Hi everybody.  I bought what was advertised at an auction an 1898 .30-06 not knowing any better.  Got home still thinking it was one.  Well thanks to the old owner he labeled the gun in a unique way.  A friend of mine asked me how i knew it was a .30-06 and I said cause that's what they told me.  Then we saw the "stamp".  At that point I thought I had found a unique gem....the brass "stamp".  It just hit me tonight as I was taking pictures that this was actually the end a shell casing nailed on the gun...lol.  I kept wondering what the heck a .30-40 krag Super X was.  Anyway, am I dealing with a sporter here?  Serial number is 414XXX. 

another

I'm thinking, yeah, sporter. Interesting piece, though, with the nailed on cartridge base. Any markings on the barrel, especially near the front sight? Looks like a 1903 Springfield barrel to me, but the chambering may still be 30-40. You'll need to check it out to be sure.

I could use a little help here.  Is this now a 30-06 or should 30-40 be used? I know nothing of older rifles. If it's not a collectible I'd like to possibly fire it and use it, however I'm completely ignorant as to what I have.   Did I get ripped off at $170?

Quite a few of the old Krags were rebarreled with 03 barrels.  And NO they are NOT 30-06!   If, somehow, a 30-06 round fits the chamber DON'T attempt to fire it.   That old krag action can't take the pressure of the '06 round.  Best take it to a gunsmith as some of those actions had "cracks" after extensive use.  The gunsmith can confirm the chambering too.

If there are no crack in the action, and it is still 30-40 Krag chambered you got a steal.

The only thing related to .30-06 is likely the 1903 sight cover!  Auction houses (except for the big specialty places) often know very little about guns. The chance that it is anything other than .30-40 are VERY slim, but, given the fact that it has passed through Bubba's hands, a visit to a gunsmith would certainly be a good idea. As to hunting, out to 200 yards or so, a deer would never know the difference between a .30-40 and a .30-06.

I do not believe a 1903 barrel would fit under the Krag hand guard without extensive re-profiling of one or both. That appears to be at least the the base of a 1901 rear sight, but the leaf looks way too tall, and the slide looks a bit strange, unless it is just camera distortion.

Price was extremely reasonable - personally, arms like that have no appeal for me, but I know that many others like and use them, and you certainly didn't get ripped off. I've seen people pay a lot more for much worse! 

drwgblanks:  Your photos are pretty rough so it is hard to make out alot of details on your Krag.  It appears by serial # to be an 1898 rifle that was built in Sept. or Oct. of 1902.  It appears the barrel and stock have been shortened to approx. carbine length for hunting.  It is likely the front sight (under the snap-on 1903 cover) is a 1903 Springfield sight.  This sight was often used by amateur and professional gunsmiths as a cheap and readily available replacement.  As Dick Hosmer pointed out, it is likely your rifle retains its original Krag Barrel (though shortened).  The presence of the hand-guard and Krag rear-sight base (should be held on by two screws) are peculiar to the Krag barrel.  I have a Sedgley sporterized Krag that was re-barreled using a 1903 Springfield barrel (the barrel was actually made in 1905, so it pre-dated the .30-06 and was originally in .30-03!).  My Sedgley Krag sporter is in .30-40 caliber.  When gunsmiths rebarreled Krags with 1903 barrels, they normally cut off some of the breech, re-chambered the barrel for .30-40, and machined a slot for the Krag extractor.  A .30-06 cartridge will not fit very far into a .30-40 Krag chamber because its case body diameter is greater  (the same is true with the .308 and .270 Win. which share some dimensions with the .30-1906).  You may wish to remove your Krag from its stock (remove the barrel band by loosening its sling swivel screw, and remove the two trigger-guard screws, using properly fitting screwdrivers).  Next take off the rear sight by removing the two screws that anchor it to the barrel.  Slide the hand-guard forward toward the muzzle -- Under No Circumstances Do You Pull Or Pry The Hand-Guard Off The Barrel Under Spring Pressure -- It Will Crack!!!!
When you can see a Krag Barrel (without wood) There is normally a capital letter P (for proof) deeply stamped on the barrel near the receiver.  There is also a small index mark or line on the barrel and front of the receiver at 3 o'clock.