Great-Grandad's Bubba

[JesseL]

I inherited this rifle from my grandfather who had inherited it from his father. It's an 1896 Krag rifle that's had the barrel shortened, stock reworked, original rear sight removed with the stock filled where it was, and a Lyman receiver sight installed. Once I cleaned out the 90 year old copper fouling and loaded up some fresh ammo for it I discovered what a slick shooter this old rifle still is (the bolt lug is still in good shape). I hope to take it deer hunting again someday .

 

[ReadyontheRight]

That rifle is a treasure. Enjoy! and take care if it.

 

[orangeninja]

Nice looking rifle.

 

[Eleven Mike]

I'm curious to know whether anyone's ever seen a synthetic stock for a Krag. Not that I would do that to a Krag, just a weird thought that came to me the other day.

 

[Ifishsum]

I have one of those - surprising how slick the action is and how well it still shoots with a sewer pipe bore. Got it from my grampaw who got it from his father-in-law. What bullets does yours like?

 

[Onmilo]

If Bubba did the work to that little deer killer then I tip my hat to Bubba!

 

[JesseL]

I have one of those - surprising how slick the action is and how well it still shoots with a sewer pipe bore. Got it from my grampaw who got it from his father-in-law. What bullets does yours like?

Gotta agree with you about how slick the action is. Half the time I think it missed stripping a round because the bolt works so easy, but it always feeds.

With the fast twist in these rifles intended for 220gr bullets, I think the question is what bullets doesn't it like . Mostly what I've loaded though is 170gr spitzers pulled from M72 30-06 match ammo. When I take it hunting I think I'll probably use bullets intended for loading 30-30 since I think they'll probably open more reliably at the velocities I'm comfortable pushing this old rifle.

 

[db_tanker]

seeing a rifle like that keeps me looking in the old pawn shops in towns where the population is less than 500...

I still remember the rifle used by Lee Marvin in Death Hunt...nice Krag that was tastefully done.


D

 

[davek]

Great gun. I got my spoterized '98 Krag from my Grandad as well. Grandma bought it for him as a birthday present. She knows nothing about guns, but thought it was pretty.



It's also the most accurate rifle I own.

It's got some sort of improved chamber. I shot a .25 inch group at 100 yards with fire formed hand loads shooting 150 grain Sierra HPBT's.



BTW those other holes aren't flyers. I was also sighting in my PTR-91 and only had the one target. If I'd have known the Krag would have shot that well the first time out, I'd have taken the time to draw up another one.

 

[ball3006]

Yo davek....

the wood on your rifle gives me a woodie.......beautiful......chris3

 

[thatguy]

When someone says "Bubba" I envision a real hack job. That Krag is nicely done and there's nothing wrong with it in my opinion. Many of us geezers learned to shoot and hunt with rifles just like that one.

Yes, the Krag is famous for its smoothness but it's also known for not being the strongest action on the block. Go easy with the loads.

 

[JesseL]

davek:

That is the coolest krag sporter I've ever seen. I love the jeweled bolt and all the very tasteful engraving. The white diamonds on the stock kind of give it a vintage 'southwestern' look. It just sickens me that it shoots so well too

 

[JesseL]

thatguy:

When someone says "Bubba" I envision a real hack job. That Krag is nicely done and there's nothing wrong with it in my opinion. Many of us geezers learned to shoot and hunt with rifles just like that one.

I agree with you. I really meant to use the perjorative 'Bubba' in an ironic sense, poking fun at the people that moan about what a tragedy it is to see any vintage military gun in anything but it's original issue condition.

I look forward to the day when I can be a geezer teaching my child (or grandchild) to shoot with this fine piece of military and family history.

 

[Bob]

A sportorized Krag is the first gun I ever shot - I was 5. It's in my closet now. It's still amazing accurate and full to the brim with memories.
Bob