Bullet question for Krag loads

[jon_norstog]

Well CH, there you have it. Bullet choice is kind of a matter of personal preference, just so long as you can put one where you want it and feed a follow-up shot. I will say that I spent a couple seasons between Krags hunting with an 8mm mauser. My brother gave me some 220 gr. Barnes X-bullets to try out so I loaded them up to the gills in front of 4895. The X-bullet is solid copper, apparently it is designed for use in the 8mm magnum. Anyway I shot a moose at 65 yards with it, one shot through the heart, just about front-on. The bullet was under the hide on the far side, intact and barely expanded. If the bullet had just traveled through the animal's lungs I would have had a long day's work trailing that moose.

Good luck!

jn

[BudT]

You might want to try the Hornady 160 grain flex tip out of your Krag, they shoot and feed good out of my Krag. jon those X bullets are a tough son of a gun I do shoot them and the newer triple shock and the tipped version out of several of my rifles. The old X bullet would copper foul the crap out of your barrel I suppose that's why Barns dropped them from the line. I'm doing a experiment with the old X bullet to see if the CFE powder will take care of the fouling problem, if it ever gets good weather here. They shoot good and don't blow up if you hit a bone and that's why I like them.

[CHW2021]

This was exactly the input I wanted, thanks to all. I do have the option of going with a 8mm Turk that was sportered (and still shoots great) with several different rounds, but the Krag just gives more "style" than any other rifle.
Pigs are tough, no doubt about that; deer are not likely to tear you up when tracking a wounded one. I do not want to track a wounded pig at night if I could possibly avoid it. A bullet that will expand quickly at (relatively ) low velocity and hold together seems to be more likely to drop or damage enough tissue to allow a quick second shot. Humane for the pig, safe for me. I will post results.

BTW, I will see what my friends have for 30-30 bullets, the A max is the second to be tried; I had not thought of feed issues with ballistic tips at all, the hornady is running as a 3rd option.

[Trap4570]

Spire points feed fine as far as I have tried them. Being more traditional - I stick with round points at 200 grains or there about. I don't bother much with high velocity or bullet design as much as I do felt recoil and shot placement. As far as bullets go - even the cast bullets perform very well at moderate range. It has been many years since I hunted a hog and technology has made decisions complicated. The old Krag rounds were used to take game as large as moose and it is from my experience hunting that it is not so much the gun or round that is important as it is the way the game presents itself. I think the art of the stalk and the patience to get a point of advantage is overlooked. Knowing the habits of the game and the habitat you are hunting in makes for a more exciting hunt to me. That's just my opinion.

[jon_norstog]

...... I think the art of the stalk and the patience to get a point of advantage is overlooked. Knowing the habits of the game and the habitat you are hunting in makes for a more exciting hunt to me. That's just my opinion.

That's a pretty good opinion, Trap.

jn