Older 30-40 Krag feed problem ?

2

219don

Guest
I have an older Springfield chambered for it's original 30-40 Krag cartridge. It has been "sporterized" by someone else. It appears the original bbl was shortened at both ends, re crowned and rechambered for 30-40 Krag. original trigger, new sporter stock, etc. I can load it singly by putting a round on the rcvr bottom and closeing the bolt on it. Gun fires and ejects the fired case fine. Fired case resizes normally with out any undue effort. However, It will not push a round from the magazine into the chamber. It picks the round up OK but the point/front of the bullet hits the rear inside of the bbl at approx, 1 oclock and jams in that position. It does this with a few brands of factory 220 gr round nose rounds and some dummy reloads I made with various shaped nose, spire to blunt and in between. I sense you fellows would seldom see or work on anything like this but if anyone does have any insight please chime in.
Thanks,
Bill B.
 
What model Springfield is it, a 1903 or an 1898? This will help diagnose the problem as the 1903 was designed for rimless (30-06) cartridges and the 30-40 is a rimmed case.
 
219,
What you have is probably a US Krag, made at the Springfield Armory. The word "Springfield" alone is usually used for 1903 or 1903A3 rifles, and the earlier trapdoor 45-70's are called "trapdoors" or "trapdoor Springfields". Some Krags were arsenal rebarreled using 1903 barrels by cutting off the 30-06 chamber, rethreading and chambering to 30-40. The Krag is one of the smoothest feeding actions ever made.

On the left of the Krag receiver is a plate that helps guide the cartridge into the chamber. The plate slips into a groove at the front of the receiver, and is held by a screw at the back. There's nothing much to go wrong with it, except perhaps some dirt or the screw coming loose. The loading gate on the right side of the action has some parts that feed the cartridges to the left and up into the action. Perhaps there's something wrong with these parts. Pretty hard to diagnose even if you provided some pictures.

Regards, Ron
 
It's an 1898 Springfield, otherwise called a US Krag. It's not a 1903. I shot one of these for the first time as a teenager back in the late 1950's. Your right, very smooth feeding which is why I was suprised at this not feeding.
Ron, if you can send me a PM with your location I may be able to stop and show it directly to you. I go through Ct. a number of times every year on my way to gunshows at Danbury, Greenwhich, Wallingford, Marlboro, Mass and Springfield Mass. If your not too far from my main route I will show it to you.
Thanks for the reply.
 
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