Hi all,  just signed up for this forum and brought home a new to me 1898 Krag Rifle today. I already have two carbines i believe to be cut downs from rifles, a 1896 and 1898. Hope to learn more about these great old rifles from this forum.
I'm in the process of hand loading fifty rounds to test fire this rifle this Thursday and will post results along with some pictures.

Welcome to the Company!  You will find everyone here are fine up standing folks except for one guy who is a nut case.  Watch out for that guy.

You would be well advised to post pictures of your Krags.  Not too large.  Not too small.  And Range Reports.    Oooooooooo.

Remember to use safe loads in your guns and that the only cartridge for your chamber is .30-40 and not any other.  (don't ask me how I learned that lesson)


Best regards,

Capt. Nut Case

er......

Captain Culpeper, KCA Detachment 1, Africa Corps.

Hi, Mike. Welcome to KCA and being part of the slowly growing family of Krag owners and, mostly, Krag lovers!

We always love pictures because we love to look for the good and the bad in all of our Krags. Always in a friendly way!

That's the way we all have learned best to have others look at what we have bought or are interested in buying and help each other make good decisions. Krags are full of very confusing historic variations that are often hard to see at first. Lots of learning to do.

Hand loading is the best fun with these Krags so you're in good company loading your own ammo.

Tell us more about your Krags including where they came from and how the bores are. We are real picky about our Krag bores.

Good luck with you test shooting. We'll wait to hear how it goes!

Welcome 'Cuzzin Mike' to the KCA Forum. We always enjoy having new members and learn a lot from each other.

I always recommend to new guys that they own a few Krag books. It just helps answer some basic questions and teaches correct nomenclature & terms.

Reading a useful reference just greatly increases enjoyment of your Krags.

If you don't have it, Joe Poyer's book, "The American Krag Rifle and Carbine", has good pictures and a lot of information for around $25.

IMHO - This book has some mistakes and incorrect assumptions, but, it is loaded with useful details and information for the new Krag enthusiast.

Howdy Cuzzin Mike.  Welcome to the forum!

Hi I'm the nut case ... The one you have to watch out for ...

No...….I want to be the nut case...….the one you have to watch out for! :'(

No one expects Mr. Peanut!

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I think all the nut cases came out. But BR takes it. I could never dress up like a nut. There are to many squirrels on my place.

Hope we didn't scare you away Cuzzin Mike. Really, we are pretty normal. I mean, really really....you got to believe me...really.

Now, about those pictures...….

Well made it to the range today, but the weather wasn't kind to me, foggy and 50. My new to me 1898 Krag was a joy to shot though, started out with Winchester target ammo and 12 rounds grouped well and just above the black. Next tried some of my reloads,37.8 grs or IMR 4064 with 150 gr Sierra RNSP they hit mostly in the black but not quite as tight of a group. I'll include pictures from day but promise better pictures when light is better.

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good morning.

What was the range to target?

Mark

Looks like you might be a lefty, as I am.

Not bad for a start. The fog is a factor. It takes a lot of practice using these open sights.

When the fog lifts, go out and try again. It gets better and better!

Nice looking Krag!

The fog sets the mood. You should have a bayonet on that rifle!

I shot at 50 yards, fog was so bad when I started that 100 yards wasn't going to happen. Yes, I shoot left handed even though I'm right handed. Will try again next Thursday and have a few different reloads to try out then.
Would love to find a nice bayonet for her, going to gun show tomorrow. Last one in my local area.

Bayonets kind of show up. Just be patient.

The .30-40 cartridge is a re-loader's dream. It pays to back off the Full Length Sizing Die, one turn, and just "Neck Size" your Brass.

Have Fun!

p.s. - I write and do some fine motor skills left-handed. I am left-eye dominant, but, do all sports and shoot right-handed. Go Figure?

Ok Cuzzin Mike...   Here's the deal:  Next summer, you should plan on joining us at Camp Perry for the Theodore Roosevelt Commemorative Match.  Only Krags and early 1903s (no low numbers) are allowed... and the more Krags we have on the line, the more nervous the 03 shooters will be!  Krags must be in "As Issued" condition, and it looks like yours qualifies.  So, you should plan on shooting with us! 

All in agreement, say Aye!

psteinmayer,

That sounds like fun, guess I can't bring my M1917? I think it's more accurate. I always thought that would be fun to shoot there, but I imagined it would be with one of my M1 Garands.
Whats the distance, 500 yards and the date?

I am left handed as well, shoot left naturally shoot right handed a lot now because of the floaters in my left eye.

Cuzzin Mike wrote on Nov 19^th, 2019 at 9:15pm:

psteinmayer, That sounds like fun, guess I can't bring my M1917? I think it's more accurate. I always thought that would be fun to shoot there, but I imagined it would be with one of my M1 Garands. Whats the distance, 500 yards and the date?

Bring the '17 to the Vintage match.

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You can shoot the 17 in the Vintage Match, the Garand in the John C Garand Match, and if you have a 1903 or 1903A3, shoot that in the Springfield Match.  It's really a great time, and you'll meet some really incredible people!  This coming year will be my 9th consecutive.  The schedule is as follows:

Theodore Roosevelt Commemorative Match - Friday, July 31st.
John C Garand National Garand Rifle Match - Saturday, August 1st.
National Springfield Rifle Match - Saturday (afternoon), August 1st and Sunday (all day), August 2nd.
National Vintage Rifle Match - Saturday (afternoon), August 1st and Sunday (all day), August 2nd.

If you do decided to come... let me know and we'll stay in touch.  I usually have a bunch of shooters squadding with me and my son, and the more-the merrier!  We shoot all four (we have to do two on one day, usually Saturday).  My son and I will also be shooting the Vintage Sniper Match on Monday this year.

Culpeper will be joining us this year too (or I'll ring his neck! LOL).  Madsenshooter always joins the fun too (He's the one who got me into it).
Wish I could get Butlersrangers to come with me, or pry Mark Daiute out of Maine again!

psteinmayer,

It sounds like great fun, I've only shoot in practice matches for Cowboy action (SASS) and to qualify for CMP to get my first Garand. I believe I probably have all the different rifles to compete in the matches you mentioned, not sure if I'm a good enough shot to be competitive.
I'll think about it and start practicing, and of course start talking about it to the wife to get her interested in letting me go.

Cuzzin Mike wrote on Nov 20^th, 2019 at 11:37pm:

... not sure if I'm a good enough shot to be competitive. ...

Shooooooooot.  Don't worry about that.  The goal is to be there and the joy of shooting.  Practice, yes.  But don't sweat it if you come in dead last.  I know I didn't in 2017.  But I did have the oldest Krag rifle on the line. ;)  And had a boat load of fun doing it.

The focus is you and the gun against the paper.  Everyone else is doing the same thing.


Captain Culpeper
Det 1  KCA Africa Corps
:D

Culpeper is right. It's about the fun!  Now there ARE some guys who take it WAYYYYYY too seriously, but for most out there, it's about having fun, comradery, and love of shooting these amazing weapons from bygone eras!  Believe me, you will improve over time (you should have seen me my first year... whoa, was I rough)!  You don't even have to worry about having any high-tech gear.  I have extra scopes and shooting mats.

Well thank you again, have to see whats going on then. Have most of the gear needed, may not be top of the line but I get by.
My biggest challenge is my eye's, I start out alright but after awhile my sight starts to blur a little, have to keep blinking and adjusting my glasses. It's hell to get old.

Mike
That is a great looking 98!
Yelp, Camp Perry matches are a great time. 
Welcome to the forum!
Vic