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 25 New member from France, with a Krag. (Read 52152 times)
oxi81
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag (pics added)
Reply #15 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 9:13am
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The rear sight diopter :
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The Lyman front sight :
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Lyman mark on the blade (tiny but readable with a magnifier).

No reservation for a military on-barrel rear sight (no threaded holes) :
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My original sling :
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Francois
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #16 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 3:59pm
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Francois/oxi81:  Thanks for posting the nice additional pictures of your handsome 'sporterized' Krag.  Again, I would recommend leaving this rifle as it is.  You have a very desirable original U.S. Krag sling.  I think your rear sling swivel is a French military one.  Your front sight is a 1903 Springfield sight with a commercial Lyman blade replacing the military one.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #17 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 4:04pm
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1903 Springfield 'upper' bases with original blades and "Marble" brand commercial blade, shown.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #18 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 4:30pm
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Francois:  Your rear 'diopter' sight is a Lyman #48-K made specifically for the Krag.  This sight required that extra holes be drilled into the Krag receiver and some wood had to be removed from the stock.  My reference source indicates this is the 2nd variation of this sight.  The elevation slide was shorter with markings going to 125.  The adjustment knobs were regarded the 'Hunter' style rather than 'Target' style.  The second variation was made from 1919 to 1947.
     It is possible that your barrel is a 1903 Springfield barrel that was shortened at the breech, re-chambered for the .30-40 cartridge, and fitted to the Krag action.  Lots of Gunsmiths did this to replace rough & pitted Krag barrels.  This would explain the absence of rear sight holes on your barrel.  A reused 1903 Springfield military barrel will have an Ordnance Bomb marking and date on the barrel behind the front sight,  There is also a notch across the bottom of the barrel for a cross pin that held the rear sight collar in place.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #19 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 4:34pm
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1903 Springfield barrel with 'notch' (normally on bottom of barrel) for rear sight collar.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #20 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 4:57pm
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Francois:  If your barrel is an original Krag barrel, there will be a "P" (proof mark) like this.  You have to take off the stock to find it.  Also, there will be rear sight holes (possibly expertly filled and subtle) approximately 8 1/2mm and 14 1/2mm in front of the receiver ring.
  
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oxi81
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #21 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 6:09pm
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Thank you very much for this rear sight identification.
I just need to find a sight aperture now.

For the barrel, there is no marking near the front sight band, nor "P" near the receiver, nor any notch. In fact, the barrel is totally blank.

Francois
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #22 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 6:38pm
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Francois:  Look for a "P" on the barrel below the wood.  Also, look for two small circle 'spots' on the top of the barrel (8 1/2mm and 14 1/2mm) in front of the action that show a faint difference in metal finish (holes filled with finished off screws).  If these features are absent, the barrel must be a non-Krag replacement.
     Any Lyman, Redfield, or Williams Sight Disc should fit your Lyman rear sight.  For Hunting, these were left off to improve field of vision.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #23 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 6:48pm
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Francois:  Your Krag 'Sporter' must have been fitted with a non-military/commercial barrel.  How is the condition of the bore?
  
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gnoahhh
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #24 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 8:14pm
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I would leave it as-is. It's a very nice sporter, and will require a lot of work to make into a semblance of an as-issued rifle. (Barrel, stock, and Lyman 48 screw holes to be filled. Then comes the added expense of the as-issued stock furniture: bands, butt plate, etc., and then sights.)
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #25 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 9:28pm
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Francois:  Your Krag seems to be a nicely done conversion to a hunting rifle.  It would be fascinating to know the story of how it got to France.  In wooded Deer hunting States, like Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Washington, shortened Krags made excellent and inexpensive hunting rifles.  Converted Krags  (skillfully to poorly done in the 1920s & 1930s) are relatively common and small companies once prospered offering sights and accessories.  Your Krag falls into the skillfully done category.
  
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oxi81
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #26 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 10:47pm
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butlersrangers wrote on Dec 12th, 2013 at 6:48pm:
Francois:  Your Krag 'Sporter' must have been fitted with a non-military/commercial barrel.  How is the condition of the bore?


I also think that's a commercial/aftermarket barrel : no marking, and no small circle in the top of the barrel. This barrel has never been drilled for a rear sight installation.
The bore is excellent, as new.

A question about the 30-40 Krag cartridge : may I reload with the same bullets than my M1903 (180gr HPBT)..? or is it better to reload with RN bullets?


  
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butlersrangers
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #27 - Dec 13th, 2013 at 3:46am
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Lots of Krags seem to feed 'pointed' bullets, like your 180gr. HPBT, without problem.  In some rifles, the point of the bullet will hang up on the breech face of the barrel.  It is a matter of 'trial and error'.  RN nose bullets generally feed smoothly without problem.  You have to experiment to see what works trouble free in your Krag.
  
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oxi81
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #28 - Dec 13th, 2013 at 8:36am
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Thanks again for your all your advices.
I will try this reloading at the range (200m/218yd) as soon as I get my 30-40 Krag dies and the aperture sight disk. I'll take some pictures.

Have a nice day...  Wink
  
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oxi81
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Re: New member from France, with a Krag.
Reply #29 - Dec 18th, 2013 at 10:31am
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As you already know, I want to buy an aperture disk for my #48 Lyman sight.

I found some on Midway.com :
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or on Buffaloarms :
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I'm a total newbie in diopter rear sight technology.
I know that I need to buy a 3/8" diameter disk, but what's the best opening hole for a 200 yards shooting range? .050 or .093? Or is it better to buy both?

Thank you.
Francois
  
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