2nd KRAG

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Just acquired my second Krag....as I am a Enfield collector the first one was used as trade bait for a Long Branch No4 MK1 but before I sent it on it's way I had to shoot it!!! I kinda fell in love with that little carbine, it was a very neat rifle especially the way the mag functioned and it was quite accurate as well.
Well after feeling a bit sorry for seeing it go, I was soon in the hunt for a second one. I responded to a add in the paper and that is how I acquired my second Krag.
I have no knowledge when it comes to these rifles. It is a carbine in 6.5x55. Bolt matches receiver, rear sight and inside of mag housing. Wood has not been cut or sporterized but has been sanded......too bad for that. The receiver has the crown stamp and dated 1900 below it. The serial # is just below that.....it is a 4 digit serial #. The rear sight is calibrated to 2200 meters, the front sight is adjustable for wind age on the right side..... by means of turning a small circular disk with 2 small holes in it. rear butt has a fairly large ring just below the pistol grip for attaching the rear part of the sling.....front sling attaches to the barrel band. This one does not seem to have the mag cut off as my other one did...... believe it was dated 1908 and was a artillery carbine. Sorry no pictures to show but given this info is it sufficient to figure out what model I have?? Is modern off the shelf ammo fine to shot in this rifle (assuming the head space is ok) without having excess pressure problems?
Thanks for your input.
 
They are touted to be stronger than the US Krag but when push comes to shove they are both quite strong when compared to the other rifles of the period.

IMHO modern off the shelf ammo is OK to shoot in them as it's loaded by the North American factories in deference to similar strength actions.

I am not particularly enthused about the swing out magazine cover and much prefer the US style which tips on its side.

Great little rifles though and as you say very accurate if the bores are OK. Many of them came into Canada chopped as sporters in an era where full military dress was considered fugly. Many of those rifles had sewer pipe bores. Some looked like new rifles, fresh from the factory but even most of those went under the saws of the "customizers."
 
If you only have two Krags, you're just a guy with a couple of Krags. When you have three, you're an official Krag collector! ;-)
So what is it, based on year & serial #?
 
I personally would still only handload, they aren't very strong actions. Interestingly enough the strongest 6.5 Krag is apparently the Steyr manufactured ones, as they left a radius when the Norwegian manufactured ones didn't. The fact that it is known that the Steyr ones are stronger because of a radius says a lot about how weak the action is as a difference that small shouldn't be able to be easily noted in difference to strength.

Also the Norwegian Krags do tip sideways, it is the Danish which open straight forward.

And to quote a comment I made here a little while ago in regards to the Norwegian Krags

""You should not shoot full power Norma 6,5X55 hunting or match ammo in your Norwegian Krag. It is weaker than Swedish mausers and newer rifles. After the war (WW2) we had some blown up krag actions in Norway, and the pressure of the 6,5 Krag ammunition was set down to approximately 3000 BAR, later(in the 70s) it was even sat down to 2800 BAR (before WW2 pressure on Krag ammo was the same as pressure on swedish mauser ammo, approx 3100 BAR). Today 6,5X55 Swedish has a max pressure of 3800 BAR.

2800BAR = 40600PSI
3100BAR= 45000PSI
3800 BAR=55000PSI"

Other than this quote I have heard discussion in regards to Norwegian Krags receiving failure, specifically in regards to there speed shooting competitions in Norway, due to repeated loads at higher pressures (which also coincides with the time period which they would have bumped the max pressures down to 2800 BAR).

40600PSI is roughly where a 1889 Swiss or a 1888/90 Mannlicher rifle would sit pressure wise, and seeing as those are comparable in terms of metallurgy and weakness of action, I think that would be a good safe area to aim for in a handload."

Its your life, I wouldn't shoot modern ammo through it these old rifles need respect as otherwise it can end very badly for you.
 
North American 6.5x55 is loaded to the 3000 bar level or lower as per information from Hornady.

Ganderite could likely be a lot more specific.
 
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