Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Modern 30-40 Krag loading

I just bought a Browning 1895 30-40 Krag. Looking at the reloading data and it's all with older powders and pretty anemic.

Not trying to make a 30-06 out of it but would like to give it a bit more zip. Planning a possible Wood Bison hunt and would like to use this rifle with 200 or 220 gr Noslers.

Some of the newer powders might give a bit more performance without running pressures up too much.

Thanks,

Lefty C

Ken Waters did an article on this topic when the Browning 30-40s came out.

SY

Thanks, will try to find it.

Appreciate if anyone has a link.

Lefty

pm sent

Got it!!

Thanks,

Lefty

Ed Matunas had loads for the 30-40Krag in the Ruger#3 and Win/Browning 1895 in his book.

These won't be easy to find, but Bob "Hot Load" Hagel did a writeup on modern .30-40 loads in one of the new Browning 1895s.; very good article that appeared in either HANDLOADER or RIFLE. Also, Hodgdon manual #26 has heavy loads for modern .30-40s.

I've owned a number of .30-40's, from a pair of original Krags to more recent falling blocks. In "modern" rifles generally load about 2 grains more than most recent data suggests for "old" rifles, which resulted in good accuracy and infinite brass life. My favorite load is 48.0 grains of H4350 with any 180-grain, which works really well on game and has never caused a problem in any rifle, including my present .30-40, a custom over-under double built on a Ruger Red Label 20-gauge frame. (Got it from a good friend, who also got it from somebody else, who had no idea who made it, and there's no clue marked on the rifle.)

The Krag case has about the same powder capacity as the .308 Winchester, depending on brand and throat length, so is capable of the same velocities in a strong action.

A modern 1895 lever action may be somewhat stronger than an original Model '95 but it will be just as springy and won't do well with loads which are much hotter. Falling blocks or strong bolt actions are another matter and can be loaded to the same pressures as a 308 with similar performance. In fact, the 30/40 case seems to handle high pressure better than the 308. I find this to be true of most rimmed brass. GD

Steven Dodd Hughes has an article in Sports Afield on his custom .30-40, a Ruger #3 converted to side lever. Uses a mild load of IMR 4350 and 180gr partitions. Goes out and kills critters.