This 10 shot 2 1/4 inch group was fired with my newly acquired 1898 Krag rifle dating Jan. 1899, at 50 yards with my 85 year old eyes. The rear sight is an 1896. I had to raise the sight to 450 to get the shots into the black. At the lowest setting of the rear sight, fired shots went 6 inches low. The front sight blade is a 0.410. Does it make sense to replace it with a 0.285 which should make higher hits? Does anyone have original 0.285 replacement blades?  The target was shot with 180 grain, 20-1 alloy, RCBS FN GC bullets sized to .309. The slugged bore measures .308. I purposely used published low velocity loads. This 2 1/4 group was with 23 grains of  IMR 4198. I also tried 35.5 of 4895, 34.0 of 3031, 38.0 of 4064 and 35.5 of 4320. All of these were 5 shot groups, printing low “shotgun” groups, nothing even close to the 4198. 4064 was fair but a 3 3/4 inch low with a couple key holes. Others except the 4198 showed some key holing. I am going to increase velocity to see if it will group better at 50 yards, and then try 100 yards. Loads will be, 25.0 grains of 4198, 23.0 of SR4759 and 43.8 of 4350. Comments appreciated, especially about the front sight blade.

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