I can't believe I've never found this forum before....  Oh well...  I'm here now...

I'm embarking on a new quest to hopefully be shooting/reloading 22-15-60.  I'm having a blast with 25-20SS, 25-21, 25-25, and 32-40 in various Stevens single-shots.  That 22-15-60 is a little sexy straight wall cartridge that I'd like to add to the list.  It's a sickness - I know...

Over the last several months, I've discovered how rare this cartridge is and how hard it may be to reach my goal...  I've acquired nearly 60 pieces of vintage ammo (first question - is there any modern brass available - Bertram doesn't look like a possibility here) - so I plan on using 30 vintage pieces or so.

I've also found that the actual bullet diameter used was .226 with 2 weight options of 55gr and 60gr?? More questions....  planning on a possible rebarrel if I cannot locate an original barrel in decent shape - I don't think i've ever seen a .226 blank before...  would a .224 bore work?  Cannot locate a .226 mould either - plenty of .224 or .225 moulds.  Would .002" even be an issue here?  If I go with a .224 barrel and .224 mold - would I still be able to use a standard set of 22-16-70 dies (available from both RCBS or CH Tool)?

If .002" is an issue - i guess I could go with a custom reamer with a slight taper to .224 - go with .224 barrel and .224 mould.

I know - lots of questions - but not having too much luck in locating any answers - so any help would be appreciated...

Thanks.

I have no experience with the 22-15-60, but:

Rocky Mountain Cartridge advertises new cases at $38 per 20:
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NEI lists a 60 grain mould in .228", which might be satisfactory:
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Have you actually slugged the bore?  I thought that those old 22s were usually .228".  If it really is .226, an unsized bullet from a .224 mould might do the trick, as cast bullets are often 1 or 2 thousandths over their nominal diameter.  Also, if you use black powder (straight or duplex) a slightly undersize bullet might slug up to bore diameter.  If the bullet has a gas check, I doubt that  it would slug properly.

If you go with a new .224 barrel and .224 mould, I would think that a new expander plug would be necessary.

Regards,
Doug Nelson

Oldsingleshots,
You're a man after my own heart! I too have the .25-21 , .25-20SS, .32-20, .32-40 and the .22-15-60 Stevens rifles. Plus a neat original #44 in .44-40! I enjoy shooting them all!
I'd stay away from Bertram brass, even if they did make a case for the caliber. I've had horrible luck with their cases for smaller calibers. I have on the other hand had super results with RMC brass, and that's what I use in mine. My bore slugs to .225" and my old Ideal mold casts a 63 grain bullet that's .225" unsized. It works just fine, and I load both Unique, and BP too. I prefer the results with the Unique, as it seems to give more accurate loads.

Old SS,

  Welcome to the Forum! Probably the reason you haven't found it sooner is because it's a fairly recently come on line.

  One other option you might consider is to just use a .22 Hornet, which is/was an updated .22 WCF when introduced. It will hold 15 grs. of 3F Swiss or Goex, and is defintiely a lot cheaper to get brass, dies, and a great variety of moulds for.

  I've played quite a bit with the Hornet over the years, in both BP, & smokeless. Depending on what you're expecting for accuracy, it'll make a real good Squirrel gun, for head shots only, out to about 75 yds. with BP, and up to about 125 yds. for smokeless. For 100 & 200 yd. target work it probably won't cut it, unless you can shoot in specific matches for CF .22's.

PETE

Look for a mold listed for a .22 Savage Hi-Power. This caliber used .228 bullets. Not sure of the weight though. But I do know they were .228 as I owned one once and finding .228 jacketed bullet was a chore. Had a mold, think it cast a 60 gr bullet. The other option that a freind uses is to cast the closest to size bullet 30/1 alloy and then pan lube them. He then runs them into a Lube die of the appropriate diameter and when they are bottomed he gives them a little grunt and 
"POOF" they bump up to the larger diameter. I suspect this would be an easy procedure to bump up .224 diameter to .226 or .228 diameter. The trick you must remember is to cast them soft. Hope this helps. Regards, FITZ.