Seek information on favorite loads in 219 Zipper family both target and varmint.  Also, information on various "Improved" Zippers folks have come into contact with and loads they use.

I just got a circa 1930's Greifelt SS rebarreled 219 Zipper in 1950s discussed on the SS Gun forum topic list.  Current plan is to fireform some standard Zipper rounds made up from 25-35 annealed cases and will begin with 3031. Then see what exactly "Improved" chamber we have such as Ackley or other and go from there.  Have heavy 24 inch barrel with 16 twist.  Plan to test a lot of loads. Suggestions? 

Thanks,
Cliff

In a std Zipper I use 28.5gr of 4895 with 55gr btsp. It shoots quite well out of a 27" bbl high wall.

Although not a SS I have a Savage 99 rebarreled to 219 Zipper. The load I use is CCI-BR2 primers, and either 25.5 gr. H4895 or 27 gr. IMR4320 w/a Sierra 55 gr. BTHP bullet.  Approximately 3010fps. and 3/4" groups @ 100yds. Good enough for varmints!
Graeme

"All," thanks so much for all the great info and tips. Singleshooter, look forward to getting that magazine article on the 219. Hopefully will be out at the range in 10 days or so with plenty of hot coffee.
Some info from the old wildcatter days turns up that the standard 219 Zipper was very close to the older 22 Niedner Magnum in size. It seems 40gr. (Sisk Express),46gr., 50, 55 gr. (Sisk-Niedner), 56 gr., and even 63 gr.(Sisk-Niedner) were loaded. Powders seemed to be mostly 3031 but then also some 4064, HiVel No. 3, 4320, 4198, DuPont 80.
A custom falling black made by Bill Staege of Omro, Wisconsin back in the 40s or early 50s was reported to have given the following groups at 100 yards with 50 gr. bullet: 5 shots in .48 inch using 28.5gr of 3031; 10 shots in .68 inch using 23.0 gr. of 4198, and 10 shots in .50 inch using 28.5 gr 3031.    
Some old "Improved" versions include the "Hartung 22 Comet" (a 219 Zipper) by A.L. Hartung of Pomeroy, Ohio.  One load for this was 32 gr of 4320 behind 40 gr. bullet, with groups at 100 yards said to have ranged from .350 to .750 inch.  One load Ackley used for his Improved version was 37 gr. 4320 with 50 gr. bullet.  Clarence Hill of Dixon, Illinois had an Improved Zipper design but I haven't found data on how he loaded it.  Also, Hervey Lovell worked up some Zipper loads and liked the 219.  There was in the 1940s or 50s  a custom "Mashburn Zipper" with very fine accuracy built on a Sharps-B action owned by Mark Warkins of Denver who used 30 gr. 4064 or 3031 behind 55 gr. bullet. He also used 31 gr of same.
A 1937 Winchester Ballistics lLab test -- 100, 200, 300 yards-- of the 219 with factory ammo (46 and 56 gr) showed a profile similar to a 220 Swift with factory ammo. 
Will keep digging around for some old lore and loads and look forward to hearing more on this forum. Thanks again for your help and will work the loads into my own field tests.
Best,
Cliff

Using 24.8 IMR=4064 in a Martini ,mild load,getting nice group    AO-3

Cliff,

Thanks for sharing the info, and look forward to hearing more, as your research continues. I'll be sure to keep you in mind, when it warms up here, and I get back to the bench with the .219. I hope that on my next trip to western PA( where I grew up ), that I have time to poke around eastern OH for more info on Hartung. Pomeroy isn't very far from my home territory.

Regards,

Jeff

Thanks Tim, shall do as I experiment. I am trying for a moderate load that works well and all the suggestions here have been very helpful. This afternoon a 219 buff told me his favorite is 31.5 gr. 4320 behind a Barnes 40gr.VLC.
Cliff      

For the Imp. versions of the Zipper, you can use 225 Winchester loading data as resource.

The cases and case capacitys are very similar.

I had best results with my 225 Win (HW) using Varget. I also tried 4064 and 4895. My best results where 1/2 @ 100 with 33.0 Varget and a 55 gr Hornady SX.

You should be able to use a start load of 30.0 in the Imp Zipper with a 50 gr bullet and a near top load in the std.

From what I read in researching 225 loads (it should also apply to all Zippers) the pressure starts jumping very fast at about 48-50K CUP.

My best loads with 4895 where 1.0+ and close to 3/4 with 4064.

Frank