.22 Savage High Power
(22 High Power)
Historical Notes:
Designed by Charles Newton and introduced as a commercial cartridge by Savage
Arms Co. in their Model 99 lever action rifle about 1912. The cartridge was
first called the "Imp". In the United States only Savage produced a commercial
rifle in this caliber, although a great many custom rifles were made for
it. In England the BSA Martini single shot was chambered for it about 1912.
In Europe it is known as the 5.62x52Rmm and has been chambered in various
drillings or combination rifle and shotgun arms. The 22 Savage is based on
the 25-35 case necked down. It has been obsolete since the 1930's. Norma
still manufactures ammunition in this caliber.
General Comments:
The 22 Savage High Power enjoyed considerable popularity through the early
1900's. Unfortunately, like some later high velocity 22's, it did not prove
very accurate in some lever action rifles chambered for it. The bullets then
available may have held some share of the blame. It was originally advertised
as a small game and deer cartridge, but it quickly proved to be rather
undependable for the latter. Nonetheless, the 22 Savage High Power was used
in Africa and Asia on such unlikely beasts as lion and tiger, with some glowing
reports on effectiveness. It is a perfectly adequate small game and varmint
cartridge, but no big game number by any standard. It has been rendered obsolete
by new and much improved modern cartridges such as the
222 Remington.
For single shot rifles, most modern shooters prefer the
225 Winchester
because of the availability of ammunition and cases, plus the fact that the
225 uses standard .224" diameter bullets, as opposed to the .228" bullets
of the 22 Savage.
Source: Cartridges of the World
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