Change barrel on 30-40 Krag...

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NDArmyGuyret

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I have a Krag rifle, barrel is pitted away and I have a NOS barrel ready to put on. Have it in the barrel vise and wrench on ….and it will NOT budge! I have watched several videos of other/similar barrels being wrenched off, but NoGo. Can I apply some heat with a propane torch to maybe break it loose? I have had the barrel sitting upright with Kroil at the joint for about 6 months and didn't seem to help at all...I would appreciate any tips or advice on this....Thanks!
 
Doesn't solve your problem but worthy of mention. Needed a barrel for a sporterized Krag back in the 70s and couldn't find one. Gunsmith cut and rechambered a 1903 Springfield barrel. Shoots fine to this day.
 
be careful krag actions are easy to twist. do some differential heating, like what loonwulf said a sharp blow. try to get some oil in the threads, even better is atf mixed with any kind of thinner.
 
If you don’t mind a little refinish work, take two hammers one in each hand and give a sharp rap with both hammers at the same time on opposing sides of the receiver ring.
 
By far the safest way is to cut a relief groove in the barrel just forward of the receiver and use a well fitting action wrench that puts zero torque on the receiver aft of the receiver ring.
 
Doesn't solve your problem but worthy of mention. Needed a barrel for a sporterized Krag back in the 70s and couldn't find one. Gunsmith cut and rechambered a 1903 Springfield barrel. Shoots fine to this day.

Cheaper now to buy a criterion replacement barrel which has the proper sight mounting screw holes. Original 1903 barrels go for the same or more than a replacement Krag barrel plus you have the gunsmith expense.
 
If you don’t mind a little refinish work, take two hammers one in each hand and give a sharp rap with both hammers at the same time on opposing sides of the receiver ring.
Not a good idea on these oldsters, these are case hardened exteriors with a malleable core and you will deform the receiver ring. Not advised. One of the reasons that the Krag action is so smooth is the case hardening.

BBBBilll has the correct approach, at one time you could get the receiver wrench that properly fits the Krag from Numrich. I would not recommend using the Mauser V wrench or even Brownells unless they have come up with a Krag head if you do not follow his approach.

The Numrich wrench has a projection out that engages the odd shaped bottom recoil lug of the Krag receiver to actually turn the receiver instead of putting too much pressure on the receiver ring.
 
One common problem with receiver wrenches is some folks clamp them too tight around the receiver. They need to be tight enough not to slip, but not so tight that you compress the receiver and it is very easy to do that. The wrench needs to simply not slip while being fully in contact with al of the corresponding surfaces of the receiver. Hard to do with a simple round receiver and/or a V type wrench. Not so hard when working on a Garand, M-1A, FAL, or a receiver with features like an integral recoil lug.
 
Be sure to use some rosin or another grip enhancing substance. You might be able to get away with a not so tight wrench that would otherwise distort the receiver.
 
Cheaper now to buy a criterion replacement barrel which has the proper sight mounting screw holes. Original 1903 barrels go for the same or more than a replacement Krag barrel plus you have the gunsmith expense.

Most likely. The only Krag barrels around were NOS and expensive. You could get a NOS 1903 barrel for $20 in those days.
 
Most likely. The only Krag barrels around were NOS and expensive. You could get a NOS 1903 barrel for $20 in those days.

I have a Krag 94 Series that has a 03 Barrel on it. One of the PITA issues on the Krag barrels is that the front sight was brazed on versus the better 1903 front sight band designs.
 
I use a short handled action wrench and hit the end of the handle a sharp blow with a heavy hammer.I hope you have an action wrench that is intended for a Krag.I doubt if cutting a relief on an issue barrel will help.I believe it has an internal torque shoulder.
 
Got the barrel off! Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I used masking tape on the receiver ring and scored the old barrel in front of the receiver, applied a little heat until too hot to the touch, shot of Kroil, put the wrench on and 3-4 sharp blows with a 3# rubber hammer and turned it off by hand! There was plenty of Kroil inside on the threads, so I'll say that works. Thanks again!
 
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