Gas checks help control lead fouling when cast bullets are driven over about 1500 fps. At lower velocities they are generally superfluous but sometimes enhance accuracy.

Jacketed bullets, especially those with plenty of bearing surface, are usually OK even when a bit under groove diameter (not bore diameter, that's the diameter between lands). If you haven't tried .308" jacketed bullets in your Krag you might be surprised how well they can shoot. That is, after all, the nominal bullet diameter of GI and commercial .30/40 ammunition.

With cast bullets, it's desirable that the rear of the bullet fit the rifle's throat (usually a bit over groove diameter) and critical that the nose is a snug fit between the lands. If the nose is undersize, accuracy can be elusive.

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Thanks for the replies. See I want to use lead though as I save a ton of money by shooting lead in all my guns except my AR. If you guys really think I should stick with jacketed I will, but it was my understanding that Krags worked really well with cast lead bullets.

I looked on midway at .308 jacketed round nose bullets in the 220gr weight and they're all $30+ per 100. No doubt that those are fine and necessary choices for hunting, but I don't hunt, all I want to do is have some fun punching paper at 100 yards and I'm not trying to win any competitions at that either.

If I did go with the lead bullets I linked above, I'm assuming I would need to put gas checks on them since most loads for Krags fall somewhere around 2000fps?

P.S. parashooter, do you have that parkhurst clip loading system that is shown in your avatar? My understanding is that they are very rare.

Marcus99 wrote on Feb 19^th, 2012 at 6:36pm:


1. For "paper punching" at 100 yards, there's no need for that much velocity. 1100 to 1500 fps is plenty and can work well without gas checks. Don't, however, expect outstanding results with commercial cast bullets, which seldom fit as well as those you cast and size yourself.

2. That's not the Parkhurst system. Home-grown charger.

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Thanks Fred. That sounds beyond what I am set up for now, although I applaud you for making bullets of that quality, I bet you can drive tacks with those. I checked my Lyman 49th and it says bullet mold 311284 was originally made for the .30-40 Krag, fortunately Montanabullets sells those gas checked. However I just bought a big bundle of equipment on Midwayusa so I can finally start reloading for my rifles. I figured to save shipping I would try these 220gr Jacketed Hornady .308's. If I can't find these locally I will probably buy a few hundred of those 311284's from Montanabullets

Also in my manual I see IMR 4895 listed for both the 69gr SMK I am going to be shooting in my AR and for the 220gr Hornady for my Krag, apparently with good results in both rounds. That makes me happy because I can keep it simple and stick with one powder for both rounds.

BTW, this whole thing about checking rifle rounds in case gauges is new to me, never had to do that when I reload for my pistols. Can I just measure the case and finished round with my caliper, or is there something I am missing? I didn't even see a case gauge for .30-40 Krag.

I've loaded for many, many different rifle calibers and have never needed a case guage.  They have their place in high-power semi-autos and I am sure they could be used to make competition-type ammo.  As I understand it, the guage primarily ensures that your "bottleneck" cartridge headspaces correctly.  The .30-40 is a "rimmed" cartridge and it headspaces on the rim.  Everyone has their own opinion, but don't make this harder than it should be...you are looking to have fun punching paper at 100 yds....same thing I do.

My advice is to "neck size" only.  When the cartridge is fired the first time, it will form to the size of your individual chamber (which is slightly different from any other guns chamber).  Why squeeze that cartridge back down to original size after each firing if it will only be used again in that particular rifle?  The only part that needs to be reformed is the neck.  So, take your once-fired brass and mark the neck and shoulder area with a coating of soot (from a candle).  Put your resizing die into your press, but do not run it down very far.  Run the smoked cartridge into the die and keep turning down the die until you can see where it is knocking the soot off the neck.  Keep removing the cartridge and turning down the die until you can see that the entire neck is being squeezed down, but not so far that the shoulder is being compressed.  Lock your die at that position and never change it. 

Your brass will last much longer and it is much easier to resize.  Plus, in theory, there is some advantage in accuracy to this since the cartridge exactly fits the chamber it is fired in. 

I have used IMR 4895 in my Krags with 180 grain jacketed bullets and had excellent results.  Remember, since you have a carbine, it is a relatively lightweight rifle.  As such, if you touch off those big, 220 grain slugs in front of anything approaching a max powder load, it might be a little uncomfortable.  Those old soldiers were tough!

fred

I made a great find while at my LGS buying powder and primers. Ended up over in the cast bullet section and I found the 311284 cast bullets with gas checks, 100 for $15, $7 cheaper than online.

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So I'm very happy I was able to find those locally, now I can try both bullets in my Krag. However neither of my manuals list 4895 for the 210gr 311284 bullet. Does anyone have loading data for that powder with that bullet? Thanks