When I make the barrels I measure the socket of the receiver and I set the shank to the exact length. So there is no "extra" to show at all. The barrel if left only .015" smaller than the receiver itself. This is done because many Krags have a slight radius on the front edge of the receiver. If the receiver ring is square and sharp it's best to leave the barrel the same diameter for about 1-3/4" so the transition from action to barrel is perfect and it makes for a very nice looking installation.

I have another Krag in the works right now. It has a cut down GI Barrel, but I am considering re-barreling it. It is 24" long now, but some of these old Krags look best when the barrel is 26-28 inches long. I have not made the decision yet. For iron sights longer is easier to shoot precisely, but they are not "more accurate". It just easier to use a longer sight radius than a short one. The 30-40 will burn all it's powder in only 20-21 inches, so the extra length is just for sight radius and for "looks"

What do you guys think?

I have some nice French Walnut to use for the stock. Nothing very fancy, but good looking wood none the less. Should be a very nice hunting rifle when it's done. One option I am considering is to fit a Williams receiver sight to it and leave the rear sight off completely. If I do that it sure would be a whitetail hunters dream.

I personally like to stay with the original 220 grain loads for my Krags. It's more bullet than you need for deer, but so what? It is also pure magic on elk and bear. I zero the guns in perfectly with my 220 grain loads and it's fast and easy to move up to the higher sight setting for a longer shot, but for 95% of all the shots most hunters take with them, the 100 yard zero is fine