Ruger No 3 in 30-40 Krag?

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RPRNY

RPRNY

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This will be my first No 3 and one of my grail guns.

I was wondering if anyone could provide insight on what the chambers are like, particularly the throats on these. I like big lead in the Krag, 220 - 225 gr warheads, and my 1896 Krag sporter likes them @ .311 - .312. Wondering if anyone has experience of the Ruger throat and land - groove diameters. I will slug mine when it arrives, but in all my excitement need basis for speculation...
 
Yes, I will have to try and find an owners manual on-line or make a call to Ruger.

As with the original Krag-Jorgensen rifle, the No 3 has a 1:10 twist, which certainly stabilized the original 220 gr RN bullet of the .30 Army in the Krag. 1:10 twist also stabilized the .30-03 220 gr bullet in the Springfield rifle as well. The Greenhill formula suggests 1:10 should work for .308 bullets up to 250 grs, though I can't imagine they'd be doing well at much past 100 yards or so!

I suppose I will hope for the best with Lyman 311284, THE bullet in the originall Krag.
 
You should be able to load that #3 and get that 30-40 to sing. Right up there with the
.308 Win IIRC. A couple reloading manuals had load data for the Ruger #3 30-40. Cant remember which ones.


BTW Nice gun.
 
Certainly pretty close to 308 Winchester in the Ruger, certainly more so than in the original Krags. I shall have to look for the load data you mention, though I suppose 308 Marlin Express load data will also be indicative.
 
about 30 years ago I bought 2 new Ruger #3s, on in .223, other in .22 Hornet. I tried some of the best optics at the time, mainly Leupolds. neither carbine shot a near decent group, all over the place. sold them to 2 friends, both guys were great shots, same thing they got rid of them too. Beautiful carbine, wish I still had them for the collector value but not shooters for sure. Would hate to shoot one in .45-70 or any large caliber, don't think I would like the recoil.
 
I have owned several #1's. I currently have an RSI in 30-06 which is actually a 1A in .243 that I had converted.

My experience has been that they are all very tightly chambered. I have never had one in 30 40 Krag so it may have a longer throat. All of mine had relatively short throats which encouraged getting the bullet on the lands.

You already know that they are very strong actions so you have a lot of latitude n working up a good load.

I have never failed to get one to shoot accurately but the best accuracy always comes from loading for the rifle. I had a #3 in .223 that was phenomenal with a 40 grain and a 50 grain load that I worked up for it. My .243 would shoot dimes at 100 yards easy, also with a load I worked up for it. My RSI is getting there but I have only been able to put a hundred rounds through it.

Post a pic when you get it!
 
I have a 31 in 45-70. Shoots quite well indeed. So much fun! BIG, FAT, SLOW bullets seem to be VERY accurate and so much fun to shoot. The 300 JHP's do well too and will kill a whitetail or hog DRT. You can load a #1 in this caliber up till you don't want to shoot it any more and take on a Saturday limit of big game like bulldozers or backhoes if you wish.
 
Well, I tried a Ruger only load with IMR 3031 using 175 gr Berger VLD BTHP that was based on start .308 Win loads, cross indexed to .308 Marlin Express and a few grains above published 30-40 data. No pressure signs and good accuracy given my form and open sights, but a steel butt-plate is not optimal! Those long sinister looking Bergers reallly give the 30-40 an updated look as well.
 
I doubt the owner's manual has chamber dimensions, you would do best with a chamber cast to determine throat diameter.
The SAAMI drawing has a short 12 deg cone from neck diameter down to .3108" then a long 1 deg 10 min taper into the bore. No cylindrical throat at all.
Only a chamber cast will tell if Ruger followed that spec or made up their own.

A friend has what we call a Ruger No 2. It is a No 3 barreled action in No 1 wood. That made a neat little rifle. When he got it, it had already been rechambered to .22 K Hornet and did not show great accuracy. Rechambering to .223 helped a good deal but it will not shoot with a good bolt action.
Another friend has a No 1V .223 that shoots "little knots" though, so accuracy with the falling block is possible.
 
On that load data from Rifle mentioned above: Based on my experience with some of Ken Water's data, I would work up to that level VERY carefully. At over 2700 fps, the 180 gr load is up in 300 Win Mag. country.

The action is exceptionally strong, but I wouldn't want to shake it apart.
 
Something I didnt notice even though I've had a sporterized Springfield Krag since the late '90's and now a Ruger #3.

Sorry for the big pic.

from L to R

New RP case, Fired RP case (Ruger #3), Factory Remington cartridge, Inert once fired (Krag), Inert w/ new RP case.

1004876_10203333762296009_4833362576208291046_n.jpg


Notice anything? Both fired cases measure out to SAAMI specs, both the Ruger and Krag fired cases. The new RP's dont. I dont have any other new cases to compare to the new RP cases. My order of Winchester has not arrived.

So,

Temp: 65 degrees
Chrony: Magneto Speed.
Rifle: Ruger #3 22" Barrel

New 30-40 RP brass
CCI200 Primer
150 grain Sierra BT
COAL 3.08

Load 1- 2531fps
Load 2- 2598fps


Fired/FL Sized 30-40 RP brass
CCI200 Primer
150 grain Sierra BT
COAL 3.08

Load 1- 2686
Load 2- 2717

FYI
 
Last edited:
I have some new Win and new R-P. Will check it out and revert. Looks like Ruger chambered for semi- Ackley ;-)
 
I have some new Win and new R-P. Will check it out and revert. Looks like Ruger chambered for semi- Ackley ;-)
Click to expand...

The fired cases on both my Ruger and Krag measured to SAAMI specs. I have a feeling yours will to. So they are correct. The new RP brass does not. Apparently this is the way it's made. Let us know on the new Winny brass. I have a feeling they will measure the same as the new RP stuff.

This basically tells me I need to fire form before loading up in the Ruger. The 119fps difference (see above) with the IMR4895 loading is too much. The other powders are averaging 60-80fps difference.


I knew there was a reason I kept those 130gr Speer flat points.:D
 
Coltdriver said:
I have owned several #1's. I currently have an RSI in 30-06 which is actually a 1A in .243 that I had converted.

My experience has been that they are all very tightly chambered. I have never had one in 30 40 Krag so it may have a longer throat. All of mine had relatively short throats which encouraged getting the bullet on the lands.

You already know that they are very strong actions so you have a lot of latitude n working up a good load.

I have never failed to get one to shoot accurately but the best accuracy always comes from loading for the rifle. I had a #3 in .223 that was phenomenal with a 40 grain and a 50 grain load that I worked up for it. My .243 would shoot dimes at 100 yards easy, also with a load I worked up for it. My RSI is getting there but I have only been able to put a hundred rounds through it.

Post a pic when you get it!
Click to expand...
For a ruger number one to shoot like you say is very very rare. In fact years ago I read John Barsness had 3 of them that could not shoot. The problem was how the forearm was hung off the barrel. I forgot what he did but he got it not interfere with the barrel and all 3 shot very well after that. Did you red the same article?
 
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