25 Krag
Historical Notes:
The 25 Krag is certainly one of the oldest wildcat cartridges in existence. It
is illustrated on page 176 of Dr. Mann's book, The Bullets Flight From Powder
to Target, published in 1909. Mann makes reference to firing tests involving
this cartridge on page 166, Test No. 114, and dates these tests as haven taking
place during 1906.
The original cartridge was based on necking down the 30-40
Krag case to accept 257 caliber bullets without any other change except
reaming the neck. However, actual chamber dimensions were never standardized and
varied widely between gunsmiths. A.O. Niedner, a well known gunsmith of the
1920's and 1930's, chambered many single shot rifles for the 25 Krag, and it was
also called the 25 Krag Niedner. There are, in addition, several Improved
versions of the 25 Krag with the usual blown out case and 40 degree shoulder.
Some of these were made up on a shortened Krag case and some employ the full
length case. Probably the most popular of the Improved 25 Krag cartridges were
the Ackley versions. The various 25 Krag cartridges were used almost exclusively
in single shot rifles or those built up on the P14 Enfield bolt action. Top
loads of this cartridge develop pressures very much in excess of the 42,000 psi
working pressures of the U.S. military Krag action and should never be used in
this rifle.
General Comments:
The 25 Krag has nearly the same case capacity as the 250
Savage or the 257
Roberts, depending on whether we are dealing with the short or long version.
In a strong action, either version is capable of generating 3200 fps or more
with a 100 grain bullet, which puts the 25 Krag in the same class as the 25-06
Remington. It is a flat shooting varmint through deer class cartridge and
has been used successfully on larger game. Although fairly popular in the 1920's
and 1930's, it began to decline after the 257
Roberts was adopted as a commercial cartridge in 1934. Although a good
cartridge, there is very little need for the 25 Krag in the present scheme
of things. The recommended twist is either 1 in 10 inches or 1 in 12 inches,
with the faster twist for the heavier bullets.
It isn't practical to list loading data for the 25 Krag because there are too
many different versions and case capacity can vary by as much as 5 to 10 grains,
or more.
Source: Cartridges of the World
© www.reloadbench.com 1999 - 2005 All Rights Reserved
|
|
 |
|