doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com 22-3000 LOVELL RECHAMBER

I am thinking of buying a G&H 1922 M1 SPRINGFIELD CUSTOM chambered in R2 LOVELL 22-3000. Can you tell me from experience or otherwise, what small varmint round this rifle can be rechambered to, GIVEN THE M1 BARREL TWIST, BOLT FACE ETC.? I don't reload, don't have the time to, and want to be able to shoot it. So unless someone here, has a large stash of 22-3000 ammo they want to part with reasonably, rechambering seems the way to go!

TIA

Can you use factory 22-250?

The .22-3000 conversion was one G&H performed on the Model 70 .22 Hornet. When the .222 Remington appeared ono the scene, they converted the Hornet to that cartridge. It's not a difficult conversion. I have one converted that way.

A .22-3000 chamber should clean up to .222 with no problem.

The .22-3000 is a wildcat based on the .25-20 Single Shot cartridge, a far cry from the .22-.250.

It would be a real shame to lose that chamber.If you don't want to handload, maybe you should just give the rifle to a friend that does handload.
Mike

To me, a G&H conversion of a 1922 Springfield chambered for the R2 cartridge is a classic, something that cannot be replaced. Nor can it be readily reproduced.

The 1922 Springfield action was designed for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. It does not have forward locking lugs. What would have been the safety lug on the regular 1903 bolt is the only locking lug and it is asymmetrical. The R2 is probably pushing that design about as far as a prudent person might want to go.

The barrel was originally a .22 rimfire, with a 16" twist. It probably has a bore tighter than those of modern .22 centerfires. The light & small diameter bullets for the Hornet can usually be found, but getting ammunition put together is a 100 % custom job, with attendant cost. The parent case is more or less available, depending on demand. The new production .25-20 Single Shot basic brass is produced to modern standards, but IIRC, the R2 requires a special set of case forming dies, annealing the basic case, and maybe fire-forming. Dies are available. All that is required is time, patience & $$.

Ken Waters wrote an article about the 22/3000, the R2 and the Maximum Lovell that can be found in his Pet Loads book.

What Der Ami & Waterman said plus these thoughts:

If the rifle is set up to feed the .22-3000 Lovell from the magazine getting it to feed the .222 Remington reliably may not be an easy task.

As Waterman said, a factory loaded .222 Remington is probably exceeding the safety of the 1922 M1 & M2 design. I've seen lots of G&H conversions of M70 Hornets to .222 Remington but I can't recall seeing any G&H conversions of M1 or M2 1922 Springfield rifles to .222 Remington although G&H used to advertise that the conversion was available for "suitable rifles".

You could rechamber to .222 Remington & reduce the load for lower pressure but you would still be handloading so what is the point. Proper dies & bullets for the .22- 3000 are available & if you look hard enough you can still find new G&H .22-3000 cases for sale.

Rechambering that gun to .222 Remington because you don't want to reload is like replacing the V12 engine in a vintage Ferrari with a Ford V8 because you don't want to deal with the expense of maintaining a Ferrari V12. At least in the case of the Ferrari it would be easier to reverse the alteration.

I believe the proper bullet would be the .222" dia bullet intended for the Jet, this bullet is is avaliable as stated above. I didn't check, will the bolt face ror the rimmed 22-3000 fit the 222 Rem?

What the others have said. Please do not alter the rifle. About the only cartridge that would even come close to working would be the .222 or 223 rem. The .222 is nearly obsolete, and it is going to be hard to find a factory loading in .223 that will have a bullet that will stabilize in the slow twist of the 1922 barrel. Not to mention the .222 and .223 will have .224 bullets and you have a .223 bore. Also, the action was just not designed for the pressure and bolt thrust that either will produce.

G&H and others made many .22 Hornets on the 1922 which shoot fine with today's Hornet ammo. My suggestion would be to pass over the 22-3000 and find one in .22 Hornet and enjoy it. Let someone who enjoys loading for the old cartridges have the Lovell.

John

I finally checked and the 22-3000 rim is slightly smaller than 222, so that wouldn't be a problem.I'm still not in favor of the conversion, even though I understand it is none of my business, except we were asked for our opinions.
Mike