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November 7, 2015
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She’s not pretty but at her age, who cares? Did a little ammo testing with a ca. 1907 Model 1895 in 30US today. Tough job, but somebody’s got to do it, right? 
Sweet little 57 got a little range time, too. It was in the rack as a visual aid for JWA’s book and I can’t recall shooting it. Seems I don’t have any pics of the 57. 
Maybe next time.
Mike
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Al. She did OK, found a load that she seemed to like. Bore isn’t the best and the sights are a bit difficult for me so it’s just a fun project.
Mike
They weren’t taking these to Camp Perry. If you got 3 MOA, you ain’t doing bad. If you got 2 MOA, jump for joy!
November 7, 2015
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Accuracy isn’t a high priority with this project, Clarence. She makes me smile and the black gun guys don’t have a clue why. Something about that action clanging around and falling out of the bottom of the receiver maybe, could be those long shiny cast bullets. I don’t know. 😉
Mike
TXGunNut said
Something about that action clanging around and falling out of the bottom of the receiver maybe…
Mike
That’s it–like freight cars being coupled together! I’d rather work the action than shoot it!
Never shot my 30-40 but my 35 WCF kicks as bad as a 45-70. Not much fun when firing for load development. Still haven’t figured out why my 35 shoots so high and it might be some time before I shoot it again.
November 7, 2015
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30US/30-40 Krag has a very mild recoil due to the low velocity of the round and the mass of the rifle; comparable to a 38 or 44WCF in an 1892. Ammo is a bit of a chore but once you’ve re-sized a handful of 303 brass down to the correct shape and cast a pile of NOE 312-208 (311299 clone) gas checked bullets it’s really no big deal.
Mike
Mike,
Why would you resize 303 brass ? 30-40 Krag ammo and components are readily available.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Bert H. said
Mike,
Why would you resize 303 brass ? 30-40 Krag ammo and components are readily available.
Bert-
I wasn’t able to locate 30-40 brass at that time. I know one company does a run occasionally but Hornady 303 brass is always available and is very good brass. I don’t have a 303 in the house these days so not concerned about the incorrect headstamp.
Mike
TXGunNut said
I don’t have a 303 in the house these days so not concerned about the incorrect headstamp.
What’s more, you have an excuse to wear this:
TXGunNut said
Bert-
I wasn’t able to locate 30-40 brass at that time. I know one company does a run occasionally but Hornady 303 brass is always available and is very good brass. I don’t have a 303 in the house these days so not concerned about the incorrect headstamp.
Mike
Mike,
Maybe it is a localized oddity, but I can find factory new 30-40 ammo almost anywhere I look out here in western Washington or Oregon. I own three rifles chambered for it… two Model 1885 Single Shot Rifles (one is a beautiful Take down, and the second was special ordered with a Schutzed double-set trigger and shotgun butt). The third rifle is Model 1892 Springfield Krag (serial number 25766) that was unfortunately sporterized by my grandfather in the 1930s… it was my first deer hunting rifle. I like the cartridge, and I shoot the Remington factory 180-gr SP loads with good accuracy
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Bert-
I buy factory centerfire metallic case ammunition only occasionally, maybe to justify the money and space I’ve dedicated to the reloading hobby, maybe because I enjoy making ammo. I like the 30-40 cartridge and enjoy loading and casting for it. Reminds me a bit of the 32-40 and 38WCF. Nice break from modern bottleneck and straight cases. I have probably purchased four boxes of factory rifle ammo in the past ten years vs several hundred to over a thousand pieces of new brass. To be honest I’m probably more into ammo than I am the guns that fire them.
Mike
I don’t know about this year with Covid but almost every normal year. I have been able to find or have ordered 30-40 Krag from Remington. They always seem to make a limited run every year, because so many hunters still use the cartridge.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
TXGunNut said
Bert-To be honest I’m probably more into ammo than I am the guns that fire them.
Mike
Glad to hear it–can you look into reloading .22LR? Looks like it’s coming to that!
November 7, 2015
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clarence said
Glad to hear it–can you look into reloading .22LR? Looks like it’s coming to that!
Will look into it, Clarence. I have plenty of .22 ammo for now so I’m focusing my rimfire loading efforts on the .44. Will be nice to get some of these Henry’s and 1866’s on the range again. Brass is REALLY tough to find for this one, though.
All kidding aside I apparently got into the 30-40 cartridge during a temporary shortage (late 2015, early 2016) for that particular case and I’m aware the situation has improved. I purchased enough to last me for quite some time as case life for this cartridge seems to be quite long. Quite frankly, Chuck, I often forget to check Graf’s. Good folks.
Mike
clarence said
Glad to hear it–can you look into reloading .22LR? Looks like it’s coming to that!
There you go! Have fun!
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Maverick said
There you go! Have fun!
Sincerely,
Maverick
Great idea…for TXGunNut!
A friend of mine used to reload with black powder, but he was using factory primed cases. Wonder what this kit uses for priming compound? Spreading it uniformly is one of the necessities for accuracy.
November 7, 2015
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clarence said
Great idea…for TXGunNut!
A friend of mine used to reload with black powder, but he was using factory primed cases. Wonder what this kit uses for priming compound? Spreading it uniformly is one of the necessities for accuracy.
Sounds like fun but my project list is a bit long already and I’ve made little progress on shortening it. I was refining loads for the 32 Spl when this 30US 1895 came along and then a 32-40 got added to the herd and reminded me I still had work to do on the 32 Spl.
This won’t be my first .22RF ammo shortage and I didn’t run out during the first one. I can load 32-20 for less than I’ve seen 22RF ammo so I’m not really concerned one way or the other. I gave a friend a bag of 100 9mm rounds the other day and you’d think I’d handed him the keys to a new pickup.
Not much interested in reloading 22RF, cases too small for my clumsy fingers and I don’t have the tools or machinery to make them. One nice thing about this ammo shortage is that I’ll probably have the club pistol range to myself this weekend. 😉
Mike
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