View Full Version : Unusual Krag ammo
keith smart
03-16-2015, 07:40
Came across a full box of FA ammo for the Krag, dated 1943. The were blanks with WRA 31 headstamp. Is it safe to assume that Krags were in inventory in 43 and used for training purposes?
Keith
raymeketa
03-16-2015, 10:31
Frankford Arsenal produced those blank cartridges for civilian organizations for drills and salutes. Many of them were made by breaking down ball cartridges that were still in stores. That would explain the 1931 headstamp.
Ray
Dick Hosmer
03-16-2015, 03:59
Even stranger perhaps, from a time/date perspective, is the 1943 (at least) loading of .45-70 blanks which were used by the Navy in their line-throwing guns.
psteinmayer
03-16-2015, 04:09
I have an entire unopened box of the 45-70 blanks for line throwing!
Rick the Librarian
03-17-2015, 07:33
The most unusual Krag ammunition I have is a box of Model 1925 ammo (1928 headstamps) that was meant to be used for a sub-caliber device (barrel and receiver) on 3" seacoast guns.
http://www.fototime.com/D28A306479B6D4F/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/9F5D454DFE92D41/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/4186FDB42BCB1DC/standard.jpg
U.S.C.G.
line throwing gun aboard CGC Point Baker in 1966-67 was a modified, smooth bore, '03 Springfield.
The Bos'n first told me to aim for the light on the dolphin astern of us at Port Aransas. I said: "You mean over it, Boats?"
[me being a smartass and all]
He said: "No. Hit the D### thing!"
[I had irritated him earlier with a DA question.]
I took careful aim, settled in steady, and with a slight water wave heave while on the fantail of the 82 footer, fired.......
The orange line paid out as the "dummy" sailed into the sky......
AND WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE MARKER LIGHT!
Until that day I had never before seen a man's eyes "bug out".
This box is dated 1910 probably still a pretty common item then I imagine more then a few Krags were still issued then.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/drbecker/krag1910ammo004.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/drbecker/media/krag1910ammo004.jpg.html)
The Navy was still using 45/70 line throwers in the early 1960's. (At least they were on the two aircraft carriers I was on.)
The gun was a shotgun type top-break. Probably a H&R or Stevens.
raymeketa
04-11-2015, 11:21
This box is dated 1910 probably still a pretty common item then I imagine more then a few Krags were still issued then.
Note that the cartridges were re-packed in 1910. They could be of much earlier manufacture.
Ray
Have a box from Frankford Arsenal marked as "Multi-Ball Cartridges for Model 1898 Rifle". Instructions say cartridges are not to be used in magazine and give range and sight setting information.
Since it's sealed, I haven't looked at the cartridges themselves so don't know what they look like. They are supposed to be effective up to 200 yards, but for what? Anyone know any details
about these such as size, quantity or use?
Thanks!!
raymeketa
04-18-2015, 10:30
The Krag Multi-Ball cartridges were for short-range guard and riot use. Two 42 grain round balls.
Ray
http://i57.tinypic.com/2ibkwuo.jpg
Kragrifle
04-19-2015, 06:49
While I have no data to support my idea, it is interesting that these multiball cartridges are about the same size as the Krag blanks. Benecia Arsenal (according to Mallory) performed the alterations to a standard Krag to allow them to handle the shorter blank cases. Might this have also have been done to allow the shorter multiball cartridges to function loaded into the magazine?
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