Interior barrel dimensions

[Brent]

My Krag sporter has a 26" barrel and I'm wondering if it started life as an original barrel, or if it is a replacement barrel. The barrel seems to measure 0.309" in the grooves a the muzzle and 0.300 or maybe a little more across the lands.

There are 4 grooves that are about 3x as wide as the lands. I haven't measured twist yet.

anyway, does this sound like a replacement barrel?

Thanks,
Brent

[Parashooter]

. . . does this sound like a replacement barrel?

No, but exterior contour and sight base holes are likely a better indication than internal dimensions.

[Brent]

I suspect the exterior has been turned down so I don't know that the contour would tell much.

There are only two holes visible on the barrel where the rear sight would have been They are now occupied by a different sight

[butlersrangers]

Brent: Here are some measurements that may help you determine if your Krag's barrel has the contour of an original.

1. Original Krag rear sight holes are approximately 3 1/4" and 5 1/2" from the front of the receiver.

2. The barrel diameter in front of the receiver ranged .982" to .987" (on the Krag I just measured).

3. Barrel diameter at the 'back' rear-sight screw was .929" to .930".

4. Barrel diameter at the 'forward' rear-sight screw was .832" to .835".

[Brent]

Thanks, that pretty much settles it as a nonoriginal barrel. Mine is 26" and there is no way it could have been shortened from the rear and had both of those screw holes cut off. If they were welded over, I think I would still see one them by looking closely, and I don't. I'll measure the exterior but I think this one has to have been rebarreled.

Brent

[butlersrangers]

Gunsmiths often filled Krag rear sight holes by cutting off the screws, peening them over, and filing them flush. They can be difficult to detect when everything is 'in the white'. The screw locations usually show up discretely in a refinish.

Back in the 1920s and 1930s, a fair number of Krags were commercially re-barreled with 1903 Springfield barrels that were altered and chambered for .30-40. They will be lacking rear sight holes, unless a Krag sight was installed. The 1903 barrels have a different contour (because of the 1905 rear sight collar). They may bear 'slots' for cross-pins and U.S. Ordnance Bomb and date.

[reincarnated]

With a 26" barrel, it might be a replacement barrel for a 1917 Enfield. Many of those were made, IIRC, by both Johnson Automatics and by High Standard. Those barrels would not have any holes for a rear sight. They did not have Enfield-type rifling and were common surplus items in the late 40s & 50s.

[Parashooter]

With a 26" barrel, it might be a replacement barrel for a 1917 Enfield.

An Enfield barrel wouldn't be 26" long after removing enough breech (normally at least 1") to eliminate the oversize portion of the original .30/06 chamber.

[Brent]

I'll pull the stock again but I think the only marks are a "P" but I might be misremembering.

What is the twist of an original Krag?

[Parashooter]

What is the twist of an original Krag?

1 turn in 10" - same as .30/06 standard.