to use it with cast bullets i use in my other Krag rifle. Thanks in advance, KC

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butlersrangers
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Re: SRS request

Post by butlersrangers »

No Hit, King Carp, in the SRS tables contained in Mallory's "KRS", 2nd edition.

The closest number is #239933, a model 1898 rifle manufactured in December 1899 and issued to the Maryland N.G. in 09/1904.

Point of Interest: A lot of SRS listed rifles, some with "loose bores", went to the N.Y. and Md. National Guard, in the 237840 to 243577 serial number range.

Maybe a lot of partying at Springfield in November & December 1899 and January 1900? :oops:

It would be of interest to see the 'slugged' bore dimensions of your "new" Krag.

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King carp
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Re: SRS request

Post by King carp »

Thanks Charle's for the info on the serial no. and the heads up on the bore. Close but no cigar. I had been trying to buy this rifle for several years. The owners finally accepted my offer. I bought a N.O.E. mold awhile back. It drops .310 pills at about 205 grains with my alloy mix. If these are still too small i can powder coat to pick up some diameter. I will slug the bore and let you know the results. Thanks again and take care.

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butlersrangers
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Re: SRS request

Post by butlersrangers »

Funny thing about SRS stuff, the list of rifles that got recorded often seem to raise larger questions than Mallory's brief entries can answer.
It may be sour grapes on my part, (never having had an SRS listed Krag), but it is so random, such a small percentage, and just a chance 'snapshot' of Krag use.
I am just always a bit curious about the happenstance of preserved records that allowed gun numbers to be recorded, found, and appear in SRS data.

I am thinking a bunch of Krags, near your new rifle's serial number, went to Md. and N.Y. National Guard units involved in competitive "target shooting" in 1904.

Riflemen, like Dr. Hudson, were writing about carefully selecting a rifle based on the quality of its barrel.
N.Y. and Md. N.G. units probably had a fair number of mechanics and engineers, with precision measuring tools.
These units probably shot often at matches held at Sea Girt, New Jersey. This was a very competitive atmosphere with lots of attendance, comparison and reporting.

I don't know the measuring method employed but suspect any group of military barrels, made on a mass-produced basis, would have been found 'wanting', given a fussy 'informed' audience, "looking for an edge".
It is likely the 'government barrels' were being compared to the precision barrels being produced by Pope and custom Winchester target barrels.

FWIW - I suspect the Krags listed in SRS data with barrels that are "oversize" or "bad", probably had normal Krag barrels, possibly measuring .309 to .3095 inch bore diameter?
(Today's Benchrest Shooters would consider these barrels 'garbage'. Cast Bullet Shooters would get them to perform great)!

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King carp
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Re: SRS request

Post by King carp »

The first Krag i ever bought showed up in the SRS. I have not seen one since. Not a big deal to me either. At one time they were all U.S. military issue weapons. This one slugged out at a 1/2 of a thousanth under .309. I hope it will be a good shooter. Overall condition is quite good for its age. It has a 1902 sight on it. As a bonus it still has the cleaning kit in the butt stock. The bore has a lot of copper fouling in the grooves but i think it should clean up well. I wonder if it was used in target competition. Those boys had to have darn good eyes to use that peep sight!
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King carp
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Re: SRS request

Post by King carp »

couple more pics.
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Ned Butts
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Re: SRS request

Post by Ned Butts »

Very nice rifle

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butlersrangers
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Re: SRS request

Post by butlersrangers »

All quite nice! Possibly an Italian walnut stock, with a very nice 'cartouche' and 'Circled P'.
Cartouche date agrees with manufacture date.

Copper should clean out of the bore with some 'Shooter's Choice' solvent.
.3085" is a nice bore dimension.

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