doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Krag sporting rifle for sale

RD: I'm going to polish my crystal ball so I can see what I am going to miss.

Michael: I will try an get some pic's posted, it may take a little while. The Ballard action has all the high pressure modification and locks up like a bank vault.

Jxsn: I would like a copy of the scans. I have dies for the R2 version, aquired before discovering that this chamber was the original.

I ran across some 22Lovell cases at an auction last year but was
out bid.
pres

Thanks for correcting my type o
Rich

Years ago I had a Winchester HiWall w/ pistol grip buttstock and bull barrel, in R2 Lovell, built by Gerry Gebby. Foolishly sold it. If any of you out there currently own it...

Pres, there is a body of opinion, I am a member, that thinks a Ballard is on the weak side for the Lovell wildcat - even if Hervey Lovell made it. This would especially be so with some of the super loads the early wildcatters used in that cartridge.

Mark brings up a very good point, I think at a later date we need to start a thread on this subject. I believe that the information will surprise a lot of folks.

There is a very informative article in the February 1938 edition of The American Rifleman on the improvements to the original 22 Lovell. In "The Dope Bag," F. C. Ness discussed attempts by several gunsmiths to modify what was otherwise considered an "almost ideal" cartridge, in order to increase its powder capacity. The justification for doing so was explained as being to increase efficiency in loading powder into the case as much as it was to increase its ballistics. There is a picture in the article that shows eight versions of the original and improved 22 Lovell cartridge cases. Three are by Hervey Lovell, one by Adolph Neidner, one by B. L. Smith, one by Charles Johnson, and two by M. S. Risley.

The two cartridge cases by Risley in the picture show both his first improvement and the second (2-R) version. The cartridge cases are very similar, except that in the second version, the shoulder is moved slightly forward to gain about 1/2 ounce of powder capacity. Harvey Donaldson is given credit for the design. Also implied in the discussion is that the "R" in 2-R stands for Risley.

Very interesting article, if you are curious about the origins of what most people call the R2 Lovell.

Ken Waters also published a fairly comprehensive description of the evolution of the 22 Lovell in one of his "Pet Loads" columns, including detailed measurements for the Maximum Lovell, which has a much shorter neck and more abrupt shoulder than the R2. He also made it a point to say that he would not attempt to duplicate some of the excessive R2 loads used in the nineteen thirties and forties in his low wall test rifle.

Michael: I never have been able to figure out why Griffin & Howe marketed R2 brass with the 22-3000 head stamp. All the virgin G&H brass I have seen is for the R2. Have you seen any examples of virgin 22-3000 brass that is intended for the 22-3000?

Yes, I have owned two boxes of them. All that I have now have been fired many times so no use posting a picture. I have given up on the G&H brass except for light loads. I have also used up all the J.B. Smith headstamped brass. I might also suggest for you reading pleasure a little booklet that was published in Canada. "The 22-3000 Lovell Cartridge" by B.L. Smith 1936.

Thanks...B. L. Smith and I are already acquainted.

I have enjoyed reading this thread and will continue to do so. I imagine you are all aware of it but in case not, Buffalo Arms has loaded R2 ammo, at $6/round, brass @ $3.