Some of you may recall having seen this on Gun Broker ~6-years ago or so, maybe more, where it was listed as having a gain twist barrel. As we believe, rimfire 22s from Pope were straight twist and this is a 22-Long with a 1-in-25” twist barrel by Harry Pope. I tried searching the ASSRA Forums for posts about this rifle, but couldn’t find anything.

It was previously advertised as allegedly having been the personal rifle of a champion shooter by the last name of ‘Delinger’ (not that of the similar, but other spelling of that infamous gangster) but I haven’t been able to find out anything in regards to its actual provenance. I got some Win factory info as provided by Bert Hartman but unfortunately that info was on my iPhone that has since crashed, so I need to contact Bert again. He provided me the date that the action left the Win polishing room and comparing that to the barrel date and we believe it was shipped to Pope and possibly even purchased by him to make into the custom Schuetzen rifle that it is.

I had kept in contact with the Seller and I got the opportunity to pick this up, as I’ve been looking for a high wall with double-set triggers. I have two others, both in 22 Long Rifle, including a take-down that someone sporterized from a Winder musket. I would have preferred the 22LR cartridge over the 'long', just due to ammo availability, especially in these current days of ‘hoarding’.

It came with a Unertl 10X scope and a nice set of sights by Mike Stevens that I have since put on my CPA in 38-55, where I can benefit from the rear Soule sight, versus putting it on what really amounts to being a gallery rimfire. After selling the scope (already have a few, thus more than I need) and accounting for the value of the used Stevens sights … and I ended up paying not too much over what I see non-Pope high wall shooters with dble-set triggers going for. Of course, Bert opines that due to the bastardizing (my word) by the previous owner/shooters … this has zero Winchester collector’s appeal … and value. But to me, having a Pope firearm makes it well worth it to … I just wish my Father was still here to see it and appreciate it, as he had met Mr. Pope at the ol’ Walnut Hill range once; where Pope was quite old and my Dad quite young (teen).

Best thing … mechanically she’s sound, the action is tight and the triggers are flawless in operation so she’s a ONE-HOLE GROUP shooter, at least at gallery ranges

Last Photo, 3 of 3

To heck with the purists, and their factory original Winchester 1885's! I'd take your Pope High Wall over most originals any day! To me that's way cooler than another factory original gun!

The barrel length is certainly shorter than almost all .22 schuetzen rifles that I've seen, regardless of who built the barrel. It would have been a hindrance with iron sights, and I'd guess it might have been cut down later when it got scoped, where barrel length might not be a concern.
Barrel crowns were very common on most older maker's barrels, whether it was Pope or factory barrels. Blued crowns on older barrels tell me they were reblued, and whoever did the work didn't remove the bluing to keep the crown looking correct.
The lever adapter looks like someone tried to copy a Pope, but does not look like those I've seen on Pope guns, or those he offered.
Can't comment on the extra dovetail, but on a short barrel, that placement for a sight would further hinder the sighting radius. It may be another indication the barrel was once longer, IF that was for a rear sight.

waterman wrote on Sep 19^th, 2016 at 11:46am:

You're right, it won't stabilize the heavier bullets - yes, I tried it (std velocity). The std loading in the 22 Longs is a 29-grn bullet and they shoot well, but have not determined if std or high velocity is a factor - yet.

Right now I am limited due to availability, but continue to try & scrounge a dozen rounds or so from friends so I can she what she likes!

The OP said the rifle had scope blocks.  If a scope was used, barrel length & sight radius would not matter.  Maybe that is when (or if) it was shortened.

If I read the code correctly, HMP made the barrel in 1911.  This is the same time period that Dr. Mann was active.  The Bullet's Flight came out in 1909.  Maybe the original purchaser read that & decided on a shorter barrel.

The Dunn site shows Peters Longs loaded with semi-smokeless as available in 1911.  If match-grade longs were loaded, that was it.  I did not look at Remington, but it looks like Winchester Longs loaded with Lesmok did not appear until 1914.  At least that is what the box labels, etc. tell us.

I would still shoot it with CCI Target Shorts and call it good.

Had one of these, dated about 1909.  Shooting shorts indoors was popular as the long rifles were dirty and the ranges had little ventilation, so for 50' or 75', shorts were fine.

There was .22 short match ammo made for pistols in an Olympic Rapidfire event where very little recoil was desirable.  This event was changed and shorts no longer needed.

I would try the target talk website and see if you can find some of the .22 short match.  Shooting .22lr, if they will chamber, will produce some of the ugliest results imaginable at 50 yards.

Good luck.