Dear BR,

I was pleased to see your experience with 110gr bullets and IMR-4198. I recently found 110RN at a decent price and bought 300. I think I’ll go back an try to buy the rest he had. Today was to be my first batch of 110’s over 4064 for my sportyKrag. I do have some (~1/3rd lb.) 4198 So I might try your load until that is gone. So I thank you for that report.

The day before yesterday I took my recent (mfg 1897) acquisition and my sportyKrag to the range primarily to see if primed cases and powder last used about 1980 still had life. Things went well. SportyKrag, mfg about 1904(?) shoots well. The new rifle had a bit of trouble chambering some of my neck-sized cases From the 1904 rifle and I did not force the issue. I wanted to know if I needed to do a full resize on brass for that rifle. Well, it proved the theory. Either full length and mix ‘em or fire form and segregate ‘em.

I did find some cases where the primers backed out a bit, enough that the wouldn’t go into the shell holder for decapping. Those I adjusted by setting the fired primers deeper, though some still wouldn’t enter the shell holder. Have you had any such experience? The bore on the 1897 vintage is beautiful and clean. It doesn’t seem to have been fired much, though it, too was sporterized, albeit very nicely. The finish could be rubbed out a little. So far I have fired 15 rounds through it (proving the components). Mild cast and 150gr FMJ over 47gr of IMR-4350 (nearly a compressed load).

Any thoughts? All input will be welcome.

'RicKrager':

Here is a copy of the Speer Data sheet, I found online, for .30-40 and the 110 grain projectiles.

I like that their Data is current and provides a "reduced load" for each bullet weight and cartridge covered.

Since some boxes of 110 grain projectiles and a pound of IMR-4198 were given to me, I have some practice/utility ammo for the cost of a primer and 'loan' of a cartridge case.

Greetings Brother BR,
With a bit of case prep and examination of the gap in both my Krags, I have begun loading the 110gr FMJ. Per your suggestion I worked a feeler gauge in as you indicated and found .008” slid in easily and .009” was snug. I think I will continue to monitor case evidence and work on sighting-in the recent acquisition.

I am quite fond of both of my modified rifles, from the historical perspective and as great shooters. At this time of my life I am no threat to the collectors. I will cheer from the sidelines when they announce an amazing find but not begin looking for the ultimate original. I remain just a rifleman and something of a pistolero. I explained the joy of shooting as getting little holes on the paper and then, slowly, getting them closer together.

I look forward to firing the 110’s downrange. I will continue getting various loads proofed and and in the ammo locker. I hope to fire in our club’s military rifle match. Our range has rifle and pistol ranges, plus pistol bays for USPSA. Rifles can shoot to 1000 yards. Folks in the western U.S. might want to look at visiting us.

Greetings to all,

Today we went to the range to prove the 110gr RN over 26grains of IMR 4198. I had 20 loaded, one failed to fire and one would not chamber (I think it was my mishandling when seating that round). The attached photo will show the results. Bear in mind that I am finally getting back to shooting this rifle (1898) and I love my trigger job. Thirty years ago I held better so the 50 yard shots were from a rest. The rest wouldn’t give me the view I needed for the 75 yard target holder so I stood up and tried to control my motion as I took the first 2 shots, lower right. Back on my feet I adjusted my attitude (“Got my mind right!”) and fired the last three. Those are the untaped hits in the yellow ring.

I gotta quit foolin’ around with the bench and stand up and shoot. I also need to keep the rifle in the front room and begin exercising by shouldering it as an exercise routine. Here is a nice 1/2 round - instead of 220gr @ 2000 fps we have 110gr @ 2000 fps.

This is really Getting to be fun.

BR,
Reading through the archives, a great source of information, I found your mention of the rear sight on my 1898. It seems to be a Lyman #34 with the windage adjustment. It has a screw-in aperture and also has a flip-up smaller aperture on the forward end of that housing. This gives me three choices for the hole size as well as the shading offered by the large screw-in plate. The screw-in aperture had to be trimmed at the circumference to bring the sight down far enough to clear the bolt when shooting at closer ranges, 75 to perhaps 100 yds. Photos follow. The front sight is a Redfield (not shown) 11/16” bead to top of barrel.