'fhrzr1' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

Please excuse our questioning, but, "head-space" is often over-blown in regard to Krags.

Also, knowledgeable Gunsmiths, especially in regard to the Krag rifle, are a disappearing breed.

It is only fair to ask, what has lead you to conclude that your Krag has excessive "head-space"?

As indicated by 'psteinmayer', .30-40 Krag head-space is the rim thickness, plus, an amount of free-play or clearance.

Lots of safe Krags will close on the commonly available 'No-Go' Gauges. A better test is the use of a 'Field' Gauge measuring .073" (the thickness of the gauge rim).

When trying the gauge in the Krag action, it is important the you remove the striker/extractor parts and just use the bare bolt-body. Do not use any force in trying to close the bolt on the 'chambered' gauge. Just use light finger pressure.

(Attached are pictures of my 'Field' Gauge and of a Krag action with the gauge in the chamber).

If a Krag bolt closes on a 'Field' Gauge, it is likely someone lapped the 'locking-lug' so the rear of the bolt 'guide-rib' would make contact with the receiver wall, when the bolt is closed, (a once common, but, generally unwise practice). There should be a few thousandths clearance between the rib and receiver, (see 3rd photo). The fix for this problem is to buy a $55, New Old Stock, bolt from 'Movieman' on ebay.

(Caution - Occasionally, one may encounter a Krag rifle that some VFW Post may have had the chamber altered for .30-06 'Blanks' or to 'de-activate' the weapon. Nothing will fix this, but, re-barreling).

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