My brother-in-law inherited a Savage 99 in 22 HP. He has a vintage box of ammo and would like to shoot the rifle. I'm thinking he should save the vintage ammo and I will have him come over and load up some new cartridges. My Google Fu seems to be rusty and I'm having a real problem is finding components and data for a cartridge that was obsolete in 1930. Does anybody have experience with this old cartridge and care to give me a few pointers?

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Get a copy of Handloader # 270 feb 2011.
Terry Wieland wrote an outstanding piece on the 22 HP. Load info, techical problems to watch for, and components availability.

They have an odd bore size of .228, which makes finding bullets difficult. One option is to buy commercially available ammo. It is called 5.62x52R. I believe S&B currently manufactures this ammo.

I think Hornady makes a bullet for it.
I have a take-down Savage 99 in the .22 HP but haven't reloaded for it.

Graf's has the brass, Graf & Sons - 22 Savage and the bullets Graf & Sons - HRN 22c (.227) 70gr SP WC BULLET w/Cannelure 100/BX.

Lyman #3 cast bullet manual has load data for cast bullets. It looks like .30-30 brass would be very close to working with a little trimming and resizing.

Norma still makes 22 Savage Hi Power ammo, but it is marked 5.6x52R, which is the european designation for the caliber. You can resize 30-30 or 25-35 brass with no trimming necessary. I just resized a bunch of 30-30 brass by first running it into a 25-35 die and then into the 22 Sav die, they usually come out with some wrinkles in the shoulder, but this is ironed out on the first firing.

Although the original cartridges were loaded with .227 bullets, you can use .224 bullets and they are sometimes more accurate than the larger dia ones.

You can go to the Savage Collectors forum and get all your questions answered:
Savage Collectors - 24hourcampfire

Thanks guys, I'm defiantly going to pick up a copy of Handloader # 270, for my brother-in-law and we will analyze the cost of loading vs buying new ammo, but from what I've seen for pricing on the web buying dies and components will cost less than 2 boxes of ammo. Chances are he will shoot the rifle once every ten years or less as he is not much of a shooter.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

5.6x52R Ammunition for Sale Online
I'd go with the S&B stuff if I weren't going to shoot it much.

Yes, and their manuals have data for it.

Lyman manuals from #s 39-46 are supposed to have data for it, according to the RCBS.load program. I have #46, which gives load data for one bullet, a 70 gr. from Winchester, and #39, which gives a much wider range of bullets and data. Even though some of the powders aren't made anymore I'd look for an older manual and #s 39-42 looks to have the best choices.

Guys: I have 90 rds. of new Norma brass, 10 rds. of same fired once, RCBS reloading die set used 10 times, and box of 70 gr. Sierra bullets with 10 used. Make me an offer that I can't refuse for the lot. ...... Big Cholla