Krag-lopnik! Finally!!

"Rock Bottom" (rockbottom81)
03/28/2015 at 19:58 • Filed to: None

So I ran about $80 worth of big, thumpy rounds through my 1898 Krag Jorgensen today and it was GLORIOUS. This is the first time I fired this thing and I had no idea what to expect. It was everything I hoped it would be!

Open bolt and magazine:

Closed bolt and magazine:

My Krag with its great great great grandson:

I was beyond thrilled to see that the firing pin was perfectly intact and center-punching nicely (they're very easily damaged in Krags):

Funny story: I got to the range and handed my ammo over to the girl behind the counter for inspection. She just said "Ugh, this is going to be really loud , isn't it?" Yep. She sends me to the furthest stall from the counters. Smart move, young lady. When I was done and came out of the range, the whole store went silent and everyone just stared at me as I walked through! The girl behind the counter smiles at me and says "You really got everyone's attention with that noisy antique!" Best rifle collector compliment ever!

As for the rifle, it's just amazing. The bolt is super smooth and solid. It feels very heavy and well machined. No roughness, no changes in effort as it's cycled. Just perfect. The trigger is lighter than I expected, too. I really want to find someone with an SMLE or a Schmidt Rubin to compare this thing to. I hear those are the absolute best classic bolt-actions around. Soon...

Oh, and ever since I bought the Krag I've been looking for a period correct scope to replace the old Lyman 57K sights that have probably been on it since the 1920s. Not any more. The simplicity of the old Lyman is just cool and sooo different from the point-and-click ease of a modern scope! My eyes aren't great, so trying to focus on the "X" through a .040 inch aperture was really challenging! I kinda want to go buy some iron sights for my AR now!

So that's my contribution to Gun-lopnik for today! Now I'm just drinking a beer, nursing a bruised shoulder (steel butt-plate for durability!), and comparing the fun-per-dollar ratio of this vs. something "normal" that shoots 308 or 223. This old thing is pretty hard to beat!

DISCUSSION (40)

Trunk Impaired 318 > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:02

Awesome!

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:04

Are these rounds using smokeless powder?

ly2v8-Brian > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:04

Kinja'd!!!

Sam > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:07

How many rounds does $80 get you? My dad had a Lee Enfield and .303 British was too expensive for it to be any fun.

Rock Bottom > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/28/2015 at 20:09

Yes, this was the first smokeless round used by the US Army. However, the cartridge size "30-40 Krag" is named so because it's .30 cal and had the volume equivalent of 40 grains of black powder! I guess the army was having trouble breaking the black power habit!

Rock Bottom > Sam
03/28/2015 at 20:11

They fluctuate between $35 and $40 per box, so I rounded up to about $2 per round for today :(

whoarder is tellurium > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:11

Holy lord a KRAG.

Rock Bottom > whoarder is tellurium
03/28/2015 at 20:11

Lol, I know, right!

Axial > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:14

The antiques always grab attention. Even my 7.62 NATO SMLE does; its louder than the somewhat common Mosins.

Excellent rifle you have there. Irons for the win!

Rock Bottom > Axial
03/28/2015 at 20:20

Hole cow, I want a NATO SMLE! Easy to find ammo, classic looks, great history! I hear the bolt action on those is really nice. True?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:22

Never fired one, my dad is from Montana and we were both Marines, so there are a few guns up there. I found this video:

Alfalfa Romeo > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:22

I was about to say "don't you dare put a scope on that rifle!"

The iron sights on old rifles like this are almost always amazing. That is such an awesome rifle, consider me jealous.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:25

40 Grain! holy crap, how much kick does it have?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:26

Nice. I will Wiki this.

My favorite rifle ever is the M-1 Garand, but that's a topic for a different day. Imagine 200 guys with Garands blazing away at once. What a din.

Thanks for the post.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Sam
03/28/2015 at 20:35

Interesting.

I'm not much of a gun person, but I remember a friend back in high school talking about post-WWII rifles being had for cheap. I had no idea rounds for such a gun would be that expensive. Makes sense, I suppose.

Rock Bottom > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
03/28/2015 at 20:45

Thanks! I like Garands, but I'm sorta a bolt-action nut. To me it's like driving a stick. It's not faster than a dual-clutch, but it's more satisfying to move the machinery yourself!

ly2v8-Brian > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 20:51

Kinja'd!!!

(Not highlighting anything, but this is the only way I can respond to posts (screw you Kinja)) If memory serves correct the K-J was the bolt action rifle was the 'Bolt Action Rifle' you could get towards the end of the game Red Dead Redemption .

Rock Bottom > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
03/28/2015 at 20:51

It's not terrible, but the metal butt plate... is really hard! Typical Krag rounds (with a 180 gr bullet) have about 2,000 ft-lb of muzzle energy, where a 308 is like 2,600 and a 30-06 is around 3,000. I'm sure if I put a nice rubber butt pad on it, and stopped being a Nancy, it'd be totally fine.

Rock Bottom > Alfalfa Romeo
03/28/2015 at 20:54

Thanks! It was sporterized long ago, so I wish it was in more "original" condition, but it's certainly presentable. I promise I'll keep a scope off it!

Rock Bottom > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
03/28/2015 at 20:58

Yeah, I've seen this vid. He's got it all right! If you ever come across one for a good price, grab it. Being a Marine, you could probably run a thousand rounds of 5.56 down range in your sleep, but this is just so different ! It's louder and slower, for sure. You'd appreciate the differences better than most of us!

Rock Bottom > ly2v8-Brian
03/28/2015 at 20:59

Really? That's awesome! I never played, but I'm going to have to now!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 21:13

My dad has a lot of old guns but not one of those as far as I know. His friend is a hunting guide and was as sniper, he has a lot of different stuff too. I looked these up on the broker sites, there are a couple under $1000. I will ask him, maybe they have one somewhere.

ly2v8-Brian > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 21:18

That game was truly amazing. I sank so much time in it. Absolutely worth the money.

Kinja'd!!!

Here is a screen shot, sure looks like the K-J.

Rock Bottom > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
03/28/2015 at 21:19

If you don't mind an unoriginal one, you can pick them up for way cheaper. Mine (like most of them) was sporterized in the 1920s. The government dumped them on the market after WW1 and lots of hunters cut the stocks down and put different sights on them. They shoot just as well as original, but are worth like 1/2 as much. All the fun with less financial discomfort!

Rock Bottom > ly2v8-Brian
03/28/2015 at 21:24

Sure looks like it, though the Red Dead wiki erroneously claims you can reload a Krag with a stripper clip ( http://reddead.wikia.com/wiki/Bolt_Acti… ). You can't, because side-door -magazine madness.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 21:24

I see, my next toy is this but the German guy never returns emails. I may have to make my own. Based on a Browning BAR .30-06, its a Waffen Greger conversion.

Kinja'd!!!

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/1…

ly2v8-Brian > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 21:59

Unfortunately that is how it is animated

But it is just a game. A must have for your 360/PS3

desertdog5051 > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 22:54

I used to have a Krag in 30-40. Those things are amazing. Probably still have a few rounds left.

MM54 > Rock Bottom
03/28/2015 at 23:08

Awesome!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Trunk Impaired 318
03/29/2015 at 01:03

dit' wro.g replyE

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rock Bottom
03/29/2015 at 01:11

That reminds me that its been over a year since I broke out the m/96 Swedish Mauser. That thing has a bolt to die for, but the trigger is just "pretty good"... It's a tack-driver though and 6.5x55 Swedish does have a lovely ballistics profile for long range shooting thanks to the high sectional density. the one I have is a numbers-matching original gun, so it's not getting messed with, but I hear a little trigger work a bolt turn-down and a scope turns them into one of the finest long-range guns you'll ever encounter...

p.s. nice Krag ;)

Rock Bottom > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/29/2015 at 17:39

Is that round easy to find? Sounds like a sweet machine!

Rock Bottom > desertdog5051
03/29/2015 at 17:40

You should buy another one so you can use those rounds! Gun collector logic is logical, right?

Rock Bottom > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
03/29/2015 at 17:45

Now that's an interesting machine!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rock Bottom
03/29/2015 at 18:39

Yeah, its pretty easy to find because its a very popular sporting round in Europe, but all the factory loads are light pressure . Hand loading lets you push the round up to spec velocity, which is nearly 25% higher than the hottest factory loads you can buy these days. Its a great round for accuracy, but the small bullet diameter means it has poor energy transfer compared to something like 30-06, meaning its great if you want to reach out and touch someone, but if you want to take down big game it needs to be within 100 yards for a reliable takedown (bear, moose, elk, etc), but if you want to snipe coyotes at 1000 yards its a damn fine choice. It's been a popular round for extreme distance target competition too, though there are some modern purpose built target rounds that handily outperform it.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Rock Bottom
05/12/2015 at 14:50

I know this is an old post, but awesome looking rifle, and great story!

I love antique rifles - I’m an FFL 03 and have a bunch of them. A Krag is on my list, but I know very little about them at this point so I’m not shopping for one yet. I did just pickup a WWII restart 1903 Springfield (early war pre-03A3). It’s super nice and I got a good deal on it off a friend who is liquidating part of his collection.

Rock Bottom > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/12/2015 at 15:24

Thanks! I would like to have a 1903, but I’m still waiting for a nice one at a nice price to fall into my lap. Their values just seem to be climbing faster than even Garands now!

This particular Krag was sporterized a long time ago (I’m guessing in the 1920s), so it’s far from a show-piece. It does get a lot of attention at the range, especially after people hear it fire. You can definitely tell it’s not a modern rifle just by listening to it. I’ve taken it out half a dozen times and every time I shoot it I love it more. I cleaned it like a surgeon after I bought it and run it pretty wet. It definitely has the smoothest action of anything I’ve ever shot. Downright silky. This one kicks pretty hard (quite a bit more than a Mosin, for example), but that might just be from the sporterized barrel which is missing about 6 inches of length. I gather that most of these were actually cut down by Springfield before they were released to the civilian market. I’m not sure that’s the case with mine, but whoever shortened it did a very nice job. It has fine lines, for a military rifle, too. It doesn’t have the big, girthy stock of a Mauser or Schmidt-Rubin. Heck, it almost feels like a heavy .22 until you cycle the bolt and release the hounds!

If you love bolt guns, you really need to shoot an American Krag. Every time I take mine out it’s the loudest gun at the range by a large margin, which I love! It makes this low-frequency “thump” that almost sounds more like a cannon than a rifle. The metal butt plate leaves it’s mark too, which just adds to the experience! I also have a pretty nice Swiss K31 that I absolutely love, but I keep coming back to the Krag. I’m a diehard Krag fanboi now!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Rock Bottom
05/12/2015 at 15:42

Now I’m getting all excited for a Krag. I need to start reading up on them so I know what I’m looking for. I also want to get a Garand and M-1 Carbine for my collection as I don’t have examples of either yet. I got my FFL 03 which was the single best and worst decision I’ve ever made, because now I’ve got a Mosin, 3 Enfields (Lithgow No. 1 Mk III*, BSA No. 5 Mk I jungle carbine, and Isahpore No. 1 Mk. III Musket modified to shoot .410 shotgun rounds), all the Schmidt Rubins (K-1889, K-1896, K-11 Long and Short, and K-31), plus a bunch of C&R handguns. On top of all my modern guns.

I just got the 1903 about 2 weeks ago, haven’t even had it out to the range yet. But I wanted one for the longest time, my grandfather was a marine during WW-II and deployed to the pacific with one because the Army had all the Garands in Europe. It’s a Remington action, and the bolt and trigger group are correct. It also has the less common stock (can’t remember the manufacturer) which makes it a bit more valuable, but it was rebarreled and some of the small parts like the trigger guard and sling ring aren’t right. But I figure these things were probably rearsenaled at least once or twice, so more than likely the last time it was “all correct” was the day it left the assembly line.

I like to use my guns, no safe queens here, so I’m not typically a stickler for 100% correctness but I do try to find as authentic as I can. And as much as I like shooting them, I love letting my friends shoot them. I get a huge kick out of seeing the smiles on their faces when they get to try out some of my old war relics. This stuff is really cool, as long as you do it in a safe and responsible manner, and they are all neat and all have interesting stories behind them. A bunch of us go camping every year and there’s a range there. My best friend is coming out and bringing “my” Mauser (I gave it to him as a best man gift because I knew he’d always wanted one). Now that I have the 03, Enfield, and Mosin, we’re going to have a WW-II Euro Theater Bolt Rifle Battle Royale, and I can’t wait.

Rock Bottom > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/13/2015 at 08:33

Sounds like all you need now is a MAS or Lebel. Don’t forget to drop it and run away when you’re done at the range!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Rock Bottom
05/13/2015 at 08:47

Both are on the list. I almost bought a MAS 49/56 earlier this year from a friend, he was going to make me a good deal on it, but I had second thoughts about it. I liked it, there’s just other stuff I’d rather have at the moment. At this point I’m also thinking about an Arisaka just to have all the major WW-II bolt guns. That, and I want a FAL. Then I’ll be happy. For a while.