Walked into the local gunshop and

[Norm99]

this followed me home:
22HP, 20" barrel, takedown and all, isn't she a little beauty?

 

[blargon]

Sweet little rifle there Norm!

 

[Greens_11]

Looks very nice enjoy her.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Not nice to brag Norm! Sweet little rifle.

 

[1899]

That is a fine little rifle! Congrats on the nice find.

 

[Curt]

Nice piece of wood on that one. I like the tang sight too! What is 22HP, like a .222?

 

[ceb]

That is one pretty rifle. Great find !!

 

[saskcop]

Beautiful rifle. What a piece of history. Many an animal was taken in my hunting area in north east SK years ago with rifles such as that - back before the days of ridiculous hunting reg's. The 22hp was treasured here along with the 250-3000 for their under-rated killing power and how very little meat was wasted. That is one nice Savage.

 

[1899]

Nice piece of wood on that one. I like the tang sight too! What is 22HP, like a .222?

It is based on the 25-35 and is also known as the 5.6x52R in Europe, where it is popular in combination guns. It uses a .228" bullet, iirc.

Norma still loads it - 71gr bullet at 2789fps:

http://www.norma.cc/sortimentjakt.asp?Kaliber=4&Lang=2&Kalibernamn=5,6x52R

 

[Budweiser2]

That's SWEET ! Great looking gun .

 

[Win 38-55]

Whoa! You hit the jackpot with that one. Beautiful wood.

 

[kayceel]

.22HP Savage

I think you can probably find some S & B cartridges for it as well. I believe our local shop here in Dauphin may even have some on hand. Kayceel

 

[StevieK]

nice find...if you don't mind me asking, what was the ballpark figure that you paid for that bad boy???

 

[sunray]

"...like a .222..." Nope. Have a look at the two cases here. http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm
Epp's lists ammo. Won't be cheap though. Uses a .227" or .228" bullet. Hornady makes a 70 grain SP .227" bullet. Don't think any other bullet maker makes either diameter.

 

[buckbrush]

very nice condition. Most 22hp 99's you see are really well used, evidence of how useful they are in the bush.

 

[1899]

"...like a .222..." Nope. Have a look at the two cases here. http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm
Epp's lists ammo. Won't be cheap though. Uses a .227" or .228" bullet. Hornady makes a 70 grain SP .227" bullet. Don't think any other bullet maker makes either diameter.

RWS also makes a 71gr soft point.

 

[a j cave]

The one I had looked a lot more "used" then that! Nice wood- good find. The only elk my dad ever shot was with a HP of the buck board. Again congrats.

 

[NAA]

Looks like really cool wood on your new to you 99...

NAA.

 

[Rotorwing_Savior]

I've got a 99C in .22HP, not quite as pretty as that, and without that rear sight.
I've never shot it, as I was told it has headspace issues. Interesting though. Any ammo around?

 

[1899]

Any ammo around?

As per previous posts:
RWS 71gr; Norma 71gr; and Sellier & Bellot 70gr


From the Norma website:

5,6x52R (22 Savage HP)
In the US this cartridge became essentially obsolete by about 1930; however, European chambering and ammunition production continues. In Europe, it is still quite a popular chambering in drillings and other combination guns used for small game hunting. Charles Newton originally designed the "Imp" in 1912, for chambering in the Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle. He created this number by simply necking the 25-35 WCF down to accept 0.228-inch bullets.

We can suggest two reasons that this American-designed number has survived in Europe. First, roe deer, fox, black grouse and capercailzie are some of the most commonly hunted species in Europe and this chambering is perfectly adequate for use on these species. Second, while rarely used in the US, breach-break combination guns are common in Europe and, with loads at moderate pressure and a rimmed case, this was the only suitable commercial 22-caliber cartridge available for these guns.

For the moment only Hornady offers bullets for this cartridge. Norma does offer loaded ammunition with 70-grain bullets in both soft point and full metal jacket.