Loading for my M1898 Krag

[BM1455]

Fired about 14 rounds of the Remington 180 factory stuff and my first three test loads. So I have now put 23 rounds through the old gun.
The 180 gr Remingtons ranged from 2323 - 2470 ft. sec. Most were in the 2390-2425 range. They seemed to be more or less POA at 50 and 100 yards. Once I got settled down and stopped looking at the gun and the cases every time I tried a little harder to aim properly and the last four rounds were all in the ten ring @ 100.
I also fired my Hornady 220 RN loads I made up with once fired brass. I used 38.0 grs of IMR 4350 and they ran at 1780/ 1794/ 1817 ft/ sec. They impacted about 1-1/2" low at 50 yards but I was still spending more time checking things than aiming so that is just a rough idea of what they were doing. I did not have enough to test at 100 yards. They seemed to be light loads and less hot than the Remington. I will try 39.0 grs of IMR 4350 next time and see how much the POI comes up. All cases looked fine but the fist time Remington loads do slightly distort the base of the case wall. It appears to be more of a conforming the the wall than anything else. The reloads using the once fired Remington cases did not exhibit any further changes.

BTW: how many reloads are you guys getting out of the Remington cases since that is all that is around now?

[psteinmayer]

I am well into double digits on some of my brass. Anneal your case necks! That will pay dividends in longevity! The biggest problem I run into is cracking in the necks right at the lip. Some cracks are very tiny and I don't really worry about them... but when the cracks start showing signs of gas leakage (i.e. carbon marks around the cracks) or the cracks are in the side wall of the neck, I immediately discard the brass - no sense tempting fate!!!

[Annapolis]

PSTEIN/BUTLERS/BM14/REINCAR: I'm on the road and didn't have an opportunity to send you all a note sooner. I very much value the courtesy and helpfulness of your replies. All of you have added valuable parts to the puzzle from your experience. I can now draw some base lines and then experiment with loads. It will be a week or so before my first trip to the range. I will post the first results then. I am in your combined debt. Thanks. Annapolis

[psteinmayer]

No problem at all... that's what we're all here for! Let us know how things work out.

Are you thinking of shooting local Vintage matches or the Nationals? Just curious... A bunch of us here do!

Cheers
Paul

[Annapolis]

PStein: I'd be interested in going to watch local vintage matches that may be in the Mid-Atlantic area. I'm in Maryland. I'm not familiar enough with my Krag to even think about competing -- ti would be presumptuous of me. I do a lot of British vintage shooting, e.g. with the Victorian Rifles group at its annual "international," and wouldn't mind peeking around the corner at 45/70 and Krag contests. Yet, just like to see what's it about for now. Terry (aka, Annapolis).

[psteinmayer]

If you go to the CMP site, and find Competition Tracker, you'll find listings of all of the CMP matches around the country. You should be able to find one that's reasonably close to your location. For instance, Fort Hill Rifle and Pistol Club in Cumberland, MD is holding a As Issued Military Rifle Match (Vintage, Springfield, and Garand matches) on June 4th (might be a bit of a drive from Annapolis, but just as an example). Most of the time, these matches are open to non-club members too. Anything that says Vintage is open for Krags and other mechanically operated military rifles. Springfield is only for M1903/1903A1/1903A3 rifles. I shoot in at least one match a month... and sometimes more - in addition to the National Rifle Matches. I'd shoot every weekend, but I think my wife would kill me (she'd beat me to death with one of my rifles, LOL)!

[Culpeper]

Not too far from you. Maybe an hour or so.

http://associatedgunclubs.org

Saturday, April 30, 2016
09:00 AM - 01:00 PM CMP Match - Garand/Springfield/Vintage Rifle Match
Maryland Rifle Club
200-yard High Power & Silhouette Range

Saturday, October 01, 2016
09:00 AM - 01:00 PM CMP Garand/Springfield/Vintage Rifle Match
Maryland Rifle Club
200-yard High Power & Silhouette Range

Saturday, November 12, 2016
09:00 AM - 01:00 PM CMP Garand/Springfield/Vintage Rifle Match
Maryland Rifle Club
200-yard High Power & Silhouette Range

Or an hour further...

http://tcandsc.org/disciplines/cmp/cmp-john-c-garand

Or just plain shooting

http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/recpark/hapbaker/

[Annapolis]

Culpeper/Pstein: I really appreciate your help. I'm familiar with the Thurmont range, going there with the Maryland Schutzverein a few times a year. The Caroll County range is new to me and I shall follow up.

In return, may I alert you all to something called the Victorian Rifles Association. It encompasses all British service firearms issued during the reign of Victoria. So we go from flintlocks (75 cal) to Mk I Lee-Enfields (303). It meets in the Fall of each year at a range in the vicinity of Easton, Pa. for 2 days. A lot of Martini-Henry's, Sniders, Lee-Enfields at 100 -200 yards. There are several categories of completions and medals awarded. Everyone is welcome. Folks from GB, South Africa, Canada, U.S., Australia and fellow-travelers from Europe attend. A pig-roast has become a tradition. Authors on military history offer evening discussions.

Thanks again. Annapolis

[psteinmayer]

That sounds like a HOOT! When does this take place? I don't own any of those rifles (I am picking up a K31 today), but I might go just for a look-see. Heck, maybe I'll be inspired to get a .303 Enfield!

Thanks very much for letting us know about this.