My Favorite Woods Gun is a M1896 .30/40 Krag Carbine.

[Adam Helmer]

Thanks to my twin brother, in 2002 I became the owner of my favorite Krag. He found a "butchered" Krag Carbine some woodshed gunsmith cut the barrel to 16 inches and replaced the original stock. The bore was akin to the inside of the tailpipe on my truck. On the used gun rack the "Ugly Krag" went for $65.00. Happily, my twin brother knew a local gunsmith who replaced the barrel, moved over the original sights and polished and blued the action for $75.00. I paid $150 for the smoothest bolt gun I own. My Krag Carbine is a Model 1896, which is the first year Krag Carbines were made at Springfield Armory.

I have worked up an accuracy load of a 150 grain JSP bullet and H414. That is my deer/bear hunting load. For year-round target shooting I use the Lyman #311467 175 grain cast bullet or the Lee 185 grain RN cast bullet and both like 18 grains of 2400 powder and 77.5MM overall length. For cast bullets, a slight increase in rear sight elevation is needed for POA/POI at 100 yards than with jacketed bullets. I put a piece of masking on the stock of my rifles with such sight adjustments noted.

I have a few Original Krag rifles on establishment, but this 20-inch barrel M1896 Krag Carbine is all the Woods Rifle I have ever needed. Krags are very smooth and slick arms, I never have had enough on establishment: I am still seeking Krags.

Adam

[buckhunter]

Adam is that the evil twin with the beard? Good choice for a woods rifle. My all time favorite was a Model 7 Remmie in 308. I was stupid and let it get away. Right now my woods rifle is a Browning BAR in 06. I shoot about 54gr of 4350 behind a 180gr round nose Hornady. Sure does make em bleed.

[skeet]

I carry either a Matrlin 1895 45-70 or another Marlin in 444. for deer in the wooded areas around the ranch house I have a Rem 141 in 35 Rem..ranges for deer are quite often very short. Usually no more than 40 yds..usually much less. I have an older(much older) friend who still hunts elk with his 1895 Winchester in 30-40(marked I think as 30 US Army) At last count he had shot more than 30 with that rifle. He still hunts the late season for cow elk in an easier access hunting area. I had a report he got an elk last week up in that area..but not confirmed so far. I think he is 87 now..Personally I would not use an unaltered military rifle to hunt with..but to each his own.. I only have two right now..a nice Mexican Mauser in 7mm and a really nice 1891 Argentine Mauser...it looks unfired..but dropped once.

[Gil Martin]

I remember the transaction. The gun shop where you got your Krag used to get in Krags on a regular basis and held the price regardless of the condition of the rifle.

No I do not have a beard. All the best...
Gil