I have an old 1898 krag sporter that needs to have some action work done to make it feed properly. Does anyone have some recommendations?

No One?

Is it hanging the bullet tip on the LH side of the receiver right where it leaves the magazine, as you try to feed rounds into the chamber?

What shaped bullets are you trying to make it feed with? Is the side plate one for an 1898 or an 1896? Early or late magazine cutoff spindle?

Has the rifle been rechambered to something other than the original 30 US (30-40)? Unaltered Krags rarely have feeding problems.

http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=news

Think we're going the same place gnoahh!

It does hang up at the left side of chamber. Remington 180 spitzer. I had a new barrel from CMP put on and it just will not work right. The old barrel fed these like butter.

Yes

You may not like my answer but you may wanna switch to round nose projectiles. I did and solved issue. You will probably have to handload them. One of my Krags does the same thing with Rem factory 180 pointed soft points. Other three Krags feed them fine. Think those Remington bullets are just not quite seated deep enough. IMHO.

Mebbe some of the other Krag shooters have a better answer to the dilemma.

I'd compare the old barrel with the new and see if there is any obvious difference between the configurations. Or, as suggested by kaywoodie, try some RNs and forget the pointies.

Ditto. But I doubt the barrel is an issue as the new Criterion barrels are dead nuts exactly like the Armory barrels. I put one on my sporter too.

As a rule, a Krag should feed just about anything- at least the bunch I've owned over the years have. The only real feeding issue I ever had was when trying to cycle some ammo loaded with Speer 100 grain Plinkers which made for extremely short cartridges.

I would guarantee that the correct side plate and magazine cutoff are in place. The '98 cutoff spindle is longer than the '96 and as such keeps the cartridge nose-on longer as its rim is guided by it as the bolt pushes it forward. Likewise the side plate has a raised portion on the upper rear inside surface that acts in union with the cutoff spindle. Length of that shallow hump is longer in a '98 (re: longer cutoff spindle). I can see that if it has mismatched parts right there they'll cause some subtle feeding issues. Unfortunately, you can't look at them and say "oh yeah" without a frame of reference or a Krag loony's eagle eye. A '96 side plate will fit in a '98, but not the reverse (front lip of plate being .020" thicker on a '98). I hope I didn't confuse you!

I have a Peep Sight that takes the place of the cut off. But it fired and cycled with the old barrel. I have several reference books. I will look to see about the side plate. Lots of good input so far.

Is the sight a Pacific or a Redfield?

I will throw this out as far as parts go, S&S Firearms has a pretty decent supply of original and reproduction parts. If one is in the need of parts.



I have a receiver sight on my favorite Krag too! It's a Redfield so I had to remove the mag cut-off. Last year I hauled it up to the mountains along with my 9.3 x 62 chasing elk!

Krags just seem so at home in the woods. It's like seeing a spry old man out-hiking a gaggle of teenagers through difficult terrain.

I'm (still) in process of a Krag sporter build. English walnut stock, new 24" (shortened) Criterion barrel, Lyman 48 rear sight, steel stock furniture from Michael Petrov's collection.

The above rifle is the one I occasionally have trouble with the pointed projectiles. Just as Billu and I described. Redfield sight use means removals of mag cut-off selector. Wonder if a modified mag cut-off would help? One that is installed in receiver with the selector lever cut off so the use of the Redfield aperture sight could still be employed? Selector permanently fixed in "magazine on" position??? I doubly this would correct Billu's dilemma, but would cause the projectile to kick out a bit more and improve feeding. Just a thought.

If it's a Redfield sight the cutoff is not "totally" removed. The lever end is cut off and it is re-installed with the flat side down.

Redfield instructions: http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/yabbfiles/Attachments/Redfield-williams_004.JPG

I have this sight on my Krag installed per the Redfield instructions and have no feeding issues.

Complete thread on "no drill" Krag sights:
http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1377102600/7

The 70 Redfield is whats on mine Craigster! Thanks for posting. When I received the rifle, the previous owner had simply removed the entire mag cut off and them installed the sight. Glad to see I was re-inventing the wheel! LOL!

Here was my solution. Picked up a repro 1898 mag cut-off lever from Numrich. And really wasn't comfy with removing the whole lever from the shank. So I dremilled a notch in the shank/ lever. Works like a champ now. No hang ups. Slick as glass again!



Thanks again to all for their posts!

The Krag is an interesting and well made action. Not strong, but satisfying to use This one has been in the family a long time - I think my Dad and at least one uncle got their first deer with it. They were amazed that I got a doe with it in 2010.



That one has since been handed-up to an uncle. I've added a Ruger #1 in the same caliber, which can take .308-class loads. One of these days I'd like to add another original Krag, nicely sporterized.

An excellent solution !