Lucky me (I hope), just got an original Hepburn chambered in 22-3000 Lovell. Am wondering if anyone has any load data and other insights on the 22-3000 Lovell that they would share?
Thanks.

Hi Frank - I may have and not know it. Where/what load manual/book would it be in?

What brass?   G&H brass is very thin and has larger capacity than Jamison/Captech.   Back your loads down by a full grain for the new brass.  

I use Jamison brass exclusively now.  These loads are what work in my Krag-Lovell R2.   It has a rather tight chamber and a benchrest neck.  

With 50 grain "Dogtown" HP my best 4198 load is 14.7 grains.   So far not a 1 MOA load but close.

For less than full-house loads, I like Lil'Gun.  12.5 grains w/50 grain bullet is a decent start.   You can go up.   

45 grain bullets like about 14.2 to 14.3 grains of 4227.   Again you can go up.

A neat duplicate of the .22 Magnum is 7 grains of Blue Dot with a 45 grain Hornet bullet.

Last, a 60 grain Berger SP with 17 grains of 8208XBR, which I have only fired ten rounds.  Compressed load, still needs work on my part.   Need to increase it - my barrel is 16 twist, and I'm not altogether sure that the 60 grain was stabilizing at that velocity.

Old data should be approached with great caution.  Those guys were loading to 50,000 psi and beyond in brass that was by no means strong enough by today's standards.   Fred Ness published some loads in the Dope Bag that would make your eyes bulge. 

Here is some data from COTW #1

frnkeore wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2015 at 12:19am:


Not saying that G&H was poor quality - it was made by Winchester after all - but it is a good deal thinner than the Jamison.   In those days they wanted capacity above everything.    

That 16 grain 4227 load in Ackley is one that you want to be careful with.  Quickload pegs it at around 60,000 psi., which is what it takes to reach 3000 fps in a 24 inch barrel, no matter what the powder.

I researched this cartridge when I bought an old 44-½ varminter in R2 22-3000. Mine also came with a set of Risley dies and about 50 J.B. Smith cases. I tried to make it shoot but the barrel had seen hard use and was shot out. I ended up selling the brass and dies to a collector for more than I paid for the whole gun.
  The story written is partially true. The cartridge was designed by Hervey Lovell Donaldson did not develop it. Harvey Donaldson had a habit of claiming that he developed every cartridge made from the turn of the century on. Harvey was well regarded as a wildcat reloader and if anyone had a conversation with him about a cartridge Donaldson claimed to invent it. He may have made a suggestion but Lovell designed it.
  As to the R2 Lavell commissioned Risley to grind the reamer for the 22-3000 When Risley saw the print he felt that it needed a steeper shoulder. He ground 2 reamers the first to Lovell’s specs and the second with the steeper shoulder. When Lovell came to pick up the reamer Risley showed him both and explained why he felt the second was better. He told Lovell that he could have either reamer. Lovell said that he wanted it the way he designed it and took the first reamer. Risley kept the second dubbed an R2 and chambered rifles in it. Turns out that Risley was right as there are far more rifles chambered in the R2 than 22-3000.

40 Rod

SSShooter wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2015 at 7:30am:


Yes, all for jacketed.   Maybe we can work together.  Sent you a P/M.

I normally don't like to revive older posts, but while following this thread I checked my 1955 version of the Belding & Mull handbook if anyone is interested. Both .22-3000 and R-2 data for jacketed and lead.