Options for fixing case bulging?

[Jim Watson]

Not a Krag Jorgensen?
What, then, a .30-40 Winchester lever action? You did say 1895 but I rashly assumed an 1892 Krag with 1895 inspector's stamp.

Please show close clear pictures including caliber marking, magazine, clip guides, all those little details.

 

[TRX]

As much as that case is blown out, it kindasorta looks like someone ran a 7.62x54R reamer into the Krag chamber.

Krags aren't known for having oversize chambers.

 

[Jim Watson]

He DID say "1895".
Wonder if he has been loading .30-40 ammo in one of those Russian surplus 7.62x54R Winchester 1895 box magazine lever actions.

Pictures of the gun will tell the tale.

 

[SKILCZ]

I have not reloaded anything or fired the gun myself. It was test fired by a gunsmith with a round from a factory Remington Core Lokt 180 gr soft point box that is decades old, which produced the bulging case. It purchased a new box of factory Remington Core Lokt 180 gr soft point ammo to compare with it, which is shown in the pics above. It shares exactly the same case stamped markings, but the bullet looks slightly different with less of a jacket and more exposed lead on the older bullet.

I was not certain of the caliber when I brought it to him, which is the primary reason I brought it to him to make sure it's safe to fire.

 

[Jim Watson]

SKILCZ sent me pictures.
The rifle is a beautifully sporterized Austrian Steyr 1895 Straight Pull. Original caliber 8x50R Austrian, souped up to 8x56R Hungarian from 1930, many converted to 8x57 Mauser by the Germans. It has a Mannlicher stock, double set triggers, peep sight and recoil pad.
Conversion of them to .30-40 is a known gunsmith project but does not explain the distorted chamber.
There are some possibilities, but I am not willing to resume guessing. A chamber cast and bore slug would tell a lot.

 

[SKILCZ]

SKILCZ sent me pictures.
The rifle is a beautifully sporterized Austrian Steyr 1895 Straight Pull. Original caliber 8x50R Austrian, souped up to 8x56R Hungarian from 1930, many converted to 8x57 Mauser by the Germans. It has a Mannlicher stock, double set triggers, peep sight and recoil pad.
Conversion of them to .30-40 is a known gunsmith project but does not explain the distorted chamber.
There are some possibilities, but I am not willing to resume guessing. A chamber cast and bore slug would tell a lot.

Thanks for the information, everyone. I will continue trying to find a competent gunsmith who has some knowledge of these guns and can make a good chamber cast and measurement. If you have any suggestions for how to find such a gunsmith, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[BBBBill]

...I will continue trying to find a competent gunsmith who has some knowledge of these guns and can make a good chamber cast and measurement.

You might just buy some Cerosafe (Brownells has it) and do a chamber cast yourself. Not hard at all. You could send the casting to a good smith for measurement (include return shipping).

 

[Scooter22]

Interesting thread. Could someone post the pics so we could all see. The "95" Austrians in 8x56R had a .329" bore so if it's actually 30-40 US it would have needed to be rebarreled. From the looks of the case I'm thinking it's still a 8x56R and somewhere in it's history someone lost track and found the Krag ammo would fit. I would not shoot that gun until you until you determine the chambering. You don't want a burst case. Good luck.

PS Late night thought. Take one of your 30-40 rounds and try inserting the bullet tip into the bore at the muzzel. If it's a .308 barrel the bullet should only go in up to the ogive (curved area) on the front of it. If the bullet goes all the way in to the neck of the case or more then its probably not a 30-40 replacement barrel and more likely a different chambering.