.30-40 Krag Ladedaten

The .30-40 Krag, also known simply as the Krag–Jørgensen cartridge, was the first smokeless powder round adopted by the United States military, introduced in 1892 alongside the Krag–Jørgensen rifle. It marked a major shift in firearms technology for the U.S. Army, transitioning from large-caliber, black powder cartridges to smaller, higher-velocity smokeless rounds.

The .30-40 Krag is a rimmed rifle cartridge that fires a .30 caliber (7.62 mm) bullet, and was originally loaded with a 220-grain round-nose projectile propelled by 40 grains of smokeless powder, hence the designation “30-40.” It produced a muzzle velocity of about 2,000 feet per second, which was considered respectable at the time. While it was accurate and had relatively low recoil, the .30-40 Krag’s performance was soon outpaced by more modern cartridges such as the .30-06 Springfield. One notable limitation was the Krag rifle’s side-loading magazine, which hindered rapid reloading in combat compared to newer clip-fed designs. Despite this, the cartridge saw action in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War, and it earned a reputation for reliability and ease of use. Beyond military service, the .30-40 Krag found popularity among civilian hunters and shooters, particularly for deer and elk, due to its moderate recoil and decent ballistic performance. It has a loyal following to this day, with many vintage Krag rifles still in use by collectors and enthusiasts. Handloaders have also kept the cartridge alive by tailoring loads for both original Krag rifles and stronger modern actions, making the .30-40 Krag a historically significant and enduring part of American shooting culture.