I have to say, those are some nice looking rifles!  I can't remember which old tyme gunwriter said it, although I think it was Townsend Whelen (sp?), "only accurate rifle are interesting".  Making them pretty doesn't hurt any either.  As I live in old George Leonard Herter's Waseca, Minn. I still remember the trips to the store on weekends to look around.  The volume of gunstocks that they had on hand was amazing, and most of them were fancy figured pieces such as to make a presentation grade rifle.  The Mannlicher style stock really trips my trigger.

I am quite new to the krag and have acquired a 311299 bullet mould and I hope to cast a few this weekend, and will be using 2400 powder for my first try at reloading for my 1899.

I am curious about the soft bolt, is this a common occurance or is there a serial number range to watch out for or ?