Rick H.:

IMHO there is not much wood connecting the forearm to the butt area on a Krag stock. (I think this kind of changes the 'forearm pressure' techniques that work on many other arms).

I have noticed on 'sporterized' Krag rifles that stocks often crack horizontally, behind the magazine opening, if a barrel-band or forearm-screw is not utilized. This suggests there is too much upward levering of the barrel & action, if the barrel is not secure in its channel.

As others have suggested, it is probably important that the Krag barrel-bands allow the barrel to expand forward as it heats up. However, it is also important that the barrel lay securely in the stock channel.

Barrel-bands that are too loose are probably not a good thing on a Krag. Some careful fitting of bands (and maybe graphite) could pay dividends.

From my experience, because of the tremendous mechanical advantage of the rear guard screw on the Krag (and Swiss K-31) action, it is important that this screw just be snug and not too tight.