Anybody have 6mm or 25 Krag experience

[Bulseyetom]

I have been getting ideas on this forum for a rifle project based on a Stevens 44 1/2 single shot action. I have pondered the 220 Swift necked up to 6mm, the 243 AI and 6mm AI and have got good feedback. Now for my ace in the hole, I am pondering the old varminter 6mm Krag Ackley Long. Does anybody have any experience with any of the old Krag wildcats? The case capacity matches that of the 6mm Remington and the case lends itself to the Stevens action. The only drawback is dies but they are available on special order. Thanks. Tom

 

[357Mag]

Bullseye -
G'day on ya !

Are you constrained to use of a rimmed case, or are rimless wildcats perhaps
a workable choice for you ?

From specs I have seen, I will mention this:
.35 Remington is a very close case dimensional fit to the .30-40 Krag basic.

If a notional 6mm Krag reamer cuts a .457" base diameter to the chamber,
running it in a tad " short " would allow for use of .35 Rem brass; which runs a nominal .455" base diam ( brass fired in a Marlin 336 ).

Ackley himself tried .35 Rem necked-down to 6mm, in a Remington M8 autoloader. He liked the performance of the wildcat, even w/ the limited powder and bullet choices available to him; at the time.

I have a neckdown die set, that includes one for taking .35 Rem down to .250" calibre.
The resultant .25 calibre wildcat would have a case capacity greater than .22-250, and very close to that of the Swift ( all without having to
" blow-out" the shoulders ).

Case taper would be less than that seen on either the .22-250 or the .220 Swift ( again, w/o having to "blow out " brass ). Case overall length would be .008" longer than a .250 Savage, and of course; shorter than the Swift.

Dependant of powder and bullet chosen ( and how rifle is " throated "),
one could expect case capacity to run in the 42gr + range.


IF you just have to have some sort of rim, another close dimensional fit to the Krag is 6.5 Arisaka, esp w/ its longer case oal than .35 Rem.

Both of the latter run .466" rims; albeit the 6.5 Airsaka is " semi-rimmed ".
The 6.5 Arisaka case runs a base diameter within a couple thou' of that featured on Swift brass. And, the 6.5 Ariska case is longer than the Swift, and starts out w/ a wider shoulder diam than the .220Swift.

6.5 Arisaka brass can be had.
Case capacity is not significantly greater than that of .35 Rem
Just some thoughts.

Best of luck in your endeavors !

Regards,
357Mag

 

[Bulseyetom]

357, I was going to have to go with a rimless but since I endeavered on this project I have learned that a rimless case will now work in the action. I just became a little intrigued by some ot the older varmint rounds we have give up on as being obsolete! It is hard to imagine the 22-250 as being obsolete but it was started back in the hay day of wildcatting. The 220 Swift is another oldtimer that is hard to beat still today. Back when Krag rifles were available for a few dollars quite a few wildcats were developed on that case which look like would about duplicate the 257 Roberts and 6mm Rem in a strong single shot action. Besides, how many other shooters at the range would have their own 6mm Krag! What makes this project exciting is the ease to switch barrels from one caliber to another, especially if you keep the same extractor. Thanks for the input. Was hoping to hear from somebody whose uncle shot one back in the day! ;D Tom