I'm 54 and have had Krag carbines my whole life. They were hugely popular deer rifles in the 20th century and thousands are still in use. They were the first modern US battle rifle, bolt action, smokeless powder full metal jacket and produced from 1892 - early 1903. The carbine was the last specifically produced for the cavalry. The rifle version you have is what's called a long tom. They're not only incredibly rugged and reliable but due to the single lug construction smooth as silk to operate and thus the expression "smooth as a Krag". The ammo was originally known as .30 Caliber Government. It is hard to find and pricey now at close to $2 a round with only two companies producing it. The rifles and carbines themselves are pricey but a shooter can still be had in the $7-800 range. You can literally grab five rounds without even looking and roll them into the mag without jamming. On an old episode of Run and Gun the Krag carbine beat out the K98 because of this speed advantage in loading even though the Mauser used stripper clips. Hickok45 has done two videos on his Krag Carbine.
When I was 15 in 1960, I shot my 3 point buck with a Krag 30-40 with hollow points. The gun I used had been sporterized and I believe the single shot lever may have been removed as I don't remember it being there. One of things I loved about was the bolt action, the lifted straight up for 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch and then spiraled the rest of the way back, very smooth and quick. The deer was being driven by hunter whom already had their deer. This deer turned 90 deg. From direction of the drive and jumped the fence about 30 to 40 yards away from me. I shot once hitting behind front leg. When he bolted and ran directly away from me, I emptied the magazine before it fell dead about 100 yrds from first shot. Thankfully I didn't need to hit it again as I didn't i had approximately 200+ yards of open farm field. The other hunters that were in the woods where the deer came from thought it was a semi-auto not my bolt gun that was being fired. My school bus driver loaned me the gun. Northern MN, Itasca county. Great memory. Thanks for showing the gun, I also loved the magazine, coolest thing I'd seen.
"Civilize 'em with the Krag" These rifles are a hoot. I learned a lot about mine from the folks at Krag collector's forum. They are as I call them my retirement guns. They are the smoothest and lightest shooting rifle. Perfect to put food on the table and keep your shoulder trauma low.
The cartouche, with the inspector's stamp and the 1903 date is the year of manufacture. The Krag was made up to and into 1903 ending in serial number around 480,000. For some reason the serial number, found just forward of the cut-off, has been obliterated. Krags with serial numbers under 160,000 qualify as antiques and thus can be bought, sold, and shipped direct without going thru the BATF paperwork.
I have several Krags in original condition. My goal is to collect one from each year of production 1898 to 1903. Your friends rifle is in excellent condition. 1903 was last year of production and it looks like it didn’t see any significant use.
Joel if you want good history on this rifle check out the RUclips channel C&Rsenal. He does great in-depth videos on military rifles. This gun was doomed by the single locking lug rendering it unable to take more powerful ammunition and the slow magazine system. In Cuba the Spanish using Mauser rifles vastly outperformed US troops with the Krag. On the lee Enfield note- they shoot way better with full stocks. SMLE’s in particular utilize a complicated spring system at the nose to make the light barrel shoot straight 😊
I got a free Krag and 200+ rounds to go with. An old fella I know had this house with a hole in the roof, when he told me there was 5 gunsafes still in that collapsing building I volunteered and got a team together to save the guns. We got over 40 guns out of the ruin and 2000+ live rounds, not counting the hundreds of bullets too corroded to be useable. There were 4 5 gallon buckets of rotten shotgun shells and green slimy cartridges that we turned over to the police for disposal. The guns included muzzle loaders, shotguns, sporting rifles and milsurp rifles. there was a Garand, 2 Arisakas, a Mauser, a couple of trapdoor springfields and a trio of SKS... But my old buddy gave me the Krag, for helping him rescue his dad's and brother's guns. It was pretty rusty, it took a lot of work to free it up, but the bolt and bore were rust free. It had a peep sight and was already sporterized (Bubbaed) I mounted a scope, because I'm no Spring chicken myself and I had trouble with the peep sight. Somebody glass bedded it, even. She's a Shooter! But my gawd the pucker factor in going into that ruin, the main support beam was in 3 pieces in the basement! Everything inside was covered in slime and mold! Even the guns in the gun safes were very rusty...I don't think the Arisakas can even be salvaged. What an adventure!
the 30.40 krag is said to be a dead cartridge. Remington is the only one that still makes a small production run each year, so if you see it buy it there is not a lot out their i have 2 the 1896 and a 1898 the 1896 is almost unfired its my safe queen ,the 1898 is a tack driver .the rifling is very sharp the stock has a crack in the wrist that has not grown in121 years i shoot it a lot, people gather around you just to look see it hit 10 by12 inch steal plates at 250 yards. the first thing they say is what is that. they really are fine shooters .when you tell them its 121 years old they are stunned, and cant believe it still shoots
Hornady makes a run each year as well. I have 2 boxes. Hornady custom line. 180 grain spititzers. I wish someone still loaded the 220 grain bullets that they originally used.
They used it well into the 1960's for hunting. I don't hunt, but if I did I wouldn't have any qualms of using mine today on a limited basis to do so. It's every bit as effective as a 30-06 for hunting.
I remember reading a book about Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders when I was a kid. I don't remember how they choose the Krag-Jorgeson and who the competition was. Thanks for the video.
I Don't know exactly how they chose the Krag Jorgensen but I know why they replaced it. Probably because it was able to use the newly developed smokeless type bullet. The vastly superior Springfield was made available in 1903, and it was closely modeled on the German Mauser.
navy did trials with the lee 7mm rifle. other trials were before the us krag rifle were the 1878 Remington keene rifle in 45-70 as a the earlier magazine tube fed rifle in the trapdoor round. krag jorgenson was in 8mm krag round.
I was just given one of these. It's been frankensteined; can't wait to get it deep cleaned and put back together. I had to order a replacement magazine disconnect and safety. (and no telling what else). Very cool; year 1900 serial number.
I own an original 1896 carbine model 30-40 Krag Jorgensen. Investigation by an appraiser showed via serial# it was actually carried during the Spanish American War. The appraiser valued it between $1800-$2000. My father bought it in the late 1940's and I inherited upon his death in 2003. It is a keeper and I in turn will pass it on to one of my nephews when the time comes. The carbine model was designed for a horseman to use because of It's shortened length. Any sporterizing of this gun will vastly devalue it. Sporterized you'll be lucky to get $200 for it. All the major ammunition manufacturers still make ammo for it, in particular Remington, Winchester and Hornady. But at about $1.65 per shot it gets really expensive to shoot very often. And I would question doing so because of the improvements in metallurgy over the years it may not be safe to fo so on a 124 year old barrel and receiver. Mine is totally intact, and I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone in the future to experience it.. It wasn't replaced due to It's ability to get dirty, it was proven to be vastly inferior to the German designed Mauser which the Spanish were equipped with at the time. The 1903 Springfield was a copy of the Mauser and was superior to the 30-40 Krag in virtually every way. The Krag had a short run as the Army's main battle rifle less than 11 years, sort of like the M-14 being replaced by the M-16 in the late 1950's early 1960's, when it was found to be too heavy and nearly impossible to handle in full auto.
I own 2 krags and both are fro. 1895. Both of them are sporterized, and I deer hunt with both. Great shooting guns. Ammo is hard to find. I read up and I start to do my own reloading and I have with it.
Had one since I was 14, still do, what would be considered an NRA SPORTER with springfield 03 sight I do believe, smooth action, outstanding accuracy feeds better with RN bullets. More popular as a hunting rifle than military arm. Excellent for hunting applications. Used mine recently to kill two nice wild boar 220 grain SP. Still excellent for this application. One of the largest grizzly or brown bear was taken with a .30-40 back in the 20s as I recall.
Have a long ago sporterized one with the mag cutoff removed and peep sights installed, oldest gun I have. I only have shot it once but it was pinging the 8" steel at 100 yards over and over.
The original. 30 40 used a black powder load. The action was a knock off of a mauser action, making it a very smooth action. The rifling only has four lands( grooves) making it very accurate( for the time). Many of these are still very accurate today. I have an 1896 carbine that uses handloaded ammo. It is an awesome rifle for deer
Lol. Not even close. It was developed originally as a smokeless load (not black powder). And it shared nothing with a mauser, using a different magazine system, receiver, bolt lock up, and country of origin developed independently of the mauser.
Originally they came in 6.5x55. The Norwegian version is a bit different than the US version. The magazine cutoff is reversed on the US version. Down is on on the Norwegian
@@kmr999999 I really want one that was made by Steyr early on..Lot of history there -- The 6.5 itself, Norway,the U.S., Austria the Boer resistance...one day I hope to find one in excellent condition..Thanks for your insightful comments.
@@georgetreepwood1119 I have a 1896 Steyr with both a 6,5 barrel and a 6.5 mm barrel. And a 1911 Kongsberg made. I have used the Steyr for competition shooting . I am planning to convert the Kongsberg to a hunting rifle
@@kmr999999 Nice --The Steyrs are hard to find here --US-and when they are they are in well used people here dont care between them and the Kongsbergs price wise..shape most of the nice ones end up in the UK because of the Boers...not a safe place for any gun to be..
I've been told if your looking to buy a krag rifle and are going to shoot it you or a gunsmith needs to inspect the locking lug as they have been known to crack from stress and not safe to shoot.
I love my krag, it amazing how accurate a 130 year old rifle is, ballistically it's very close to a 300 Savage it will make clean kilsl on deer at 200 yards no problem, ive seen my father kill large deer much farther than that with old school peep sights that I would need a scope to make.
It most assuredly does matter how the rounds are put into the magazine, if you ever get a jam you will know what I mean. It is not, thankfully; common but can and does happen. The mag cut off position is opposite in earlier models, not sure about details, I would have to get my book out to say ( many changes to many things start to finish) colonel Brophy made a good book on the krag and the 03. I have and actively use them I prefer my early 1896 versions, with 1901 sights. The one you show has 1902 sight flip up peep, you can fill a book just on sight variations, front and rear.
The reason for the Krag short life in the military was the receiver was weak. If loaded to exceed 2000 FPS there was a high risk of the chamber cracking or exploding in your face. I had a chance to buy one but it was sporterized and had the same 1908 stock on it.
Not true. The "weakness" is a myth. It was a temporary problem created by the army's usual weapons procurement roller coaster. First they picked a cartridge, .30 caliber Government. Then they picked a weapon after trials, the Springfield Krag. Then they put it into production and sent them to the troops. Then they decided on a hotter load, leading to weapons failing. Then they went back to the original load, problem solved. It was the desire for the stripper fed K98 that led to the adoption of the '03.
Doesn’t matter your social strata, you see that “o” with the line through it? ITS PRONOUNCED “YORGENSON”. No excuse for purposely mispronouncing someone’s name.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
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I'm 54 and have had Krag carbines my whole life. They were hugely popular deer rifles in the 20th century and thousands are still in use. They were the first modern US battle rifle, bolt action, smokeless powder full metal jacket and produced from 1892 - early 1903. The carbine was the last specifically produced for the cavalry. The rifle version you have is what's called a long tom. They're not only incredibly rugged and reliable but due to the single lug construction smooth as silk to operate and thus the expression "smooth as a Krag". The ammo was originally known as .30 Caliber Government. It is hard to find and pricey now at close to $2 a round with only two companies producing it. The rifles and carbines themselves are pricey but a shooter can still be had in the $7-800 range. You can literally grab five rounds without even looking and roll them into the mag without jamming. On an old episode of Run and Gun the Krag carbine beat out the K98 because of this speed advantage in loading even though the Mauser used stripper clips. Hickok45 has done two videos on his Krag Carbine.
When I was 15 in 1960, I shot my 3 point buck with a Krag 30-40 with hollow points. The gun I used had been sporterized and I believe the single shot lever may have been removed as I don't remember it being there. One of things I loved about was the bolt action, the lifted straight up for 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch and then spiraled the rest of the way back, very smooth and quick. The deer was being driven by hunter whom already had their deer. This deer turned 90 deg. From direction of the drive and jumped the fence about 30 to 40 yards away from me. I shot once hitting behind front leg. When he bolted and ran directly away from me, I emptied the magazine before it fell dead about 100 yrds from first shot. Thankfully I didn't need to hit it again as I didn't i had approximately 200+ yards of open farm field. The other hunters that were in the woods where the deer came from thought it was a semi-auto not my bolt gun that was being fired. My school bus driver loaned me the gun. Northern MN, Itasca county. Great memory. Thanks for showing the gun, I also loved the magazine, coolest thing I'd seen.
smoothest bolt action ever made
Ian with Forgotten Weapons here on RUclips knows the history of all these old weapons. Great weapons historian.
2 minutes in and this guy is humble and likable. Good work.
"Civilize 'em with the Krag"
These rifles are a hoot. I learned a lot about mine from the folks at Krag collector's forum. They are as I call them my retirement guns. They are the smoothest and lightest shooting rifle. Perfect to put food on the table and keep your shoulder trauma low.
Have an 1896 model rifle. Dad gave it too me when I was 12. He got it sometime in the 1950's. Thanks for the info on it.
If my memory serves me Teddy Roosevelts men used these rifles at San Juan Hill
The cartouche, with the inspector's stamp and the 1903 date is the year of manufacture. The Krag was made up to and into 1903 ending in serial number around 480,000. For some reason the serial number, found just forward of the cut-off, has been obliterated. Krags with serial numbers under 160,000 qualify as antiques and thus can be bought, sold, and shipped direct without going thru the BATF paperwork.
Very nice rifle! Years ago I picked up a sporterized 1903a3 and turned it back into milspec, yup it was a pain in the butt (but it was worth it).
I have several Krags in original condition. My goal is to collect one from each year of production 1898 to 1903. Your friends rifle is in excellent condition. 1903 was last year of production and it looks like it didn’t see any significant use.
Joel if you want good history on this rifle check out the RUclips channel C&Rsenal. He does great in-depth videos on military rifles. This gun was doomed by the single locking lug rendering it unable to take more powerful ammunition and the slow magazine system. In Cuba the Spanish using Mauser rifles vastly outperformed US troops with the Krag. On the lee Enfield note- they shoot way better with full stocks. SMLE’s in particular utilize a complicated spring system at the nose to make the light barrel shoot straight 😊
...and still we took the hill...and won
I got a free Krag and 200+ rounds to go with. An old fella I know had this house with a hole in the roof, when he told me there was 5 gunsafes still in that collapsing building I volunteered and got a team together to save the guns. We got over 40 guns out of the ruin and 2000+ live rounds, not counting the hundreds of bullets too corroded to be useable. There were 4 5 gallon buckets of rotten shotgun shells and green slimy cartridges that we turned over to the police for disposal. The guns included muzzle loaders, shotguns, sporting rifles and milsurp rifles. there was a Garand, 2 Arisakas, a Mauser, a couple of trapdoor springfields and a trio of SKS... But my old buddy gave me the Krag, for helping him rescue his dad's and brother's guns. It was pretty rusty, it took a lot of work to free it up, but the bolt and bore were rust free. It had a peep sight and was already sporterized (Bubbaed) I mounted a scope, because I'm no Spring chicken myself and I had trouble with the peep sight. Somebody glass bedded it, even. She's a Shooter!
But my gawd the pucker factor in going into that ruin, the main support beam was in 3 pieces in the basement! Everything inside was covered in slime and mold! Even the guns in the gun safes were very rusty...I don't think the Arisakas can even be salvaged.
What an adventure!
Excellent video. Many thanks!
the 30.40 krag is said to be a dead cartridge. Remington is the only one that still makes a small production run each year, so if you see it buy it there is not a lot out their i have 2 the 1896 and a 1898 the 1896 is almost unfired its my safe queen ,the 1898 is a tack driver .the rifling is very sharp the stock has a crack in the wrist that has not grown in121 years i shoot it a lot, people gather around you just to look see it hit 10 by12 inch steal plates at 250 yards. the first thing they say is what is that. they really are fine shooters .when you tell them its 121 years old they are stunned, and cant believe it still shoots
Hornady makes a run each year as well. I have 2 boxes. Hornady custom line. 180 grain spititzers. I wish someone still loaded the 220 grain bullets that they originally used.
I have a 1898 30-40 long rifle and it groups out 150 yrd quite nicely
I had an old hunting and trapping book, and some of the hunters back before WW2 used the .30/40 Krag for Elk and Bear in the west!
They used it well into the 1960's for hunting. I don't hunt, but if I did I wouldn't have any qualms of using mine today on a limited basis to do so. It's every bit as effective as a 30-06 for hunting.
I used mine well into the '80s and still have my little carbine.
@@alswann2702 Mine is a Carbine model also, it was actually carried by a horseman during the Spanish/American war.
I remember reading a book about Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders when I was a kid. I don't remember how they choose the Krag-Jorgeson and who the competition was. Thanks for the video.
I Don't know exactly how they chose the Krag Jorgensen but I know why they replaced it. Probably because it was able to use the newly developed smokeless type bullet. The vastly superior Springfield was made available in 1903, and it was closely modeled on the German Mauser.
The US Army replaced the Krag because during fighting against the Spanish forces in Cuba they found themselves outgunned. The Spanish had Mausers.
navy did trials with the lee 7mm rifle. other trials were before the us krag rifle were the 1878 Remington keene rifle in 45-70 as a the earlier magazine tube fed rifle in the trapdoor round. krag jorgenson was in 8mm krag round.
I was just given one of these. It's been frankensteined; can't wait to get it deep cleaned and put back together. I had to order a replacement magazine disconnect and safety. (and no telling what else). Very cool; year 1900 serial number.
Love my Springfield Krag, fire one box a year though it
amazing weapon.
I own an original 1896 carbine model 30-40 Krag Jorgensen. Investigation by an appraiser showed via serial# it was actually carried during the Spanish American War. The appraiser valued it between $1800-$2000. My father bought it in the late 1940's and I inherited upon his death in 2003. It is a keeper and I in turn will pass it on to one of my nephews when the time comes. The carbine model was designed for a horseman to use because of It's shortened length. Any sporterizing of this gun will vastly devalue it. Sporterized you'll be lucky to get $200 for it. All the major ammunition manufacturers still make ammo for it, in particular Remington, Winchester and Hornady. But at about $1.65 per shot it gets really expensive to shoot very often. And I would question doing so because of the improvements in metallurgy over the years it may not be safe to fo so on a 124 year old barrel and receiver. Mine is totally intact, and I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone in the future to experience it.. It wasn't replaced due to It's ability to get dirty, it was proven to be vastly inferior to the German designed Mauser which the Spanish were equipped with at the time. The 1903 Springfield was a copy of the Mauser and was superior to the 30-40 Krag in virtually every way. The Krag had a short run as the Army's main battle rifle less than 11 years, sort of like the M-14 being replaced by the M-16 in the late 1950's early 1960's, when it was found to be too heavy and nearly impossible to handle in full auto.
Cool rifle and video
Very interesting these older bolt actions.
Very cool video, love learning about guns new and old, THANKYOU.
I own 2 krags and both are fro. 1895. Both of them are sporterized, and I deer hunt with both. Great shooting guns. Ammo is hard to find. I read up and I start to do my own reloading and I have with it.
Fantastic rifle
Great video. Love old rifles. Hope you can review a pre 64 Winchester 1894 in 30-30.
the reason why they replaced the krag for the 1903 was the 7mm mauser was stripper fed not side fed
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
I have both the full size and the sporterized Krag. I still shoot both of them with a reduced load.
Had one since I was 14, still do, what would be considered an NRA SPORTER with springfield 03 sight I do believe, smooth action, outstanding accuracy feeds better with RN bullets. More popular as a hunting rifle than military arm. Excellent for hunting applications. Used mine recently to kill two nice wild boar 220 grain SP. Still excellent for this application. One of the largest grizzly or brown bear was taken with a .30-40 back in the 20s as I recall.
Have a long ago sporterized one with the mag cutoff removed and peep sights installed, oldest gun I have. I only have shot it once but it was pinging the 8" steel at 100 yards over and over.
I have one you can shoot how do I get it to you? I live in new jersey
One of my favorite snipers in battle field 5
GunGuyTV. Ironic name given how little he knows about this rifle.
I swear you are Massad Ayoob’s doppelgänger
AWESOME ... THANK'S
hornaday and federal make ammo for these too its about $1.30 per round
The original. 30 40 used a black powder load. The action was a knock off of a mauser action, making it a very smooth action. The rifling only has four lands( grooves) making it very accurate( for the time). Many of these are still very accurate today. I have an 1896 carbine that uses handloaded ammo. It is an awesome rifle for deer
Lol. Not even close. It was developed originally as a smokeless load (not black powder). And it shared nothing with a mauser, using a different magazine system, receiver, bolt lock up, and country of origin developed independently of the mauser.
I'm a security officer i just told a guy interested in a security guard position to attend your online class 😀
Thanks. I appreciate it.
Always called mine a “Krag 30-40 it had a Post scope,nephew sold it for drugs.............
If It's been drilled for a scope or sporterized in any way it is worth one third of what it would be original.
If you want an all original i have one its a bit rough but still in full working condition. Not sporterized not a carbine...
@@clipper495betyoucantguess4 would love to have another unfortunately I’m retired with set income and worse live in Wa. State . Thanks much 👌✌🏻💚🙏🏻🇺🇸
They also come in 6.5 (Norway I believe)
Originally they came in 6.5x55. The Norwegian version is a bit different than the US version. The magazine cutoff is reversed on the US version. Down is on on the Norwegian
@@kmr999999 I really want one that was made by Steyr early on..Lot of history there -- The 6.5 itself, Norway,the U.S., Austria the Boer resistance...one day I hope to find one in excellent condition..Thanks for your insightful comments.
@@georgetreepwood1119 I have a 1896 Steyr with both a 6,5 barrel and a 6.5 mm barrel. And a 1911 Kongsberg made. I have used the Steyr for competition shooting . I am planning to convert the Kongsberg to a hunting rifle
@@kmr999999 Nice --The Steyrs are hard to find here --US-and when they are they are in well used people here dont care between them and the Kongsbergs price wise..shape most of the nice ones end up in the UK because of the Boers...not a safe place for any gun to be..
I've been told if your looking to buy a krag rifle and are going to shoot it you or a gunsmith needs to inspect the locking lug as they have been known to crack from stress and not safe to shoot.
Ammo is basically impossible to find for these, been looking for about 8 months
I love my krag, it amazing how accurate a 130 year old rifle is, ballistically it's very close to a 300 Savage it will make clean kilsl on deer at 200 yards no problem, ive seen my father kill large deer much farther than that with old school peep sights that I would need a scope to make.
It most assuredly does matter how the rounds are put into the magazine, if you ever get a jam you will know what I mean. It is not, thankfully; common but can and does happen. The mag cut off position is opposite in earlier models, not sure about details, I would have to get my book out to say ( many changes to many things start to finish) colonel Brophy made a good book on the krag and the 03. I have and actively use them I prefer my early 1896 versions, with 1901 sights. The one you show has 1902 sight flip up peep, you can fill a book just on sight variations, front and rear.
I could use some Help on my Newly Aquired Krag Carbine
The shortest serving service rifle ... followed by the M14. The US wanted a US rifle... even if stolen from Mauser
The Krag was a dead end. It had one locking lug that couldn’t handle high pressure spitzer ammunition. Plus the magazine was an issue
The reason for the Krag short life in the military was the receiver was weak. If loaded to exceed 2000 FPS there was a high risk of the chamber cracking or exploding in your face. I had a chance to buy one but it was sporterized and had the same 1908 stock on it.
Not true. The "weakness" is a myth. It was a temporary problem created by the army's usual weapons procurement roller coaster. First they picked a cartridge, .30 caliber Government. Then they picked a weapon after trials, the Springfield Krag. Then they put it into production and sent them to the troops. Then they decided on a hotter load, leading to weapons failing. Then they went back to the original load, problem solved. It was the desire for the stripper fed K98 that led to the adoption of the '03.
Come over I have one you can shoot! 👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸
Doesn’t matter your social strata, you see that “o” with the line through it? ITS PRONOUNCED “YORGENSON”. No excuse for purposely mispronouncing someone’s name.