This is my grandfather's 22 Lovell R-2 loading setup. This stuff came with a Winchester 1885 Hiwall and 10x Fecker scope he bought after getting out of the Navy after WWII. I am lucky to have the gun, scope, gear, and a some of the 25-20 single shot cases made into 22 Lovell R-2. I have not fired the gun much because it weighs a ton, and is only feasible to shoot from a bench or a rest of some sort. In the picture are the letters written between grandpa and the previous owner, and he included a lot of instructions about using the hand (powered) loading tools. Grandpa passed in 1989, and I ended up with the gun and trappings after my grandmother passed in 2005. Neat story - I wondered how grandpa bought a gun for sale many states away. He was in Illinois, and the last owner was from Oklahoma. He was a lifetime member of the NRA, and I realized he probably got American Rifleman every month, like I do now. I found the ad for this gun and equipment in the March 1946 copy of American Rifleman. It was not easy because there were a lot of Lovell Hiwalls for sale, but I knew the last owners name from the letters!
The powder measure and scale are still set to 15.5 grains, as this was the only cartridge he hand loaded. I shot the gun with his loaded ammo from goodness knows how long ago. Must have been more than 60 years old! I still have a batch of primed brass that have domed primers, and that was how the fully loaded stuff was too. Still went bang after all this time.
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