Folks:  This is a follow up, although a melancholy one, to the string of posts answering my questions about safe loads for my Krag.  So, I'm back seeking advice.

I went to the range today with the Remington 180 grain ammunition. I loaded a single round.  Very smooth, very easy.  The target was at 100 yards.  You all were right.  It was a safe round; less recoil than imagined.  And a perfect bull's eye on the target.  The ejector was strong, flinging the case out with gusto. 

Then I attempted to load the second round in the same way.  It would not seat.  The bold wouldn't go far enough forward to permit the bold handle to turn down.  Visually, it appeared that the ejector was not catching over the rim of the case. But I cannot say that's correct or the cause of the difficulty.

I thought perhaps there may be some obstruction, so I removed the bolt, cleaned and oiled the bore and reassembled everything.  No good, I tried 10 different cartridges.  Not one would seat.  So, next I took the fired case and tried to chamber it.  No go.  Then, I attempted another (previously untried) cartridge.  Mysteriously, it seated easily.  So, I extracted it without shooting.  But, maddeningly, when I went to load it again, it wouldn't seat.   And after than, none of the remaining Remington cartridges would seat. 

The bolt is in good condition.  The extractor appears in good shape too, some wear, but nothing much to my eyes.

Can anyone offer an explanation?  Better yet, a solution?   

As a long shot, if it would help solve the puzzle, the Krag is a Model 92, (Serial No. 17,158) manufactured as best I can tell circa July '95.  There is the JSA 1896 Inspector's mark. And the refurbishment shows the type 3B "square" modification to the cleaning rod channel.  1894 is stamped on the left top of the receiver body.

It would be nice if the problem requires only a common adjustment to bolt, but I fear it's not that simple.

Thanks.   Annapolis

'Annapolis' - It sounds like something is preventing the extractor claw from 'snapping over' the rim of the cartridge.

Check the 'notch' that is cut into breech end of the barrel for any debris or crud that may limit the upward movement of the tip of the extractor. Clean the 'notch area' thoroughly with a wooden tooth-pick.

Try snapping a cartridge into place on the bolt-face and see if the bolt will chamber and close on it. - OR - Take your bolt apart and see if the 'bare bolt' will close on the cartridges.

Annapolis, did you get your problem corrected?

'Annapolis' - Are the 'hang-ups' on cartridges fed singly or are the cartridges being fed through the magazine?

It would be helpful if you could post a picture of your bolt-face and extractor 'claw'.

I suspect that if your bolt cycles smoothly when no cartridges are involved, the problem is probably caused by the roughness and burrs on the front of the extractor claw. It may be 'digging in' and snagging on the base of the rimmed cases.

Photos for your enjoyment: Annapolis Naval Academy and Krags - 1913.

Butlers/Culpeper -- super pictures.  I'm going to share them around if you do not mind. The drill area and skyline is still recognizable.

I will try to send you a picture.  Because I have not mastered posting to the KRC's forum (or any other, mind you), it would be easier for me to send a picture directly to you.  If that's okey I'll need an email address.  Mine is troach@umd.edu.   

It is almost at random between the magazine load and single load when the cartridge seats and doesn't, although it seems single loading works a little bit better  -- but just maybe because I can unconsciously put more force that way. 

If the problem is a rough extractor, can this be remedied  -- for example by filing(?) or the availability of a replacement?

Terry

'Annapolis' - Any roughness on the extractor could be removed with file, stone, or emery cloth.

I will email you and would be glad to re-post any pictures of your Krag, on the KCA Forum for you.

p.s. The 1913 Annapolis photographs are Bain news photographs from the Digital Collections of the Library of Congress.

Here is a picture of the tip of a typical extractor spring and the left receiver wall 'flange' it slides under.

BR, this is starting to make sense. Now we should ask why that spring is hitting the "left receiver wall 'flange'". Perhaps there is a bur or fosilized grease under the extractor making the whole assembly ride high when a case head is in the bolt? Maybe the whole extractor assembly has weak spring action to pull it down or it is bent upwards?
If that extractor spring has blunt damage to it, the "left receiver wall 'flange'" may need a little attention also. Mold makers use small abrasive stones to reach in areas like that. I have used such stones in increasing the size of the radius on the left side of the chamber to improve feeding. I also hate the idea of leaving abrasive particles in the action so I mask off the chamber with paper towels and fill the recesses with modeling clay (Play Dough would work) and dental floss while doing the work. A good cleaning afterwards is in order. The photo shows the masking I did in a recent reaming of the chamber. Yes there is a small brass spacer on the end of the barrel, its purpose is not relevant here.