Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Waters on the 22 HP

While digging in a drawer looking for unrelated stuff, I found an old article from 1983, by Ken Waters, on the .22 HP. Lots of interesting info but one of the things that struck me was that he achieved decent accuracy reloading with .224 diameter bullet- 70 gr .224 semi-pointed Speer doing a 5 shot, 1 inch group. The only downside is that after a full case resize the case has to be necked down to .224.

Can this be done with any neck sizing die that�s .224?

He also states that in the original loaded cartridges, bullet size is .227, not .228. Out of 5 original factory loads he pulled and miked, 5 different brands ran from .2260 to .2273.

RC

I have tried those Speer 70gns & they will shoot well if you have a very good barrel! Once the rifling starts to wear a little accuracy goes all to hello.
Horn does make the proper size bullets for the HP & if enough of use keep ordering it, they may not drop production so quick.

I can see this is gonna turn into one of those off site CGN meetings, eh Tuff. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I'm working on a 22 H.P. project gun, if Doug doesn't have any rounds for me I'm gonna need some loads from you 2. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Senior, yes I've been using the Horn's for reloads too, cause what other option is there? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I've still got some old Dominion factory stuff but I don't know if I really want to use it.

I've got a couple of boxes of Norma factory loads that work pretty well out of my rig. But I'm scared to even find out what a box of those things are worth now.

MD: slow friday and less contraversy here for a meeting. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And no, I'm not sending you any of my brass <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> My reload receipe is out of an old Hornady manual using 3031.

RC

Hmmmmmm...

Ken Waters must of been more of a Model 99 fan than I thought.

Apparently, he not only worked with the .22 HP, but I know he owned a Model 99 in .300 Savage because, about 4 years ago during a series of back-and-forth letters we exchanged, he surprised me with an offered to sell his Model 99 in .300 Savage with a low-power scope on it to me for $450.

I was kinda surprised he offered to sell it since I'd never part with my Model 99. But then... I'm not a "seller" of guns. I've still got the first gun I ever bought. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

i have some information that may be of use. according to layne simpson, shooting times magizine article titled "a treasured trio" (.22 hp, .250-3000 and .300 sav.) he states all that is necessary is to change the expanding button from .227 to .224. most of my dies are rcbs so i just "borrowed" one from a .222 rem. die i no longer use and the bullets seat just fine. i also have .22 hp rechambered to .22 hp ai 40 deg. and the redding dies a bought for it has a .224 expander. i'v been working up hunting loads with w.w. 64 gr., .224 dia. p.p. bullet and sierra's new 65 gr. .224 dia. gameking bullet. they seam to shoot pretty good but i'll know better after i mount my boone scope. i also plan on trying barne's new 70 gr., .224 ts bullet as well as swift's new (if it ever gets released) 75 gr. scirrocco .224 bullet. these last two may be long to stabilize in the hp's 1:12 twist barrel. i've been trying these bullets because they are much superior to the hornady .227 for use on deer. the 65 gr. sierra gameking in my .22 hp ai acheives 3350 fps out of a 20" barrel.
thank,
dave.

I assume either Tuff or Joe have a die set for the HP? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Can I also assume Tuff is up here in frigid land? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I have been using a assortment of die pieces to reload my HP because the $$ of a die set is ridiculious <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Ya Senior, Tuffs a CGN regular as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Well that would be a lot cheaper than a new neck sizer!

Senior: Yes, I'm over on the far western edge. We were only frozen for about a week, now it looks like my damn grass needs cutting again... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I bought a set of dies directly from RCBS about 20 years ago, still look new as I don't shoot the old girl much.

Still have about a month to get out and tip a deer over so I just might have to try the .224. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

RC

Better shoot some targets with the .224's before you go deer tipping. If you don't have a tight bore your groups migh be a little spread.

Let use know how it workd out.

lol oh ya, I don't venture afield with new loads unless a bunch have already hit the paper. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

RC