Hey guys

This is my first post on the board. Great site and info!!

So I have a tough one. My local smith has a Hi-wall from a customer. The guy bought it and there's no caliber or cartridge stamp on the barrel. He did a chamber casting but I think it's gonna find it's way to Huntington. We can't tell what it is.

Here's the spec. near as I can measure. Rimmed case.

.228 caliber.
~ 2.75 oal
~ .465 head dia.
~ .264 neck dia.
~ .363 neck len.
~ .446 shoulder
~ 1.861 body len.

I have a "Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions" and we're still stumped.

Thanks

Rich

Don't know what it is, but with a .228 caliber and a .264 neck diameter, it must be using cardboard as a bullet patch!! :eek:

Sounds like an odd cartridge indeed. Compared to the only .228 cartridge most shooters would know of, it's very odd when you compare the measurements of the two. Here's a drawing of a .22 Hi-power for comparison.

Looks like a souped up .22 Savage High Power or some forgotten European round. The .220 Swift's neck is .260", so it's not completely off scale, like the 5.6x57 RWS with it's .280" neck. Base diameter is a bit much for a .30-40 Krag or a .303 British, but you could center the case with mapping tape for the first firing. That's an old .303 trick, good for .008". .405 Winchester brass is closer, and Hornady is making it now. Cartridges of the World says .461", but an old WRA headstamped case is only .458". AFAIK, the only other case with that sized base is the .38-72 Winchester, and the one I've got goes .460".

Hornady is still making the .227 70 grain Spire Point, so bullets aren't a problem, unless the barrel has a slow twist.

Bye
Jack

Shootz,

I assume that it is a rimless cart as you don't give a rim diameter. With that head diameter, you can make cases from 30-06 brass as factory cases run .462-.464". Just take a mike or caliper with you when you buy to make sure yours are that small.

As for neck diameter, assuming that is the OD, then you are right on target, as formed brass will have a neck thickness near .016". Adding .032" and .228", you have .o6o", so hte neck has .002" radial clearance... more than you'd like for best accuracy, but you'll not have to turn necks for a loooong time :-)

I haven't looked in COTW, but you might find clues there. you didn't give dimensions from the base to the shoullder and fron the base to the start of the neck; these are important for discovering what you have. The body taper is not quite enough for it to be an Ackley improved, but it is somewhat "improved. It should be a good performer if you find the 70 gr bullets useful. you know how to check twist rate, I suppose?

Anyway, If I had that rifle, I'f fireform a couple of cases from -06-sized brass and send them to Lee for custom collet dies; only $50, and just shoot it. Uh-oh, I just looked at the "OAL"... is that the case length, not the loaded cartridge length? If so, you'll have to find 30-06 basic brass and trim it to length, or find a Eu cart. that has a 69mm length. Fireforming can reduce the case length by as much a .030", so starting with brass trimmed to absolute max length that will chamber is best. Wish you lived in E TN; I'd be happy to help you get her shootin'.

Hope this helps. You might want to post those two other dimensions I mentioned to help identify what you have. Think up a good name for it :-)

Cheers/buffler

He says it's a rimmed case, and an old Hi-wall isn't the best candiadate for a rimless cartridge. I'd assume it's an old one, with the .228" bore. Interesting puzzle :confused:

Bye
Jack

Thanks guys and sorry it's a rimmed case.

A steel caliper gave a bit better results than my plastic dial job. The chamber casting is a bit sloppy around the rim.

The neck dia. may be .260 + or -.
Base to shoulder is 1.861.

We didn't check a 405 or 38-72.

Thanks

Rich