Krag Collectors Association Forum

All current factory .30-40 ammunition should be safe with any Krag that has no mechanical or chamber/bore issues. How's that for a disclaimer?!

Works for me — I’m sending 6 rounds with the rifles, and the CMP guys will be test firing them both after reassembly with new barrels..

Re: 8-32 Sight Screws Update

I realized that I have a new criterion barrel and new reproduction sight screws — so I thought I would check…

The S&S Firearms M1898 AND M1902 SIGHT SCREW (Part Number: K557) fit my new criterion barrel with an 1898 sight base without issue. They do need to be oil blackened.

It is likely the 30 t.p.i. screw threads were soft enough that they simply deformed to fit the 8-32 barrel thread.
(You might want to buy a spare pair of screws and carry them in your shooting box).

They went in pretty smooth — tightened just fine. I will use some purple Loctite.

I do have a spare set.

Here’s another option — 8-32 1” screws that need to be cut down.

Gun Screws- Blued Slotted Fillister Head 8-32 X 1" (2)

Is this 1902 peep sight damaged?

That 'cut' is an intended feature of the swing-up "peep-plate" on the model 1902 sights, that have the plate.

It likely serves to provide a bit of 'spring-tension', so the 'dimple' on the plate can lock into one of the two locating holes,
and it provides a bit of a 'handle' for a finger or nail to manipulate and move the plate.

Thanks BR — You’re awesome!

I looked at the S&S screws on their website. They are not the original thread form with deeply rounded peaks and crests. Not sure of the hardness as no mention is made of heat treatment. On the custom screws I have made I polished them after heat treatment or used pre heat treated material then baked them in the oven at 450 to 500F for a few minutes to give them a mottled blue/black color. 450 -500F will not hurt the temper of either heat treated or screws made from pretreated steel. Since you have already Loctited them in, make a note the next time you have it off to cook them.
The pitch diameter of the original Krag screws is very close to the UN 8-32 screws, never thought of it till now but a screw that was made to 8-31 would probably fit both original Krag and Criterion barrels fairly well.