30-40 Krag

[fishnbeer]

I got an old trapdoor rifle, a springfield 1898. Family heirloom, I've had it a few years now and never shot it. My dad shot a deer with it in the 50s, but probably has not been fired much since. Thing is in mint condition.. I kinda want to shoot it, but a little worried about possibly damaging it.

My concern is ammo has changed since 1903. A while back I bought 2 boxes of rem core lokt, will it be safe to shoot? Should I look for something else?

Or not shoot it?

[musketjon]

A trapdoor would not be from 1898. You have a KRAG rifle if it's marked 1898 and is chambered for the 30-40 (official name is .30 US Govt) round. The ammo manufacturers know there are tons of Krag rifles out there in circulation and load their ammo appropriately knowing this. It should be safe to shoot in your Krag rifle as long as it doesn't say some thing akin to "for use in modern rifles", i.e. a Ruger no. 1. You should be good to go with the Remington ammo you have.
Jon

[Rogerbutthead]

I hope you don't take a mint Krag deer hunting. Range shooting should be fine. Haven't heard of Krags having problems with new 30-40. Never heard of anything similar to early receiver 1903 Springfield problems with 1898 Krag rifles.

A friend borrowed a Remington 700 for deer hunting and he scratched the hell out of it.

A mint Krag is just going to keep appreciating in value.

A scratched up rifle or a newly stocked Krag - won't be worth as much as it was before any hunting mishaps.

[sbo80]

maybe post a pic? If you have a trapdoor springfield 1888 or 1878, that's not .30-40. Either the "trapdoor" part is not correct, or the year is not correct. If you open the top like a trapdoor to load one round at a time, that is a trapdoor and is probably in .45-70. If it has a funny box on the side of the receiver you can open and load several rounds and it is bolt action, that is a Krag in .30-40.

[Ora Serrata]

I have 4 Krags and they all shoot modern Ammo no problem.

[toro1]

I have a 1895 Winchester and shoot the current Remington 30-40 in it all the time with no problems.

[fishnbeer]

No I do not plan on hunting with it, even though this round would take down a deer or something bigger with no problem. Just a range day.

It IS a 'trapdoor 'gun, marked springfield 1898. I remember there was a prod date marked on it 1903. I dont have any current pics but can post them up later.

Any C&R shoots comin up soon in the bay area?

[IrishJoe3]

Fish, if it's an 1898 is not a 'Trapdoor'. Springfield Armory did make both the Trapdoor and the 30-40 Krag, but the Trapdoor Springfield is single shot, chambered in 45-70 with a hinged breach (aka 'trapdoor')

[IrishJoe3]

Here's the action of a Trapdoor Springfield. More properly known as "US Springfield" followed by the year model (ie M1873, 1884, etc).



Here's a 30-40 Krag, or more properly 30 US or US Springfield Model 1892

[Spyder]

Nice Krag, Irish! I've always wanted one!

[fishnbeer]

My mistake, I thought the term 'trapdoor' referred to the side opening door for loading the magazine. Is there a term for this style rifle?

[musketjon]

Yes. It's called a KRAG rifle. It's a bolt action.
Jon

[IrishJoe3]

My mistake, I thought the term 'trapdoor' referred to the side opening door for loading the magazine. Is there a term for this style rifle?

That door should be called the loading gate, but the rifle is just a normal bolt action with a unique style magazine.

[IrishJoe3]

Nice Krag, Irish! I've always wanted one!

Yeah! I know this guy, didn't know what to do with it so gave me a really good deal ....

[fishnbeer]

Hold on... img prob