Hello, My name is David Shultz, Fairshake is my forum name and I'm a new member. I've been reloading since 1968 and casting since 1970. I'm a member of SASS and shoot the matches with 44wcf firearms loaded with black powder. I have a 1898 rifle that is original and I've had it since 1968-69. I shot it when I was first given the gun and discovered that the bore was very dark and corroded. The accuracy was about pie plate in size so I used it as a mantle piece.
I started working on the bore and after a lot of work I discovered that the rifling was very good. I decided to take it out and start shooting it again.
While I have loaded for many different calibers, I've never done so for the 30-40. I would like to know what weight bullet and powder would be good to start with.
I appreciate any help that you may provide for me as I fully realize that what works well in one gun will shoot terrible in another. I have yet slugged the bore to see what bullet I need and what alloy I need to use. If I can stay away from a gas checked bullet, that would be nice but if it requires one then I will go that route.
I would also like to know if anyone has any thing on using the 303 British case for light loads in the Krag rifle. Thanks Much Fairshake

I shoot cast out of my cutoff sporter in CBA cast bullet matches.  I have a Kraghaus long rail with a LER scope.  Slugged at .310 also, I shoot 185 gr NOE 311365 gas checked bullets over 17 grains of AA 5744, which runs around 16 fps.  I can usually group around 1" at 200 yards shooting at 5 inch CBA official targets.  Bob Wolfe (madsenshooter) graciously casts these for me, as I don't have any casting experience of my own. 

I've never tried shooting cast out of my 1898 rifle in any CMP matches however... but I know plenty of Krag shooters who do.  For my CMP Match Krag, I shoot 220 gr jacketed RN bullets.

butlersrangers wrote on Oct 5^th, 2015 at 6:25am:



LOL Make that 1600!

I have a .310 lube sizer die and have tried various cast bullets at that diameter but that don't hold a group like when the same bullets are sized at .312.  My bore shines and is in excellent condition, but must have been on Springfield Armory's .310 diameter groove day. 
I've shot loads with 10 or 12 grains on Unique for 100 yard CMP matches, but find Unique position sensitive which makes for vertical stringing during the rapid fire strings.  Harris was correct in that I see no stringing with Alliant 2400 powder.  It doesn't appear to be position sensitive..even with the light 16 grain charge.
I also cast for the Lyman 311284 very old traditional bullet for the Krag, but the 314299 bullet shoots better groups for me.

David, Give cast bullets a try in your Krag.  If you haven't read Ed Harris about cast bullet loads I'll find his artical (s) and post a link.  His basic 200 yard target load involves about any cast bullet and 16 grains on Alliant 2400 powder.  I've found that load to be very accurate at 200 yards.

I've got a large selection of bullets that I need to get around to trying.  In general, I use slower powder than all the fellows have listed above, and shoot for higher velocities.  Sometimes it works out, sometimes it don't.  I've had some pretty consistent results with a load similar to the others using the tumble lube version of the bullet Butler's Rangers has pictured.  Blue Dot, when I had some, was a favorite powder, around 20gr with the Eagan MX3-30AR, a bullet similar to the RCBS 168gr Silly-Wet was a real performer.  It was the first cast load I shot out of my Krag and got me hooked with the majority of a 12 or 13 shot 100yd group touching each other!  The Belding and Mull 311169 is also good if kept in the velocity range it likes, 1400-1600fps.  It's Belding and Mull's version of the Lyman 311413.  Don't waste time trying for higher velocity, something about the balance of that bullet, the faster you go above the velocity it likes, the wilder it gets.  Harder alloys and slower powders hasn't helped.

I want to thank everyone of you good members who took time to answer my request. I'm sorry for not getting back sooner but right after I posted this thread, my laptop took a dump and it's taken me a while to find this loaner until mine is repaired. I've been shooting cast bullet rifle loads since the 70's but they have been in a 30-30 lever and a 308 bolt Ruger 77.
For the shooter who is having a problem with his position sensitive powder, there is a very easy solution to use to stop that. After you drop your powder charge, follow it by inserting the material that is sold in craft shops for pillow stuffing and craft work. Don't pack it into the case but just make sure that it's on top of your powder charge and holds it next to the  primer. It reminds me of the angel hair tree dressing that we used at Christmas. I'm sure the hobby store can give you the name of this material. I have a supply of it that I purchased many years back. Take Care David

Great looking bullet.  You've really got those puppies seated out, I'm assuming so they lightly engrave the rifling/throat when chambered.

I've just started on working on power coated cast lead bullets.  We have a 600 yard vintage rifle match in my area and my usual 1400/1500 fps cast bullet loads would be like shooting an M79 grenade launcher or mortar. if I did manage to even get them into the berm at that range.  I'm thinking I'll need right at 2000 fps and powder coated bullets can be driven to that velocity with no fouling problems  I do shoot powder coated bullets in 9mm and .45ACP and got the bright idea to give them a run in the Krag.  So far I'm not having much luck with my favorite 205 grain Lyman 314299 bullet.  after power coating the bore riding nose is a tad too fat.  I can't get it to engrave yet fully chamber.  I'm going to try and seat the bullets deeper, but the gas check is already close to the bottom of the cartridge neck.  I don't want the gas check seated down into the body of the case.
I'm working on it.  If I can find powder coat in bright silver or maybe chrome color the bullets would resemble the old school cupro nickel bullets..way cool.

David, at my request, NOE bullet molds made some base pour versions of the Eagan MX2-30-H.  For a cast bullet, it has a very high BC, .451 for the .314 version, which I'm sure you're aware, is really high for a cast bullet.  The original seats a bit long in a Krag throat, but Swede has made versions with larger ogives.  I already have the original mold, but bought the .314 and .316 versions, as the .300 ogive is a tad small for most of my .301 bore Krags.  I can't say Swede's base pour version is 100% as good as Eagans, as I've not not shot any yet.  The basing is nearly as consistent.  Eagan left a little cup in the base, just a few thousandths deep.  With NOE's it'd be the cutoff divet. Others on castboolits bought the mold and seem to be getting some good results.  Check out their catalog:  (You need to Login to view media files and links)

Since you're powder coating, the standard size ought to be good for you.  Slower powders work better for me when getting the velocity up to what you're after, 4350 and slower.  Incidentally, I've used the standard bullet in my K31, the check is below the neck/shoulder a tad, but both bands are in the neck, doesn't seem to negatively effect accuracy any, so I wouldn't be too fanatical about the check being below the junction.  It won't feed out of a Krag, I don't know if your 600yd matches include a rapid fire string.

Swede bases his weight on WW, Eagan used lino and his dropped at 185gr.  It seemed to me the bullet had a sweet spot  around 2175fps out of my Krags.  I got there a variety of ways, most involved slow burners as previously mentioned.