Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Welcome to the Leverguns.Com Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here ... politely.

Moderators: AmBraCol, Hobie

Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.

Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
Scott Tschirhart
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3838
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:56 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

My first real deer rifle (I don't count the DCM .30 carbine that I shot several with becasue that was Dad's rifle) was a .30-40 Krag sporter. I don't know why I ever got rid of it and went to more "modern" cartridges becasue it was more than enough for any deer I ever shot. 180 grain Winchester Silvertips were available back then and I should have stuck with that gun for everything....... But I digress.

I've been waiting for a nice used Browning 1895 in .30-40 to come along and I snagged one that appears to be unfired. I shot one of these at the Shootists Holiday years ago and I was impressed with the heavy cast bullet loads that we were using. I only wish I remember who had that rifle because I would certainly want to try out his recipie.

Any tips on this gun from folks who own one?
User avatar
Sixgun
Posting leader...
Posts: 18564
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Sixgun »

Scott,
Don't know nothing about the Brownings but I have 2 original 1895's in 30-40 and a Krag rifle. They all LOVE the 220 gr. Lyman at 1600. They shoot most all grain bullets exceptionally well but the 220's do the best when going past 200 meters on out to 500.

The Krag really is nothing more than a downloaded '06 which also likes the long 220's....---6
Model A Uzi’s
Image
User avatar
JimT
Shootist
Posts: 5468
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:04 pm

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by JimT »

Sixgun wrote: Sun Apr 11, 2021 1:53 pm The Krag really is nothing more than a downloaded '06 which also likes the long 220's....---6
Yeah. But it's a real cartridge 'cuz it has a rim like God intended!
User avatar
Scott Tschirhart
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3838
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:56 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Amen.
User avatar
Scott Tschirhart
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3838
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:56 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Now I need to track down ammo, dies and bullets!
BenT
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2716
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Northern Wisconsin

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by BenT »

I picked up a flat side last year in 30-40. The stock was cut down for a youth and it was drilled and tapped for a receiver sight. Which brought the price down to my range. It likes the Hornady 180 grain bullets. I got a new stock fitted this winter and decided to get it reblued. Hopefully it will be ready for deer hunting this fall.
User avatar
Shasta
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1556
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:50 pm
Location: Shasta County, the far right stronghold in California

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Shasta »

I have a Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag that I bought used back in 2003. I modified it slightly by adding a Providence Tool Co. copy of the Lyman 21 receiver sight, a taller front sight, and a set of quick detach sling swivel studs. It shoots 180 gr. Sierra boat tail bullets very well. I have killed four blacktail bucks with it and none required a second shot. I have even used it for NRA High Power metallic silhouette. I recall one match where I was lucky enough to drop six of ten ram targets shooting offhand at 500 meters and I won the match even though the other shooters were using scopes. ( I sure can't do that kind of shooting anymore!)

I have not shot cast lead in the 1895, despite being primarily a cast lead bullet guy. I do shoot cast in my 1898 Springfield .30-40 Krag, and like Six says, the Lyman 311284 weighing 220 gr. really shines in this caliber. My only complaint is that it will not reliably knock down 500 meter ram silhouette targets.

Image
California Rifle & Pistol Association LIFE Member
National Rifle Association BENEFACTOR LIFE Member


http://www.hcrpclub.org/schedule.html

avatar pic is Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, & Mt. Shasta
User avatar
Sixgun
Posting leader...
Posts: 18564
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Sixgun »

Shasta wrote: Sun Apr 11, 2021 6:57 pm I have a Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag that I bought used back in 2003. I modified it slightly by adding a Providence Tool Co. copy of the Lyman 21 receiver sight, a taller front sight, and a set of quick detach sling swivel studs.
I like those Providence sights. I've made a couple of "highway robberies" on Winchester 1895's because they were D&T'ed for the Lyman 21 and the dealer thought it was a bad aftermarket thingy......yea, some dealers just don't know. Guys would take off the original 21/38 and sell those separately and left an unsightly hole. :D

I bought those Providence sights, stripped em of the cheap looking blue finish and rust blued them and unless you looked at the lettering, they pass for the original....

Do the Browning 1895's in 30-40 have the 28" barrel like the originals? ---6
Model A Uzi’s
Image
User avatar
Shasta
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1556
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:50 pm
Location: Shasta County, the far right stronghold in California

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Shasta »

While a 28" barrel would be a plus in my book, the Browning barrel is 24".

Shasta
California Rifle & Pistol Association LIFE Member
National Rifle Association BENEFACTOR LIFE Member


http://www.hcrpclub.org/schedule.html

avatar pic is Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, & Mt. Shasta
User avatar
Sixgun
Posting leader...
Posts: 18564
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Sixgun »

Thanks Shasta.....the Brownings are the only foreign leverguns I think anything of. ....top notch quality they are.----6
Model A Uzi’s
Image
buckeyeshooter
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1253
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:57 pm

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by buckeyeshooter »

I have a Japchester 30-40 1895 carbine. I stick with the Sierra 220 grain roundnose over 42. grains of H4831. Chronos about 1900 fps and hits like a 1 1/4 oz 12 gauge slug.... DRT!
Bill in Oregon
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 8849
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
Location: Sweetwater, TX

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Man, we sure need like buttons on this forum. 8)
User avatar
Scott Tschirhart
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3838
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:56 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

buckeyeshooter wrote: Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:55 pm I have a Japchester 30-40 1895 carbine. I stick with the Sierra 220 grain roundnose over 42. grains of H4831. Chronos about 1900 fps and hits like a 1 1/4 oz 12 gauge slug.... DRT!
Thank you. That sounds like about where I want to be. Heavy bullet, moderate velocity.
User avatar
AmBraCol
Webservant
Posts: 3651
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:12 am
Location: The Center of God's Grace
Contact:

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by AmBraCol »

Roosevelt took a "30 Government" (or was it "30 Army"?) to Africa. Took quite a bit of game with it, including giraffe if I recall correctly. The 30-40's on my "someday" list. Passed on a sporterized Krag way back in my foolish youth, didn't really know what I was looking at at the time. Those heavy for caliber slugs just want to keep on going when shot from the right rifle.
Paul - in Pereira


"He is the best friend of American liberty who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion." -- John Witherspoon

http://www.paulmoreland.com
http://www.pistolpackingpreachers.us
http://www.precisionandina.com
BenT
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2716
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Northern Wisconsin

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by BenT »

The 1895 Win is the third 30-40 Krag on my rack. I have a 1898 Krag Carbine and a 1899 Remington Lee, which the caliber stamp is 30 USA on the barrel. So I am going to work up a cast bullet load and see which one shoots the best. I have never shot a deer with a bolt gun, they have all been with leverguns since I was 14. The first deer I shoot with a bolt gun will be one of these though.
User avatar
Sixgun
Posting leader...
Posts: 18564
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Sixgun »

1905

Image

Image

------006
Model A Uzi’s
Image
User avatar
JimT
Shootist
Posts: 5468
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:04 pm

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by JimT »

NICE Sixgun! I always admired the engineering they went to in that action. And watching one open up! Also listening to it. Sounded sorta like boxcars hooking up to me .. on a better scale. The work that went into those old guns is amazing.
User avatar
Sixgun
Posting leader...
Posts: 18564
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Sixgun »

Thanks Jim....as you know the old guns well, what is your opinion as to the smoothest Winchester of them all...leverguns, mind you.

As they are all smooth after being shot a thousand rounds my vote goes to the 1895...----006
Model A Uzi’s
Image
User avatar
JimT
Shootist
Posts: 5468
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:04 pm

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by JimT »

Sixgun wrote: Tue Apr 13, 2021 1:24 pm Thanks Jim....as you know the old guns well, what is your opinion as to the smoothest Winchester of them all...leverguns, mind you.

As they are all smooth after being shot a thousand rounds my vote goes to the 1895...----006
I have never really thought about that very much.
I see people talking about it and when I was doing Cowboy Action you know everyone had an opinion.
Things change over time. Guns that were once light and handy seem to have gotten heavier over the years. Some now recoil much sharper than they previously did. And some have actually gotten harder to manipulate. I think guns may develop a form of firearm arthritis ...
User avatar
Scott Tschirhart
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3838
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:56 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Jim,

That 92 of yours is still pretty slick. I make sure to keep it oiled up and working.
BenT
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2716
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Northern Wisconsin

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by BenT »

Super Nice, Sixgun. I always felt the 1895 carried great when hunting.
User avatar
JimT
Shootist
Posts: 5468
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:04 pm

Re: Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag

Post by JimT »

Scott Tschirhart wrote: Tue Apr 13, 2021 6:19 pm Jim,

That 92 of yours is still pretty slick. I make sure to keep it oiled up and working.
Yeah .. it came out pretty smooth ... sometimes you get lucky.
Post Reply