Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger No.3 in 30-40 Krag

I have been looking for one of these for a number of years but never found one that was in my opinion worth the money for the shape they were in. So today walking around our local gun show low and behold laying on a table was a real nice one for a decent price so now I have one more bucket list rifle. Serial number places it made late 1975.

Nice catch.

Thanks Hogeye I am a happy camper.

A Ruger No.3 in 30-40 would be a handy walk about rifle for me... You should be in store for a good time.

I have some factory ammo that I shoot in my Springfield Krag carbine so will see how she shoots and just might go out on opening day of deer season here in WY.

Anyone have good load data for these rifles? I know you can load them different than my 98 Springfield.

Very neat acquisition. I too have wanted one for a very long time, so I'm a bit envious! Side benefit: they had a great reputation as cast bullet shooters back in the day.

Sure, they can be loaded a fair amount hotter than for a Krag rifle. If I had one I would also be tempted to do that. But I probably wouldn't, if I had one that lived side by side with a Krag. It's yet another instance of "what could possibly go wrong?" Employing anal-like protocols of strict separation of ammo is all well and good but sometimes schidt happens and a mixup of ammo occurs. While it wouldn't necessarily be catastrophic if a 50K psi Ruger load is discharged in a Krag meant for 40K psi as a strict maximum, bad things such as cracking the single locking lug are a distinct possibility. (Cracked locking lugs were precisely why Frankford Arsenal & Springfield Armory went back to 2000fps for their 220 grain bullet after they upped it to 2200 fps at the turn of the century.) I would be happy with shooting Krag-level loads in the Ruger because after all such loads have been doing a swell job on the fauna of North America for nearly 130 years now.

Just a cautionary note - I just find myself being more cautious about stuff like that the older I get. (Not to mention stiff loads in these little rifles are real attention-getters!)

gnoahhh, Thanks for the input and for sure does make sense. I will start the search today for a good cast bullet for both rifles.

There is some good information in chapter 51 of John Barsness book "Gun Gack II". A lot of very useful information is contained in that series of books. Hornady had info in their 4th edition of their hand loading manual as well.

If I ever find a .30-40 No. 3 in like circumstances I'll restock it. Neat guns.

Pabucktail, funny you mention that. I have been thinking the same thing this morning might have to look into it.

You might like the Lyman #311284, a 220 gr. bullet made for the Krag. I've been running it from a Browning B78 30-06 at 30-40 velocity with good results. It also shoots well in a Browning 1895 Winchester clone. I run 25.0 gr. 5744, WW2 milsurp brass and Winchester primers. Groups average 1.5" from the Browning which is scoped and 2.5 to 3.0" from the 1895 clone and iron sights. I consider that pretty good considering I'm 83 years old and my eyes aren't all that good anymore. It's a fun load to shoot with moderate recoil.
Paul B.

The #3s are great rifles for eastern hunters, and the 30-40 gives you a “rimmed .308” that can be loaded for a great deal of flexibility. Mine shoot very well as received. My .375 Win is good for 1” @ 100 yds with cast bullets (3 shots).

I was looking for that Lyman #311284 mold this morning and have not found it yet. Thanks for the info and load data.

311284 is the classic bullet for the .30-40. If you want to try some, shoot me a PM.

Very cool .. nice grab. I'm envious. I've only seen one and it was overpriced for something that'd been hacked on a bit. .30-40 was the favored cartridge in my family 2-3 generations back.

TOM, it has been a favored round for us as well along with 32 Win special.

I am not sure what you are looking for but I have some #1 and/or 3 stocks. Some have been fitted with pads and some haven't. If you are looking for one with a pad to make it more comfortable to shoot while keeping the original stock intact shoot me a PM.

I've had two of these; still have one I bought thirty-five years ago. I seldom shoot it anymore but it's very accurate. Mine has been a cast bullet rifle. The Lyman #311284 may be the most popular design for the .30-40. I've had that mould many years but have always gotten better accuracy in all .30 caliber chamberings with the Lyman #314299, about 200 grains.

I just checked the #3s for sale on GUNBROKER, holy moly........