Post by Bullshop on Mar 12, 2017 14:41:05 GMT -7
There was a gun show in Bozeman this week end and I was lucky enough to attend. It was quite a large show with 4 large buildings filled with tables. I got lost in the collage city for a bit before I could find a non liberal willing to tell me ware I would find the "" GASP!"" gun show. Getting lost down town was something of a surreal experience in that the streets were crowded with youngish women all seemingly dressed in long underwear. These garments were stretched so tight it revealed every detail of some very unattractive shapes. I am thankful I rarely ever have to leave home. That was a rather frightful experience.
On the bright side I did find the show and was richly blessed with the acquisition a fairly unique classic rifle which I will try to describe. It is an 1898 Krag rifle in 30-40 Krag. It has the original full length rifle barrel but some talented craftsman has transformed this rifle into what I will call a match target rifle. It has the original military stock but there have been some splices masterfully spliced in to form a high comb, pistol grip, and the cut out on the top strap for the rear sight also filled. You have to look very closely to realize it is not restocked with a sporter stock but a very masterfully re worked military stock that is now quite pleasing to the eye. It retains the military stock metal hardware but all is tastefully blended into what may have been an early Palma rifle.
It has a ramp front sight with globe and inserts and the rear sight is now a vintage Lyman target receiver sight with the tall sliding staff. It has the target aperture disc threaded into the rear of the standard (hunting) aperture but something I discovered today on close inspection is that on the forward side of the standard aperture there is a flip up reduced diameter aperture- NEATO!!!.
The bore condition I will rate as excellent to near perfect, bright, shiny in the grooves and well defined lands, again NEATO!!! The bluing is overall very good to excellent and the wood finish is likewise.
All in all this is a very handsome vintage rifle for vintage eyes to gaze upon! I had a partial box of ammo left over from another 30-40 I no longer have so like any other kid with a new toy had to try it out. The load was with the Lyman 311231 a 180gn spitzer charged with 21gn of Alliant Steel. This load was always good for 1.5 to 2 minute grouping with my previous 30-40 but with the dozen rounds that remained in the box I only managed a moderately disappointing 3 moa. I am far from being in despair over the results of my first shots through this rifle, quite the opposite I am happy to see it making nicely round holes in paper and not unreasonable clusters that I am certain will tighten when time can be invested in developing loads for and with this rifle.
Another aspect of the exchange that took place at the show regarding this rifle that I will have not one iota of remorse over is the 350 American dollars I traded to become the current owner.
I have taken a few pictures to share with anyone else that might enjoy gazing upon the beauty of this piece of history as much as I. I will now go beg Tina to add those pictures here.
Oh too BTW I also managed the purchase of 90 new starline 50-90 cases for the miserly sum of $50.00 Yesterday was a good day to live !
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img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/bullshop/IMG_3194.jpg[/IMG][/URL] 
On the bright side I did find the show and was richly blessed with the acquisition a fairly unique classic rifle which I will try to describe. It is an 1898 Krag rifle in 30-40 Krag. It has the original full length rifle barrel but some talented craftsman has transformed this rifle into what I will call a match target rifle. It has the original military stock but there have been some splices masterfully spliced in to form a high comb, pistol grip, and the cut out on the top strap for the rear sight also filled. You have to look very closely to realize it is not restocked with a sporter stock but a very masterfully re worked military stock that is now quite pleasing to the eye. It retains the military stock metal hardware but all is tastefully blended into what may have been an early Palma rifle.
It has a ramp front sight with globe and inserts and the rear sight is now a vintage Lyman target receiver sight with the tall sliding staff. It has the target aperture disc threaded into the rear of the standard (hunting) aperture but something I discovered today on close inspection is that on the forward side of the standard aperture there is a flip up reduced diameter aperture- NEATO!!!.
The bore condition I will rate as excellent to near perfect, bright, shiny in the grooves and well defined lands, again NEATO!!! The bluing is overall very good to excellent and the wood finish is likewise.
All in all this is a very handsome vintage rifle for vintage eyes to gaze upon! I had a partial box of ammo left over from another 30-40 I no longer have so like any other kid with a new toy had to try it out. The load was with the Lyman 311231 a 180gn spitzer charged with 21gn of Alliant Steel. This load was always good for 1.5 to 2 minute grouping with my previous 30-40 but with the dozen rounds that remained in the box I only managed a moderately disappointing 3 moa. I am far from being in despair over the results of my first shots through this rifle, quite the opposite I am happy to see it making nicely round holes in paper and not unreasonable clusters that I am certain will tighten when time can be invested in developing loads for and with this rifle.
Another aspect of the exchange that took place at the show regarding this rifle that I will have not one iota of remorse over is the 350 American dollars I traded to become the current owner.
I have taken a few pictures to share with anyone else that might enjoy gazing upon the beauty of this piece of history as much as I. I will now go beg Tina to add those pictures here.
Oh too BTW I also managed the purchase of 90 new starline 50-90 cases for the miserly sum of $50.00 Yesterday was a good day to live !
img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/bullshop/IMG_3194.jpg[/IMG][/URL] 
