Friday Range Session
Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 8:08 am
Earlier this year, I did some Krag barrel switching.
One project involved taking a carbine barrel off of a ruined model 1898 carbine and using the barrel to restore a model 1899 carbine.
The barrel I removed from the model 1899 carbine action was a cut-down rifle barrel, with an excellent bore.
I put this cut-down barrel on the drilled & tapped model 1898 carbine action.
I was a bit concerned whether this scoped Krag would continue to shoot, as well as it had, with its original barrel.
Yesterday, I finally got to test it with four loads:
1. A 'reduced load' of 26 grains of IMR 4198 and a 110 grain Sierra 'pro-hunter' round nose bullet, intended for the M-1 carbine.
2. A 'reduced load' of 26 grains of IMR 4198 and a 100 grain Hornady 1/2 jacketed lead bullet. (A friend gave me three boxes of these projectiles).
3. A 'reduced load' of 25.5 grains of IMR 4198 and a 152 grain Frankford Arsenal M-2 projectile (1949 vintage).
4. A more powerful load of 36 grains of IMR 3031 and the 152 grain FA M-2 projectile.
Once 'sighted-in' the scoped model 1898 carbine, now with a 'cut-down' rifle barrel, proved to be accurate!
(The next Range session will be at 100 yards).
Best performer was the 110 grain Sierra 'reduced load'. It put 5 shots in what looks like a 3 shot 'clover-leaf'.
The 100 grain Hornady 1/2 jacket looks promising for cheap practice, but, I will try lowering the velocity a bit.
(BTW - Both of these short .30 caliber rounds are best single-loaded, directly into the chamber. The short length causes jamming, when magazine fed).
I 'lucked' into 1,000 of the M-2 projectiles; they are a pleasure to reload and seem to perform decently in a Krag, 'reduced' or full load.
(p.s. - My new improvised targets are 3" X 3" 'post-it' notes with a black-sticker. Taped to a new cardboard backer, this proved quite cheap and practical at 50 yards. The black-sticker is not really necessary).
One project involved taking a carbine barrel off of a ruined model 1898 carbine and using the barrel to restore a model 1899 carbine.
The barrel I removed from the model 1899 carbine action was a cut-down rifle barrel, with an excellent bore.
I put this cut-down barrel on the drilled & tapped model 1898 carbine action.
I was a bit concerned whether this scoped Krag would continue to shoot, as well as it had, with its original barrel.
Yesterday, I finally got to test it with four loads:
1. A 'reduced load' of 26 grains of IMR 4198 and a 110 grain Sierra 'pro-hunter' round nose bullet, intended for the M-1 carbine.
2. A 'reduced load' of 26 grains of IMR 4198 and a 100 grain Hornady 1/2 jacketed lead bullet. (A friend gave me three boxes of these projectiles).
3. A 'reduced load' of 25.5 grains of IMR 4198 and a 152 grain Frankford Arsenal M-2 projectile (1949 vintage).
4. A more powerful load of 36 grains of IMR 3031 and the 152 grain FA M-2 projectile.
Once 'sighted-in' the scoped model 1898 carbine, now with a 'cut-down' rifle barrel, proved to be accurate!
(The next Range session will be at 100 yards).
Best performer was the 110 grain Sierra 'reduced load'. It put 5 shots in what looks like a 3 shot 'clover-leaf'.
The 100 grain Hornady 1/2 jacket looks promising for cheap practice, but, I will try lowering the velocity a bit.
(BTW - Both of these short .30 caliber rounds are best single-loaded, directly into the chamber. The short length causes jamming, when magazine fed).
I 'lucked' into 1,000 of the M-2 projectiles; they are a pleasure to reload and seem to perform decently in a Krag, 'reduced' or full load.
(p.s. - My new improvised targets are 3" X 3" 'post-it' notes with a black-sticker. Taped to a new cardboard backer, this proved quite cheap and practical at 50 yards. The black-sticker is not really necessary).