Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 22 HP Reloading Question?

Yes, a self admitted newbie(1st post ). All I want is an equivalent factory load and a known mild load, which is why I was interested in the 228 45gr Thanks for all your help and suggestions!

In that case, I would strongly recommend the 60-70 grain Buffalo (or Reed's) .228 + 23-25 grains 3031 or 4895 for a "regular" load. Kick the same bullet down the tube with 10 grains Unique for a mild load.

Welcome to the world of .22HP loading!

Thanks, that is simple enough for even me to follow :-)

OAL? I have been loading to 2.47", as that is what some old Canadian 70gr sp measured

Great knowledge and info, and while this thread still has the attention of .22HP handloaders let me also ask where folks are getting their brass these days. Mine are RWS and are spendy. I make other chamberings from 30WCF and I know the same can be done for 22HP. The Handloaders Manual Of Cartridge Conversions says that a three forming die set and process and fireforming is needed. It would seem to me that one sizing through a 25-35 sizing die (That’s how I make 25-35 cases), followed by a trip through the 22HP sizing die, trim, neck ream, and fireforming would accomplish the same without very expensive die sets. Is anyone doing this or are cases cheaper now?

Pushing .25-35 brass in one pass through a .22HP die is so easy that I can't imagine why anybody would make their brass any other way. .30-30 brass certainly can be used too, but assuredly not as easily. An intermediate forming step with another die set needs to be done- most any die in between .30-30 and .22HP can be used, just be sure to go slow and incrementally and use lube sparingly.

I have a stash of RWS brass too that I treat like the Crown Jewels.

S&B brass works well and loaded ammo is cheap enough to shoot just for the brass.

I size my 30-30 brass first. Then run them in the 25-35 die then through the 22hp. Works fine. Like gary said use lube sparingly. I have a bunch of factory 22 hp brass and a couple hundred of formed brass.

Joe

Thanks for all the help!!

Since I have a 25-35 now, I don't want to use it. But, I never did anyway. One of the local ranges lets you scrounge the brass buckets, 2-3 weeks before deer season they are full of 30-30. Then I gave a friend 15-20 pounds of mono type for casting, and he gave me several hundred 30-30 cases. We do basically the same as Joe, but add a die. It sounds like a lot of steps, but only took about an hour to form 60 rounds. We run the 30-30 through a 250 die, then the 25-35 die, then the HP die. We were having a problem with the first die ripping the case necks off. Took the expander ball out of the 250 and 25 dies, then we never lost another neck. They passed Gary's approval, and I took a nice 8 point buck with my 1899 H last year.

You mean like just regular handloading? Nah, too simple!

For what it's worth, jacketed .228" dia bullets are available:

https://www.buffaloarms.com/228-diameter-55-grain-jacketed-bullets-box-of-100-bac22855

They have 45, 55, and 60 grain soft points avail. I bought some 55 grainers. Haven't loaded any yet, so no target results to show.

Oh crud, I just read more of the posts, and realized that I'm late to the party with my info on the .228" jacketed bullets from Buffalo Arms. Ah well.

Fun little old cartridge!

Regards, Guy

Oh, and a big "thanks" to gnoahhh - he seems to pop in on every 22 Hi Power reloading thread, with some good info.

Regards, Guy

I went down the .22HP rabbit hole a long time ago, and almost became obsessed with it. I'm back now, and breathing normally again!!

i do have a question in all my old Hornady Reloading books every book has printed 22 Savage Hi-Power [.227 Dia.] not .228 including all my old bullet boxes say .227 not .228. Maybe Mule Deer needs or could clarify the proper size for this post on 22 Savage Hi-Power bullet size ? Pete53

You might be back, but, you still ain't right!

Did somebody post a 22HP double on GB a year or two back. That's what I want.

forum " ask the gun writers " i asked this question about the bullet dia. .227 or .228 on a Savage 99 22 Hi-Power to Mule Deer and he posted a very good interesting answer. its a must read if you own a Savage 99 in a 22 HI-Power and reload !

I sat down this evening and mic'ed a selection of what I have on hand:

1) Old 40's (?) vintage Sisk semi-pointed- 63 grains .227", 70 grains .228"
2) 20's-30's vintage Winchester Repeating Arms, 70 grain .228" (I tore the shrinkwrap off and broke the seal on a "collector's" box of 50 bullets to find out. Guess I have to shoot them now instead of putting them back on the display shelf.)
3) 40's(?) vintage box of Sisk spitzers 70 grain marked ".228 Ackley", .228"
4) Norma, recent manufacture, 71 grain 5.6mm (.228), .2275"
5) Reed's .228 60 grain, .228"
6) Hornady 70 grain spire point, .227"
7) Speer 70 grain semi-spitzer .227"
8) RWS H-Mantel 70 grain, .2275"
9) 40's-vintage Sisk semi-spitzer 45 grain, .227"
10) Buffalo Arms 60 grain, .2275"

Conclusions? None, what can I say?

I have three tubes with throat diameters as indicated in an early post in this thread: two with .229 throats and .227 and .228 groove diameters respectively, and one with a .230 throat and .228 groove diameter. The "big one" also has a long throat but I suspect it was scorched that way by some wise guy along the way shooting a boat load of .224's through it, but that's conjecture on my part and besides it still shoots lights out especially with "fat" cast bullets.