'95 Winchester .30-40 Krag or .30-06

[firefuzz]

Ok guys (and gals) here's the delimma: I've about got the cash saved to buy my '95 SRC (a new one) and need a little input on which caliber to buy. I've always lusted after one in .30-06 but have read too much about the bolts in original guns "stretching" that I'm having doubts about the new ones doing the same, the 30.-06 is a lot more cartridge that most modern shooter want to admit. I load for both so that's not an issue and I don't try to hot rod my loads. I mainly load cast bullets in the Krag but jacketed in the '06. I'm much more experienced with the '06 and already load some "lighter" loads for my '03 Springfield that I could use in the '95 too. Recoil is a minor factor, but not much of one unless the '06 would be worse than my '86 with moderate loads. In either caliber this rifle will probably have at least a couple of hundred rounds a year shot thru it.

Which way should I go? I'd like to have the '06 for the extra power, but it's not absolutely necessary for this gun. Which ever way I go this gun is going to be a shooter, not a safe queen.

Rob

[Terry Murbach]

NO PROBLEMO SENOR, YOU BUY THE KRAG AND TOSS THE '06 ON THE PLASTIC AND YOU HAVE WHAT YOU WANT, BOTH !!! YOU THEN PAY OFF THE PLASTIC ASAP.
AND NOW YOU'LL FOREVER BE HAPPY WITH YOUR '95'S UNTIL THE 405WIN BUG BITES YOU ON DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE.

[Leverluver]

If you just back off the -06 to 308 velocities (2650-2700 w/180) instead of trying for 2800fps and you will reduce the pressure down to the low 50KSI (say 52-53) range and the rifle will be happy with that for multiple generations. Having said that, I do like my 30-40.

[O.S.O.K.]

I take it you are talking about an original. Otherwise, no worries about the 30-06.

I would personally go with the 30 US - 30-40 Krag. I have a rifle so chambered and its great. Its got the cressent buttplate and is very comfortable to shoot.

[Booger Bill]

I just know my old original in .30 army (30/40) shoots just fine.

[firefuzz]

Gotta love ya Terry, but my Terri would use one or the other on me if I did that , I've been buying a lot lately. I have been watching a pretty nice .405 lately tho it'd be another caliber to stock for and I'd want a full rifle for that kicker, I shot an original .405 once.

Leverlover I load to about 2650 with a 150gr bullet for the '03 Springfield and my Garand, the '03s a 1921 edition and I don't want to strain her as it's my favorite bolt gun to shoot. Both those guns love that load and it's soft on those old actions.

Thanks for the post guys.

Rob

[firefuzz]

I just know my old original in .30 army (30/40) shoots just fine.

After looking at this pic and the pics in what adds I can find another question pops up...is there a windage adjustment on these rifles? I'm looking at buying on of the new Miroku guns.

Rob

[Hobie]

I bought a .30-40.

[Blaine]

Absolutly NO bad reflection on the .30 calibers, but IMO .405 is the way to go on a 1895.

[Grizzly Adams]

I have had both the 30-40 and the 30-06 in the Browning/Win/Miruku rifles. I still have the 30-06.

[Booger Bill]

Firefuzz, when I bought my 95, 45 years ago, the rear sight was missing. I had a old gunsmith friend that gave me the present sight. I forgot what he called it, maybe winder or windfield? Anyway it does have a turnable windage. I should take pictures. My handguard wont fit over the longer sight.

[buckeyeshooter]

I have both in the Winchester re-makes. If you buy a new one, there will be no problems with full power loads.





1886 and 100 year anniversary 1895 30-06

[buckeyeshooter]

1895 case color 30-06 takedown and 1895 carbine in 30-40.

[336A]

If I were able to afford one of these fine rifles I would get the 30-40 Krag hands down. I have always liked this cartridge since I was a little boy. When we visited my grandparents dad and gramps would eventually get on the subject of hunting which of course would lead to other shooting related subjects. I must have been about 5 or 6 when I heard about the magical 30-40 Krag, that nomenclature just has a nice ring to it

Gramps gun was a sporterized Krag and he bagged quite a few deer with that rig. Besides that everyone and their mother has a 30-06 or 308. The 30-40 Krag is just as good but different and it has a lot of history to it as well.

[lthardman]

I have an original Winchester '95 in .30-06. I have probably put about 300 rounds of factory loaded .30-06 through it with no problem. I use the same ammunition that I put in my Belgium made Browning BAR. Should I be concerned?

[tman]

i have the factory winchester booklets for my 95 src. it recomends factory loads. i don't see why it would handle any 06 load that any other 06 would handle?

[Lastmohecken]

In the carbine, I would be tempted to get the 30-40 krag. I have a full sized rifle, Browning 95 in 30-06 and it kicked pretty hard with factory steel recoil plate, but I have since replaced it with a really nice English shotgun pad and it is a sweet heart, now.

The only Krag I ever shot, was an original bolt action 1898 Krag, bolt action, and I found the recoil very pleasant, so in the lighter 95 carbine with the carbine buttplate, I would be leaning towards the Krag, espacally since I already own a 95 in 06.

[shawn_c992001]

The 30-40 is just as good today as it was years ago. My 95 was made in 1932 and is a sweetheart to shoot EVEN with the crescent steel butt plate. I have shot it quite a few times sitting and prone and hardly notice the recoil with factory Remington 180gr ammo.


This little button buck fell to a .30-40 Krag. See what I mean?

[dbateman]

I would go with the 30-40 Krag in the 95
like some one else posted I have wanted one sense i was a boy

dont think deer will notice the diffrnce betwen 30-06 or 30us
.Dave

[firefuzz]

Well I know it's not a SRC, but I couldn't turn down the price. This '95 will have to do until I can save a little more moolaa.

http://www.auctionarms.com/Search/displ ... um=9607104

When that happens I'm still going to get a SRC....in .30-40 Krag. Might keep this one the way it is or use it on that .35 Whelen conversion I talked about in the other thread.

Rob

[Streetstar]

Well I know it's not a SRC, but I couldn't turn down the price. This '95 will have to do until I can save a little more moolaa.

http://www.auctionarms.com/Search/displ ... um=9607104

When that happens I'm still going to get a SRC....in .30-40 Krag. Might keep this one the way it is or use it on that .35 Whelen conversion I talked about in the other thread.

Rob

NICE PRICE !! big thumbs up -- and you dont have to worry about scratching it too much ! I'd say thats a WIN all the way around

[OJ]

Hard to go wrong here - the B&C largest elk rack - record for years - was taken many years ago with a Winchester 95 in 30-40 Krag west of Crested Butte CO - a friend motel owner had the rack and rifle - slabside yet - I have a gunner friend who wouldn't part with his '95 in 30-40 Krag or change it.

That said, I went for the 30-06 with greater choice of ammo - probably better ammo price too.





It shoots at least as good as it looks - I zeroed it to POA at 25 yards and "fine-tuned" it to hit 2" above POA at 100 yards - shooting with left elbow resting on a table and that aperture sight - all in less than one box of ammo -



The unpaired shots were off hand after the zeroing.

Miroku made some 8,000 as centennial models (under license from USRA) in 1995 - half in Hi Grade - as I have - and half in Grade 1. My wife gave this one for our 25th anniversary 5 years ago - OK, so I did "help" her find it - we husbands have an obligation to always help our wives any way we can - found it on GA - apparently part of an estate - "NIB, unfired, with manual"

Got it for $15.00 less than the "MSRP" listed in the 1996 Gun Digest

[olyinaz]

Nice mild .30/40 rounds are a pleasure to shoot. Hard to argue with a rifle that's more fun to shoot!

Best,
Oly

[dgr416]

I bought a Browning 1895 in 30-06.I never shot it but I sold it because it was not the 405 win in 1895 i always wanted.I am finally getting a 405 win in a 1895 Teddy roosevelt model yeah!!!I cant wait till it gets here.Its unfired but i am going to shoot the heck out of it with a limsaver on it .Good luck in getting your 1895.

[blackhawk44]

Found my Browning '95 rifle nine years ago. Mine's '06. Added sling and Marble/XS sights. My 165gr handloads only clock 2640fps, but group in 2.25 inches at 200 yards. So far the longest game shot has only been 235 yards, but for the country that we hunt that's no big deal. For this one, I'm pretty happy with the '06. I enjoy the .30 Army also, but that's a Krag sporter, which is just fine with me.