Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have one of the Army’s clever cost-cutting measures – a Model 1898 Krag chambered in .22 rimfire for training. Only 841 were made in 1906-1907, making this scarcer than most experimental rifles. The genius was in the simplicity. These rifles look identical to standard .30-40 Krags externally, with only a small “CAL./.22” marking giving away the secret. Springfield engineers designed an auxiliary .22 extractor that interfaces with the standard bolt extractor, and offset the breech so the regular firing pin works with rimfire ammunition.
The Army was dealing with massive training costs as they expanded after the Spanish-American War. .30-40 Krag ammunition was expensive, and indoor ranges were becoming popular for year-round training. A .22 version let soldiers practice bolt manipulation, sight picture, and marksmanship fundamentals without the cost and noise of full-power cartridges.
This example was built as a complete rifle rather than just a barreled action, identifiable by the four-letter script cartouche and “R.D.R.” marking behind the trigger guard. The standard blade front sight and folding ladder rear sight maintained the training value while keeping costs down.
What makes these rifles historically significant is how they show the military’s growing sophistication about training methodology. Rather than just drilling with dummy ammunition, the Army recognized that actual shooting – even with reduced loads – was essential for developing marksmanship skills. This .22 Krag represents that evolution in military training philosophy during the early 1900s.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“U.S. Springfield Armory 1898 Krag-Jorgensen .22 Practice Rifle.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/195/us-springfield-armory-1898-krag-jorgensen-22-practice-rifle. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
The post POTD: Springfield 1899 Krag .22 – Training on a Dime appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.
