Anybody here ever play with a .22Maximum Lovell? Got dies? (R-2 Lovell dies came with the rifle, but they won't work, even to cobble together some rounds to make it 'go bang'.

CH-4 lists them, but are waaay out on deliveries. The other usual suspects don't even list them.

The only data I have is in Landis' book on .22 wildcats, and I'm leery of using 70 year old data.

quote:

Originally posted by gnoahhh:
Anybody here ever play with a .22Maximum Lovell? Got dies? (R-2 Lovell dies came with the rifle, but they won't work, even to cobble together some rounds to make it 'go bang'.

CH-4 lists them, but are waaay out on deliveries. The other usual suspects don't even list them.

The only data I have is in Landis' book on .22 wildcats, and I'm leery of using 70 year old data.

Might be time for a chamber cast...

Why do you think the R-2 Dies will not work?

You should be able to form cases that can be fire formed in the Maximum chamber. Just for so that the rifle closes with some contact on the formed case. The shoulder angle will not be an exact match but fire forming will blow the shoulder out.
Then you could seat bullets in a 221 Fireball die until you get dies specific to your chamber.

Are you interested in selling your dies?

hard to believe but a fact that Lee will make you a set of custom dies for less than anyone. So will Redding and RCBS.

There also might be a Redding neck sizing bushing die that will work. I have a 22-06 (yes twenty two)
I use a 25-06 die body with the proper bushing for the 22-06 neck. Works perfectly.

Assume the cartridge is also built on the 25-20 single shot case, so it headspaces on the rim ?

Radical idea and cheap. Get a set of of used 219 zipper dies and whack off enough from the bottom to let the 25-20 SS case to fit in and neck down. Then fireform them and you're set. The Zipper seating die might also work if shortened.

You may need a non-expanding expander nipple (like a 17 caliber) as I imagine the 2R brass is thinner than Zipper.

I loaded my 400 Whelen for 6 months with a 3 die set of 41 Remington Lee dies while waiting for my custom Reddings. Worked just great and shot 1 MOA with them as it does with the gold plated (costwise) Reddings.

When you deal in oddballs, you have to be creative.

Good shooting !

I have quite a bit of 22-3000 brass formed to 2R Lovell along with dies. I might be talked out of them.