Author Topic: 30-30win vs 30-40 Krag (Read 4272 times)

JWP58 · « **on:** September 27, 2011, 05:03:15 AM »

Which one are you choosing for an all around hunting cartridge? State your reasoning please...

BUGEYE · « **Reply #1 on:** September 27, 2011, 05:11:02 AM »

This is just MOO, but unless I was going after the BIG bears I would choose the 30-30.
finest cartridge ever invented. low recoil, plenty of killing power within resonable distance and you can buy ammo anywhere.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 27, 2011, 05:51:44 AM »

I don't believe a person could go wrong with either cartridge. Altho nowdays the ammo availability goes to the 30wcf, but that's a mute point if you are a reloader.
Why do you ask?

JWP58 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2011, 05:53:39 AM »

I'm trying to decide between a nice condition sporterized 1898 Krag or a Marlin 336.

I dont reload, but it looks like if i go with the Krag (what i'm leaning towards) i'll have to start.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2011, 06:07:40 AM »

That makes it an easy choice then, go with the Krag. Chances are it'll be a much more accurate rifle, and you'll have greater flexability in the loads you can run thru it.

JWP58 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2011, 06:35:24 AM »

Great, now i hope someone out bids me on gunbroker for the 336 i put a bid on...lol.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** September 28, 2011, 02:08:42 AM »

the 3030 will be much eaiser to find ammo for and the ammo will be much cheaper. Accuracy im my opinion would go to the 3030 if your using a marlin. Ive got a couple marlins that id put up against a bolt gun for accuracy. A krag can be hit or miss for accuracy. Ive seem some that shoot and some that couldnt hit a barn door at a 100 yards. If your a hanloader the ammo availabilty doesnt apply and the krag can be made to be more powerful. the marlin is going to make a much handier lighter gun.

JWP58 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2011, 02:53:03 AM »

I think i'm going with the Krag. Should be a fun project...

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2011, 03:55:57 PM »

The Krag holds lots of romance for me and a nicely sporterized Krag would be tempting. I am not a handy person with tools so I am not drawn to project guns. That said, if you are willing to let the .30-40 Krag be what it was made to be, and not try to make it into the equivalent of a .308 or .30-06, it is an accurate and effective cartridge for most big game hunting purposes in the lower 48. Good luck with your choice.

JWP58 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2011, 08:45:18 AM »

Wow this cartridge really is kinda hard to find....lol. Has anyone shot any of the BVAC stuff chearperthandirt has?

I figure it would atleast get me started brass wise. I'll be buying a Lee hand press asap, along with some 220gr round nose bullets.

dorothy daily · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2011, 08:57:47 AM »

not sure who makes their centerfire ammo,but their 22 mag is repackaged cci.

Barstooler · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2011, 03:05:44 PM »

Many30-40 Krag bolt guns have trouble feeding pointed soft point ammo -- mine included. Tends to deform the tip badly when fed.

If you are shooting it just for the brass recommend you feed it as a sigle shot.

Barstooler

Freezer · « **Reply #12 on:** November 11, 2011, 03:41:17 AM »

The 30-40 Kraig had a very short service life and was sold off as surplus for next to nothing. That said a lot of folks bought them and sporterized them. The main problem with many fo these guns was that the primers were corrosive. Too many shooters didn't clean their rifle after shooting it and their barrels are shot. It's rare to find a craig with a good barrel. The 220 gr bullets are what this rifle was made to shoot but I'd try something in the 165 gr. IMHO I'd get the Marlin ammo selection is off the chart and there's Hornaday leverlution ammo and lite magnum. In addition the 30-30 will do everything a 30-40 can do.

eastbank · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2011, 06:49:03 AM »

i have several 30-30,s and 30-40 ,s, and the 30-30 is not a 30-40, the 30-40 will shoot 200fps or more faster with just about all bullet weights. compare a modern 30-40 with a modern 30-30, not a old beat up krag. i have a 95 browning and a winchester high wall and a 1917 enfield rebarreled and all will take more pressure than the old army krags. eastbank.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #14 on:** November 11, 2011, 07:02:40 AM »

I would opt for the 30-40 Krag over the Marlin . If the choice was a pre 64 Winchester then I would take the 30-30. To me the Krag has a smooth action and is nice to shoot. Marlins don't seem as handy as Winchesters and I just don't care for a scope on a lever gun .

oneoldsap · « **Reply #15 on:** November 11, 2011, 12:06:38 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on September 28, 2011, 02:08:42 AM

the 3030 will be much eaiser to find ammo for and the ammo will be much cheaper. Accuracy im my opinion would go to the 3030 if your using a marlin. Ive got a couple marlins that id put up against a bolt gun for accuracy. A krag can be hit or miss for accuracy. Ive seem some that shoot and some that couldnt hit a barn door at a 100 yards. If your a hanloader the ammo availabilty doesnt apply and the krag can be made to be more powerful. the marlin is going to make a much handier lighter gun.

Making the Krag " more powerful " isn't really an option . The Krag action with it's one locking lug will not stand any more pressure than the 30-30 . Loading the krag with lighter bullets could increase it's effective range , but hot rodding it ain't a good idea !

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #16 on:** November 11, 2011, 01:57:42 PM »

I disagree with Oneoldsap. I understand the topic to be about the respective cartridges, not rifles that chamber them. With that in mind, I see the .30-40 as the better cartridge since it can shoot about 200 fps faster than the .30-30 at similar pressures as Eastbank noted. Put it in a modern rifle like the Ruger #3carbine (it was a standard chambering for the gun) and you can push it to 50,000 psi or so. Of course there are a heck of a lot more guns chambered for the .30-30, but that is not what this topic is about.
Similarly, a safe load in a .45-70 Trapdoor Springfield is not as hot as a safe load in a Ruger or Marlin, so you cannot argue that the .45-70 is not as effective as perhaps a .450 Marlin if you only use the lower presure load for the Springfield as a comparison.

pastorp · « **Reply #17 on:** November 12, 2011, 02:08:40 AM »

woodchuckhntr,

This discussion is about buying either a sportizered orgional kraig rifle or a 336 30-30. I would agree with you if the OP was considering a modern 30-40 but he isn't.

Regards,

Mikey · « **Reply #18 on:** November 12, 2011, 02:25:26 AM »

JWP: I feel the 30-30 is the better cartridge and the Marlin the more practical choice. The ballistics of both cartridges are almost identical so which one is better at this or that is a moot point. Due to age, condition adn who knows what else, the Krag could be problemmatic. The Marlin rarely ever has any problems and is very easy to work on. My choice would be for the Marlin, unless you can find a angle eject Winchester 94 in 3030. JMTCW.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 12, 2011, 03:36:09 AM »

Always find it interesting what happens when someone drags one of these old threads up.

The OP bought the krag , shot it , liked it , then decided he didn't need it and sold it.....

Freezer · « **Reply #20 on:** November 12, 2011, 03:45:24 AM »

In a pratical sence the Marlin is a better choice. This guy is looking for a deer rifle. He's not a hand loader. It doesn't seem like he'll be using a scope right away. His range will be limited to 200 yards and probably a lot less. Even with a scope the 30-40 Kraig rifle will not be a practical 300 yard rifle. If he's looking for a distance gun neither will fill the bill. I have a number of different rifles for different hunting styles and ranges. He'll have one. Make the ammo easy to find, the rifle easy to handle and easy to scope if he he feels a need.
The Kraig is a nice rifle. The action is very smoooth and the action interesting to look at. A good Kraig sporter will turn heads in deer camp where the Marlin won't get the blink of an eye but the Kraig rifle is just not a practical choice considering. Both cartridges will kill a deer and the ballistic difference won't be noticable at the range this guy will shoot.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #21 on:** November 12, 2011, 05:52:10 AM »

Quote from: JWP58 on September 27, 2011, 05:03:15 AM

Which one are you choosing for an all around hunting cartridge? State your reasoning please...

Here is the original post. Please note the words: "for an all around hunting cartridge". There is no mention of the cartridge being used in a specific rifle and JWP58 doesn't bring up the rifle until later. The .30-40 in the Krag would still be a better choice since pointed bullets can be used and it is somewhat faster. Neither the Krag or the '94 allow for the maximum capability of the cartridges.

oneoldsap · « **Reply #22 on:** November 12, 2011, 06:29:58 AM »

I'm sorry woodchukhntr ! I read all the posts in a thread before I respond . You should try it , sometimes it can keep a fellow from sounding foolish .

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #23 on:** November 12, 2011, 10:54:56 AM »

Quote from: oneoldsap on November 12, 2011, 06:29:58 AM

I'm sorry woodchukhntr ! I read all the posts in a thread before I respond . You should try it , sometimes it can keep a fellow from sounding foolish .

I'm sorry oneoldsap for being foolish. I stand rebuked!

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #24 on:** November 14, 2011, 12:38:31 AM »

Quote from: oneoldsap on November 11, 2011, 12:06:38 PM

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on September 28, 2011, 02:08:42 AM
the 3030 will be much eaiser to find ammo for and the ammo will be much cheaper. Accuracy im my opinion would go to the 3030 if your using a marlin. Ive got a couple marlins that id put up against a bolt gun for accuracy. A krag can be hit or miss for accuracy. Ive seem some that shoot and some that couldnt hit a barn door at a 100 yards. If your a hanloader the ammo availabilty doesnt apply and the krag can be made to be more powerful. the marlin is going to make a much handier lighter gun.

Making the Krag " more powerful " isn't really an option . The Krag action with it's one locking lug will not stand any more pressure than the 30-30 . Loading the krag with lighter bullets could increase it's effective range , but hot rodding it ain't a good idea !

In reality it is loaded a wee (slight to be sure)bit higher and add the use of better bullets it could give beter preformance.

JWP58 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 14, 2011, 01:35:17 AM »

Quote from: Ranch13 on November 12, 2011, 03:36:09 AM

Always find it interesting what happens when someone drags one of these old threads up.
The OP bought the krag , shot it , liked it , then decided he didn't need it and sold it.....

BINGO!! It was cool, i just wish it was easier to find ammo. I think its a great cartridge though. But ya 30-30 wins in the "able to find" catagory.

Drugstore Cowboy · « **Reply #26 on:** January 15, 2012, 08:13:10 PM »

Well I went with the Krag. Have a Ruger #3 and a TC Contender with a MGM 21" barrel, each in 30/40 Krag. Both are accurate with factory 180 grain ammo. Purchased the Contender and MGM made the barrel; wanted a carry gun for poking around for deer.