Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Info requested on the 25 Krag.

I'm planning to re-barrel to the 25 Krag, and am looking for info on the cartridge as current info has eluded me.

Can the 30-40 case be necked sized without fire-forming or FL resizing and be good to go?

Does anyone have experience or load info on it, the case size appears to be similar in volume
to the x 57 case and I was planning to work off of those.

And yes, I understand it is crazy to do this, but you know.......

Thanks for your input.

AJD

I have the 25 Krag Ackley reamer and dies and plenty of 257 barrels.

But so far I can't bring myself to convert my Springfield or Winchester 30-40 Krags to 25 Krag, because in Quickload / Quicktarget at 500 yards, the 308 125 NBT in a 30-40 is about the same as a 257 115 gr NBT in a 25 Krag

Always wanted to build a 25 Krag Improved and loved the Krag action but heard the usual "weak action" and "don't hotrod it" comments about it. But, think about it.

If you can lump the two common theories together, you also hear that the straighter walled improved cartridges exert less back thrust against the bolt than the heavily tapered cartridges. If that is true, wouldn't any improved case design be fine in the same action that will handle the tapered case design safely? I guess it boils down to what each cartridge runs for pressure and how much backwards thrust each produces.

There was an extensive article in an early '60s GUN DIGEST on the 25 Krag, the Improved version I think as it had a sharp shoulder. Rifle was built on a Winchester High Wall action. Load data was included, but looked a bit warm as I recall. I don't know whether the old GUN DIGESTS are available on line, but it would be worth checking.

Thanks guys,
The thought is to do this in a modern action so no worries about pressure.

lotech, thanks for the heads up, I'll check it out.

AJD

What modern action handles the rimmed 30-40 well, short of a single shot?

Slightly off topic, but many years ago I ran into a custom Krag in 25-35 WIN for sale. It wasnt a bad looking rifle, and of course when I went back to buy it, it was long gone.

If one is a bit charitable on the "modern" front, The P14 would work pretty well. The Lee-Enfield would also be a choice, though it's even less of a modern action than the P14.

The plan is to use a ss.

Building a .25 Krag will put you in good company with .257R and .250-3000 shooters. Pretty good company. The main thing to consider is the spotty brass availability.

A .25 Krag on a HiWall or #1 would be the t*ts.

Krag-Jorgensens are stronger than their single locking lugs would cause you to think.

I've ordered brass, but it hasn't come in. Love the performance of the .25 cals.
Not sure whether to go Ackley or std. Seems most of the info is on the Ackley.

My son built a 25 Krag Improved on a P-14 Enfield a couple of years ago. He is getting 257 Roberts Ack Improved velocities. He loves it

His biggest problem is locating Krag brass. He uses a 7x57 file and trim die, then he used a 257 Roberts Ack Imp die to get it to 257. A standard 257 Roberts load with a 87 gr bullets to fire form the case.

If I was going to do this I think I would use the 303 British case. There seems to be more brass available. He has tried 303 brass in his rifle but the necks are short.

Good Luck

CA Dude

Thanks, I picked up a couple hundred 30-40 cases and need dies to form to 25 Krag.
I made up a dummy losing a couple of cases in the process. I sized down to 7mm then to 6.5, finally to 25.

AJD

Have a Siamese Mauser action that is a candidate. Several cartridges I can play with on it.

Dang, forgot about the Siamese Mauser, thanks for jogging my memory. Another Mauser option would be the Lithuanian-issued M98 in .303 British. Chances are it'd be easier to get the engineering drawings for the 303 M98 and modify a bit more easily found variant.

Thanks Guys, I found the info I was seeking.

I received a copy of the reamer and found cartridge dimensions on this site.
Trim length, neck size, etc....

http://www.stevespages.com/page8d.htm

AJD