A good friend just picked up a mint condition Krag carbine. He wants to hunt with it and has settled on the 220 grain bullet (he always goes for the heaviest bullet in any caliber). He got some information online somewhere and believes he can load that bullet to 2300 fps. I've gone through all my reloading manuals and the top speed I've found for the 220 grain bullet is 2100 fps in the Hornady book and that is for a 30" barrel. Could one safely hit 2300 from a carbine?

The link below offers some maximum loads for 220 grain bullets in the .30/40 Krag. It does not appear likely that one can get 2,300 f.p.s. safely in this action. Lighter bullets of 150 or 180 grains can get there. I have several Krags and like them. They are fine rifles when used withing their limitations. Hope this helps. Take care...
Oberndorf



http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Here is the load data for 220 grain bullets in a .30/40 Krag. The max loads are less than 2,000 f.p.s. Take care...
Oberndorf


Cartridge: 30-40 Krag
Load Type: Rifle
Starting Loads

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Maximum Loads

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Bullet Weight (Gr.) Order BW Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure

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220 GR. HDY RN 220 H4350 .308" 3.080" 40.0 1874 42.0 1947
220 GR. HDY RN 220 H335 .308" 3.080" 30.0 1836 33.0 1974
220 GR. HDY RN 220 H322 .308" 3.080" 30.0 1852 33.0 1969

NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM LOADS

Good find for your friend. I like the 220 grain loads too!
I never ventured beyond 1900fps out of respect for a fine old rifle(30 inch barrel).

If I had one in the condition you describe today, I would likely shoot cast bullets somewhat slower than that!

Your friend might be able to get near 2300fps with some of the newer powders availible? I think I would want some presure testing done before I fired them in a mint condition carbine though!

I looked through my notes and saw that IMR-4064 did good work with the Hornaday 220gr. roundnose.

Cheezywan

Yes, be very careful loading this rifle to maximum conditions. The one locking lug isn't all that strong. You really don't want to chance damaging it or yourself. Stay down in the moderate range for safety and enjoyable shooting.

I've wondered about some of those loads...and decided it isn't worth the risk even if the pressue readings were accurate.


Get something besides a Krag for hot-rodding; be happy with 220 gr at 1900-2000fps (long barrel) or sell it to someone who respects them.

My experience is somewhat limited, as I only shoot a 30/40 Ackley Improved Martini, but I never could get the accuracy I wanted with the 220. Hunting accuracy yes, but I demand less than 1" consistently, and the 180 gave me that, plus I have never had a deer walk away.

My experience is somewhat limited, as I only shoot a 30/40 Ackley Improved Martini, but I never could get the accuracy I wanted with the 220. Hunting accuracy yes, but I demand less than 1" consistently, and the 180 gave me that, plus I have never had a deer walk away.
Funny you should say that, he was convinced that because the Krag was throated for the 220RN that accuracy would be lacking with 165 and 180 grain bullets. I don't know who sold him that but I couldn't talk him out of it by pointing out "so are all 30/06s but nobody shoots 220s" and "my 6.5x55 is throated for a 160RN but groups best with 120 ballistic tips." Well at least I'll get to talk to him before he does any loading, I'm sure of that because I have his brass!

The last 30-06 I owned did get 220's as it's base load...certainly not the only load, but the 220RN (Hornady) worked so well and fit the type of hunting that rifle got.


I've no complaint about 220's in the Krag (although i suspect modern 220's are stiffer than the olkd ones that made the Krag's reputation), it's the vel. goal of 2300fps, and the pressure that goes with it, that is objectionable.

I agree, I don't know where he got that idea but I think it's agreed that 2000 fps, or a tad less, is tops for the Krag. I do have one book which lists loads for the Ruger #3 singleshot. In that strong action the 30/40 becomes just a rimmed .308 with nearly identical loads plus the ability to handle the longer bullets. Maybe that was the source of the misinformation.

Jor
I have the "Loadbook" for the 30/40 Krag.
Most sources have a top vel for the 220 grain buller at 2100 or less.
Nosler suggests 44.0 grains of IMR 4350 at 2350 FPS with the 400 grain bullet;not quite the 220 griner.
On the other hand,Speer lists only 2018 FPS with 44.0 grains of IMR 4350 with their 200 grainer.
Frank

Is that supposed to be 2350 fps with a "200" grain bullet, Frank?

Yeah, interesting how velocities can vary for the same load in two different books, then your own chronograph will say something different yet. Makes me wonder if we really know so much about what goes on inside a gun barrel as we would like to think we know! :)

Is that supposed to be 2350 fps with a "200" grain bullet, Frank?


Yeah,Your'e right,as usual
I also looker in the "old" Speer#8 manual which I go to for more zip in my loads.
It lists 39.0 grains of IMR 4350 with the 200 grain bullet at 2222 FPS.Thats a 1970 book.
I'm not suggesting that heuses these loads.I'm just trying to justify the statement about the high velocity.
Frank

I don't think I'd push a 220 to max velocity in a Krag, just because of the age and single locking lug. 2000 fps is a much more realistic goal, comparable to the load the rifle was built for, and will pretty much give you all the practical performance you could want from such a load without beating the everlovin' daylights out of gun and shooter.

A friend loads his Krag carbine with a 220@2000 fps load. Accuracy is astounding, and the performance on deer must be seen to be believed.

[QUOTE=CoyoteJoe]A good friend just picked up a mint condition Krag carbine. He wants to hunt with it and has settled on the 220 grain bullet (he always goes for the heaviest bullet in any caliber). He got some information online somewhere and believes he can load that bullet to 2300 fps. I've gone through all my reloading manuals and the top speed I've found for the 220 grain bullet is 2100 fps in the Hornady book and that is for a 30" barrel. Could one safely hit 2300 from a carbine?[/QUOTE
I have a Handi-rifle (break action) rechambered in 30-40 krag.

Best accuracy so far has been with 150 grain Nosler's and 220 grain Hornady's
a close 2nd.
With it's 22" barrel and a max load of reloder 19 from the lyman 48 manual
the 220's get 2200 fps.

Also the 220's shoot into the same 3" at 100 yards as some 170 grain cast
bullets over Alliant 2400 without changing the sights. At 40 yards they shoot
into the same 1".

I don't have the #48 book but my Lyman #47 lists loads with the caveat "for Ruger #3 carbine only". I believe the Lyman #48 was the source of the 2300 fps load. However, I've talked this over with my buddy and he agrees that 1900-2000 is plenty fast enough for an iron sighted hunting rifle so this discussion has become moot.
Many thanks to all who have replied!

I don't have the #48 book but my Lyman #47 lists loads with the caveat "for Ruger #3 carbine only". I believe the Lyman #48 was the source of the 2300 fps load. However, I've talked this over with my buddy and he agrees that 1900-2000 is plenty fast enough for an iron sighted hunting rifle so this discussion has become moot.
Many thanks to all who have replied!

For others that may want to try the load, the lyman 48 does NOT have the
"for Ruger #3 only" and the max load with 220 grain is 2200 fps. They do
warn to have the old Krag checked by a smith for bolt and receiver cracks.

I will likely use the 150 grain on deer, but may try the 220 for pig. Mine
is iron sights too. Will use the cast bullets for practice.

My wife has her grandfather's 1896 carbine and I load 180 and 220 grain bullets for it. It's been refinished and restocked so it's no collector but it is a real shooter. I load 40.8 grains of IMR 4350 with the 220 grain Sierra Pro Hunter bullet and get 1985-2010 fps out of it and load 43 grains of IMR 4350 with the 180 grain Speer round nose for 2150 - 2180 fps. Each load shoots under 3 inches consistently for me, even better than that for my wife.

I have been shooting Krag for 35 years. It will not do 2300 with a 220 grain with any powder... at least not in a Jorgensen action. You could try it in a Ruger #3 perhaps. I wonder if that's the data he got? I used to rebarrel P-14 Enfield actions for 30-40, 25 Krag, and 25 Krag Improved. Great Case, great rounds. ~AMMOe

I don't have the #48 book but my Lyman #47 lists loads with the caveat "for Ruger #3 carbine only". I believe the Lyman #48 was the source of the 2300 fps load. However, I've talked this over with my buddy and he agrees that 1900-2000 is plenty fast enough for an iron sighted hunting rifle so this discussion has become moot.
Many thanks to all who have replied!

Your post prompted me to look into the old books that I do NOT use for loading anymore.
The Lyman #39 (1953) manual listsa max load orf 44.0 grs IMR 4350 wth the 220 grjacketed bullet at 2300 FFPS;with NO caveat.
Frank