I been surfing around the net gathering info on what type of ammo to feed her after a check out with a gunsmith. This is what I've learned from my research on both the net and here on the K C A and I hope some of you skilled reloader/shootist types can tell me a bit more. The original ammo for the US Krag had a muzzle velocity of 2000 fps, at some point a hotter load with a velocity of 2200 fps was tried, but it was dropped because it was damaging bolts.
If 100 years ago, 2200 fps was damaging them, all the modern ammo I see for sell have muzzle velocities greater then 2200 fps. Shouldn't these modern loads be destroying krag bolts?

I also read about Max psi rating for a Krag round should not surpass 40,000 psi, but I can find no data about modern loads psi. If the modern loads are spitting bullets out the muzzle faster then 2000 fps, I'm thinking the psi has got to be hotter too.

Sign; completely confused, but a proud owner of a long lean beautiful Krag
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No to hijack this thread, but what power, charges and bullets do you guys who reload .30/40 krag use?

I tried a "Ken Water's Pet" load for the Krag of a 220-grain bullet & 41.5 grains 4350 and cracked the bolt lug.

I see a couple of same helpful gents here that also offered advice on CSP page  Small world and Thanks for the advice again once again.

So what I've learned from replies is
1. modern powders obtain greater fps at lower psi.
2. Ammo manufactures load 30-40 ammo within specs the US Krag Army issue rifle was designed to accept. 
3. From the link psteinmayer posted else where, the Krag action is a lot tougher and better constructed then most people are lead to believe.

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4. If reloading, do not try a "Ken Walter's Pet Load" of exceeding the original load the rifle was designed to use or the result can be damage to your rifle and maybe yourself. 


Question; who is/was Ken Walters?

I have used 40 gr of IMR 4350 with a 220 gr bullet with no problem in my model 1898. It is less than the max listed in my reloading books.

Tom, why the significantly different load depending on the year of the sights?

When you use the light load, 33 grains of 4350 with 220 grain bullets, does the powder burn completely?  Or do you have unburned grains in the barrel?  And do or can they get dragged back into the action?

I bought an old bail-top glass jar full of bullets at a gun show.  Turned out they were Cole bullets, made at Frankford Arsenal & named for the designer.  These were cupronickle round-nosed 220-grain bullets with no cannelure.  These were the bullets used when the army increased the velocity of the Krag load and cracked a bunch of bolts.  The bullets were covered with a dried-out grease.  I cleaned them with alcohol & tumbled them.  Now they look like new.

I was going to shoot them, at a reduced velocity, but then remembered all the horror stories about cupronickle jackets leaving metal fouling in the barrel.  Has anyone used these bullets?

The 1896 sights are zeroed at 300yds, the lighter load for the 96 sight hits point of aim at 100yds for our convenience when hunting with long rifles