The 30-40 Krag

[robert slabaugh]

Recoil being a relative thing, can you imagine the felt recoil from your 1895 if it was chambered in 30-06, 30-03, 7.62x54R, 303 British, 405 Winchester, or some of the others it was chambered in? By the way, I have been enthralled by the 1895 since reading about it in one of Stephen Hunter's Earl Swagger novels, just can't remember which one. Happy shooting!

[dodge]

too have a Winchester 1895 but with a Lyman Model 21 peep sight. Fun gun to shoot. When working the action it makes a sound that is so different than any other lever action that I've heard. Sounds almost like a bank vault being closed.

[Bill67]

Teddy Roosevelt nicknamed his '95 Big Medicine for good reason. I can remember shooting this when I was a 12 year old. I've shared this story before, but a quick redux... My Granddad was a Forest Ranger in Kentucky and was chasing a Moonshiner in the late 30's and the guy dropped this over a rock wall of some significant height. The stock cracked, but my Granddad retrieved it and had it repaired by my Great Uncle. He gave it to me when I was 18. My Dad learned to shoot with this as well as an 1885 .22 Winchester

[crazywolf]

yes the 30 40 krag is a lot of fun I have a rifle made in 1896 has some arsenal updates still trying to find by S/N if my rifle was in the Spanish American war.crazywolf

[bob308]

the cracked bolts came when the army tried to put more speed in the cartage .mostly it was in 99 carbines. in fact if the hot loads would have worked out the 03 mite not have been the 03. but a later model.
as far as value I would have to see a lot of pictures.

that 96 could have been used in Cuba or the Philippines. at that time national guard troops were still using the trapdoor.

[Noah_Zark]

I love "sporterized" Krags! There are so many different variations on that theme, the way owners and 'smiths went about personalizing these rifles.

I came to the Krag late; I sold a bunch of firearms in 2007 that I decided didn't mesh with my long-term collecting and shooting interests and goals, and used some of the proceeds to buy a couple Krags. Welp, you know how that goes:



Top to bottom:

- 1898 Rifle in original condition; beautiful bore and crown
- 1898 Rifle built for target by Taylor and Robbins; a 1903 barrel has been fitted to the receiver and the whole thing polished and gloss blued. Pistol grip added to the stock.
- 1898 Rifle sporterized, with a Lyman bolt peep installed (it is folded horizontal in the photo) and a pistol grip and high comb added to the stock using what appears to be identical walnut, and hand checkering performed.
- 1896 Rifle cut down to appear like a faux carbine.
- Browning (Miroku) 1895 replica in 30-40.
- Ruger No 3 wearing a Lyman All American with a picket post reticle.

I really love playing with moderate loads in these rifles. It's amazing how accurate they are with 14 grains of Unique behind a Oregon Trail cast bullet.

Noah

[edritchey]

Nice collection - I'm down to only 3 in 30-40 I still don't know why I ever sold the ones I did.

[TonyF]

the nicest of my three.
a mostly unhacked 1895 carbine.

Outstanding!

Green with envy.

[TonyF]

Top to bottom:

- Browning (Miroku) 1895 replica in 30-40.

I have the SRC version.

[Gunplummer]

I bought one at an auction years back. It had been reblued and was in a Bishop stock with a side mount. It was not seated right in the stock, but had plenty of wood left to do it right. It also needed a better side mount, which I installed. It shot really great, but it was just too heavy to drag around the mountain all day. I am guessing it was a long gun that was cut down, but the barrel was left the factory diameter. The only other one I had I built on a Russian bolt gun back before ammo was imported into the states. I used an '03 Springfield barrel and it shot OK, but again, it was too heavy. Nothing wrong with them if you aren't hunting too far away. I believe Larry Kroll, the writer/hunter used one for years.