Hey Guys
I posted some time ago about a load I was thinking about, but it turned out to not be such a good idea.  What I am trying to do is get powder and bullet that I can load into the Krag as well as the .30-30.

I found I can get Hornady 150 gr RN bullets and IMR3031 locally easily enough.  I put together 20 rounds today of .30-40 with these and settled on 37.0 grains of powder for a light load.  I don't have a Hornady manual, my Speer manual says 37.0 for a starting load with it's 150 grain bullets so I thought I would do the same. 

I seated the bullets to the cannelure making a COL of 2.825, which is a little shorter than normal.  In anyone's experience will this create a problem?

My intent with this load/rifle is to put holes in paper and maybe try for a deer sometime.

Thanks for any input.

I did something similar when using an old Krag sporter. I used 130 grain flat point "30/30" bullet and a light load of 3031. It shot pretty good and feed alright. Your 150 grain bullets would have probably fed even better in my rifle, but each rifle is different, so try it for sure.
I put a new 35 caliber barrel on this same Krag and the mock cartridges would not feed. So I tried the old 130 grain bullets and they did not feed worth beans either. I had put a smaller chamfer/radius on the edge of the chamber. I fixed it by hand enlarging the radius on the left side.
If all goes well that is a good thing. If you have a valuable collectors item, I would think twice before doing any mods. It would be better then to find another bullet that works.

'Brian S' - FWIW: I have no direct experience with this load, but, have long wanted to try .30-30 RN projectiles in a Krag.

I have used 147 grain GI spritzers with decent results. Tricky part is seating bullets out as far as practical (over 3" OAL to have smooth feed and reduce bullet 'jump').

IMHO - You should ignore the bullet cannelure and take advantage of the .30-40 case-neck gripping potential.

My Hornady manual gives the same data for 150 grain Spire, FMJ, and RN bullets.

Per Hornady: Starting .30-40 load for IMR-3031 & 150 grain bullet is 34 grains (2200 fps). 37 grains of IMR-3031 moves about 2500fps. (MAX is 40.1 grains @ 2700 fps).

I see no point in exceeding 37 grains and would probably go with 35-36 grains to start. (IMR-3031 is a nice versatile propellant).

butlersrangers wrote on Dec 16^th, 2015 at 3:20pm:

I have used 147 grain GI spritzers with decent results. . .

:o

Thanks for the help, sounds like this load will be safe enough.  I was hoping to get out and shoot it today, but that isn't going to happen, maybe tomorrow.  Next time I may drop a grain and just seat it right at 3". (unless it just shoots too well this way)

Forgot to mention that this is a sporterized rifle, I'm guessing it's about a 22" barrel.  As I recall it's about 24" just pulling a tape measure from the ejection port to the muzzle.

'Parashooter':

A friend gave me a bag of military .308 cal. projectiles. I was wrong on the weight. Actual weight averages about 143.7 grains. I believe the bullets are U.S. GI.

This is certainly not my first choice of projectiles for the .30-40 Krag. But, accuracy was better than throwing rocks at 50 and 100 yards and 'Free' is good! Bullets were seated for 3.087" OA cartridge length. These rounds fed well through my Krag's magazine.

Rounds were fired from the bench in a 22" barrel 'sportered' model 1899 carbine.

(I am not recommending this load. I am just relaying my closest experience to the OP's question).

Oops - I just noticed, I typed 'spritzers' instead of 'spitzers'. I never make that mistake .... damn spell-check! (I need a drink).

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Hey, I'm fine with spitting spitzers from a Krag, but spritzing a spRitzer through one sounds like a spritty bad idea.::)

Shooting 'Spritzers' = Parashooter's pet peeve!

I've been laid up this week, so I'm late coming to the party...

A friend of mine uses 150 gr rn bullets in his Krag loads for CMP matches.  I'm not sure if he's using 4350, 4895, or 3031, but he regularly shoots 296 or better... which is amazing in anyone's book!  When we discussed using the 150s, we talked about my using the 4350.  I also tried to work up a load with 4064.  Unfortunately, I could not get the accuracy I wanted with the lighter bullet (remember, not all Krags like the same food), so I'm back to 220 gr. 

Hope this helps.

Welcome back Paul! I hope you are recovering well, post surgery, and back to 'Shooting' soon.

Merry Christmas & I hope Santa is good to you! - Your friend Chuck

I used 4064 behind 150 gr. spitizers for quite a few years for my hunting load with excellent accuracy. (can't remember the load off the top of my head right now) Have moved to H 414 per Ken Walters "Pet Loads" with better accuracy if I do my part!!!

butlersrangers wrote on Dec 18^th, 2015 at 3:43pm:

Welcome back Paul! I hope you are recovering well, post surgery, and back to 'Shooting' soon. Merry Christmas & I hope Santa is good to you! - Your friend Chuck

Hi Chuck.

Surgery went well, but there were some minor complications that kept me in the hospital bed for an extra 3 days  :'(  I'm finally home and well on the mend now!  Thanks very much for the well-wishes, and we'll do some good shooting together this spring!

Merry Christmas to you also sir....  you are a great friend!

Paul

I got the Krag out and shot a few rounds today.  I had a few rounds of factory Winchester 180 gr ammo that I shot first and then some of the handloads described above.  I'm happy to report they are much lighter on the shoulder than the factory loads.

Accuracy would be hard to measure at this point, I was shooting offhand at 50 yards as this was more of a function test than anything else but I got all rounds on the target (really all I was concerned about right now). and grouped smaller with the handloads than the factory load. 

I shot out the factory ammo to clear some brass for some new handloads.  I think I will use 37 gr of the IMR3031 again, but make my COL longer, I'm thinking 2.95 since the 2.825 fed just fine.

Next step will be to shoot it from a bench and see how it really groups.

My friend who turned me on to the 150 gr loadings told me that the reduced recoil of the load is one of the keys to his amazing scores shooting the Krag... ESPECIALLY shooting 200 yards Offhand!  Sounds like you are definitely on the right track!!!  Keep us posted.

Hmmmm.  I think I need to read up on reduced loads for when the 1895 comes back from Turnbull's.

You should put that pound of powder to good use while you are on the mend.

Believe me Paul, as soon as I'm cleared to go down stairs to my bench and do some work... I'm going to be a loading maniac!!!

So when will the doc give you the high sign and you become a free man again?

You do know I live vicariously through the guys here and on other forums for my jollies.  I laugh when you laugh  ;D and I cry when you cry  :'( and I ponder the joys of the universe (gun universe, screw the rest of the universe) with you guys.  Oh I know it is burden but... but...   :-/ I'll bear up and march on with a brave smile. ::)

Mostly I just crack wise to get a laugh.

Having now met you in person, shared some stories... and a nice cup of joe...  I know that to be true!!!

Surgeon cleared me yesterday to resume living!  Yippee!!!  I still have to take it somewhat easy, and I still have a surgical drain in place, but I can get busy now.

Heal fast Paul, but, 'Milk it for all it's worth' !

Remember that a Bad Day shooting or Reloading is better than a Great Day at Work!