.22 Savage Load Data

The .22 Savage Hi-Power, first introduced in 1912 by Savage Arms, is a classic cartridge that holds a unique place in the lineage of American rimless centerfire rounds. Designed by Charles Newton, the cartridge was initially created for Savage’s Model 99 lever-action rifle. Its introduction marked a significant step forward in cartridge design, featuring a bottlenecked case that allowed for higher velocities than most contemporaries. The .22 Savage Hi-Power was initially promoted as a high-velocity, flat-shooting option for hunters looking for improved performance over the popular .22 Hornet and .25-20 Winchester. At the time of its launch, it was one of the fastest commercial cartridges available, quickly gaining a reputation among hunters and shooting enthusiasts in both the United States and Europe.

The applications of the .22 Savage Hi-Power center largely around small- to medium-game hunting, especially in the early 20th century. Hunters appreciated its high velocity and relatively flat trajectory, which made it ideal for species that required precise shot placement at modest ranges. In North America, the cartridge became a favorite for hunting varmints like groundhogs, coyotes, and foxes. Across the Atlantic, it gained notable popularity among British sportsmen, who found it suitable for deer species such as roe and muntjac. While some historic marketing claimed the Hi-Power’s prowess even for larger game like tigers and leopards in colonial India, experience soon relegated it to more appropriate, lighter targets. Today, the .22 Savage Hi-Power persists mainly in the hands of collectors and reloaders who value its heritage and unique performance niche.

For reloaders, the .22 Savage Hi-Power offers intriguing possibilities, especially for those interested in legacy cartridges and the guns chambered for them. The cartridge’s rimless, bottleneck design allows for efficient feeding in lever-action platforms, and its relatively small-caliber bullet in a roomy case means that careful handloading can yield impressive results in both velocity and accuracy. Originally, factory ammunition featured a 70-grain soft-point bullet, typically achieving a muzzle velocity of around 2,800 fps—though actual performance varies depending on barrel length and loading practices. Modern reloading practices often utilize bullets in the 60- to 71-grain range, taking advantage of newer bullet designs that offer better terminal performance and accuracy. The .22 Savage Hi-Power’s bore diameter is nominally .227 inch, a subtle but important difference from the more common .224-inch bullets found in other .22 centerfire calibers, so proper bullet selection is critical for both safety and performance.

In terms of characteristics, the cartridge’s moderate recoil, flat trajectory, and respectable downrange energy have kept it relevant for shooters who appreciate vintage firearms. Reloaders value the .22 Savage Hi-Power for its historical significance and the satisfaction of squeezing modern performance from a classic round. Case life can be excellent with proper resizing, and the cartridge’s unique dimensions mean brass must often be formed from other cases, adding a bit of challenge and reward for dedicated hobbyists. Overall, the .22 Savage Hi-Power offers a blend of history, performance, and reloading satisfaction, making it a worthwhile pursuit for enthusiasts of classic American and British sporting ammunition.