.220 Swift?
- Thread starter NAA
- Start date
People used to use .220 Swift because it was the fastest .22 available. It no longer wears that crown, the Winchester super duper ultra short magnum will beat the Swift's velocity. The old Swift is still useful, but there is little need to chamber a new rifle in that calibre. A .22 - 250 will nearly match the Swift and uses a more practical (.308 based) case. Moreover, a plain vanilla .243 will beat the Swift in all respects if the same bullet weight is used in both. If I found a Swift that was a good deal, I would not hesitate to jump on it, but if I deliberately set about to build or buy a high velocity small bore, it would not be chambered for the venerable Swift.
Sharptail
Sharptail
good cartridge for a 1-9 twist tube...
in these days of range finders and MOA turrets its laser flat trajectory inside 350 yards isnt as big of an advantage as it once was. In terms of wind drift, a heavier 6mm bullet will do better in the wind. Still, it's a pretty cool old cartridge
in these days of range finders and MOA turrets its laser flat trajectory inside 350 yards isnt as big of an advantage as it once was. In terms of wind drift, a heavier 6mm bullet will do better in the wind. Still, it's a pretty cool old cartridge
I went with the 223 cuz easy to get and cheap to shoot. No recoil either. Me too for the available deal too. Right deal I would have one too. Then I could play with both. And a perfect excuse to have another 22. "No honey, this one is a 223 and that one is a 22 swift-different guns altogether...."
Maybe the factory loadings are a tiny bit faster, but the 223WSSM is loaded to the nuts, and Factory Swift loads are watered considerably, with the exception of Norma's loadings. Loaded to equal pressures, the Swift is just as fast as the newcomer, if not a bit faster. In our area, the WSSM's are headed for obsolescence at a pace the Swift never dreamed of. The 22-250 is about 150-200FPS slower with any bullet in the 50-60 grain area, and as bullet weight increases, the Swift's advantage increases. And sure, the 243 and 6mm Remington will beat the Swift with 55 grain pills, but few 243's shoot them exceptionally well, whereas the 10 or so Swifts I have owned were amazingly accurate with this weight. If you are getting the idea that I like the Swift, you are right! Once you own one, and see what it will do to coyotes at 500 yards, and small varmints even farther away, you will be hooked forever. Regards, Eagleye.
FWIW, I presently have 2 Swifts. One is an older tang safety Ruger 77V. Residing on it is a 6.5-20AO Leupold with target turrets and the CPC reticule. The other is a Remington 40X with a 6.5-20 with the Varmint hunter reticule and 30mm tube with target turrets and side focus adjustments. These rifles are wonderfully accurate, with the 77V only giving up a few thousandths in 5-shot group sizes at 100 meters. The 40X wrings a bit more velocity with it's longer barrel, but 4100 with the 50 grain Ballistic Tip is attainable with the Ruger and 4170 with the 40X. The 55's make 3985 and 4050, respectively. Brass life is good and I trim every 5 loadings. Best group so far with the 40X is a scant .080" at 100, but it actually averages around .39" the Ruger is an honest ½" rifle. What they do to a crow is just amazing!! I took the Ruger gopher hunting in the flatlands a couple of years ago. The 50 Ballistic Tip is so explosive out to 300 or so that a group of these little rodents standing together often would have several casualties, even though only one was actually hit directly by the bullet. Yes, Make mine the 220 Swift, still the king of varmint chamberings, IMHO. BTW, Marcus, don't let the "short barrel life" snivelers discourage you from buying a Swift. My First Ruger 77V took 3100 rounds before it would no longer shoot MOA. That's a lot of shooting! Regards, Eagleye.
I've got a modified Rem 700 Vs SF in 220 Swift and will never part with it! This rifle can do anything I ask of it out to so far 375 yards. I shoot the 55 grain BT and combine tech 55 grain next year and this pill has made some incredible upset on dirtpigs up to 20 pounds. This is the only rifle I own where I can watch a ground hawg come apart on impact at 100 yards through the scope. It is a very well behaved and balanced rig that meets all my requirements. I love the swift! If I was doing any real heavy volume shooting with great number of rounds I would certainly consider a 223 or even a 22-250 just for ammo availability and cost......But I don't shoot that many rounds so I'm stuck on the 220 Swift
I had all the varmit rounds back when I was into varmit hunting. The 223 will do for 90% of your needs but if you want to see crow dust and purple haze get yourself a swift. The 22-250 is very close but in my experience the swift is more accurate and has slightly more performance, plus it's way cooler.
I thought the 22-250 was based on the 250-3000 savage?
I stand corrected, thank you. It is the .308 which was based on the .300 Savage that I was thinking of, and the .22-250, .308 and .300 Savage all have the same rim diameter. Sorry.
Sharptail
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
Just to really nitpick, the .250-3000 was based on a much-modified .30-06 case. So I guess they're all based on the .30-06. Okay, that's quite a stretch.
The .220 Swift wouldn't be my choice for a .22 centrefire; it will do very little the .22-250 won't, with more muzzle blast and noise and it can be a barrel burner depending on how hot it's loaded.
On the other hand, it has immense "cool factor" for those who fancy such rounds. My bottom line? If you want one "just because", go for it. If you want to choose something based entirely on logic and practicality, it may not be the best choice.
The .220 Swift wouldn't be my choice for a .22 centrefire; it will do very little the .22-250 won't, with more muzzle blast and noise and it can be a barrel burner depending on how hot it's loaded.
On the other hand, it has immense "cool factor" for those who fancy such rounds. My bottom line? If you want one "just because", go for it. If you want to choose something based entirely on logic and practicality, it may not be the best choice.
Your telling me that the muzzle blast from a 220 swift is all that much more than at 22-250???? PLEASE!
As for barrel burner comment....I don't think that a Swift will burn out a barrel that much faster than the 22-250....way back when there was a small choice of powder available for the swift and poor steel quality in barrels is when that story started...since then there have been major advancements. besides.....the Swift has history and a cool story.....and yes makes solids into liquid mist nicely. 22-250...na nothing there for me other than cheap ammo
As for barrel burner comment....I don't think that a Swift will burn out a barrel that much faster than the 22-250....way back when there was a small choice of powder available for the swift and poor steel quality in barrels is when that story started...since then there have been major advancements. besides.....the Swift has history and a cool story.....and yes makes solids into liquid mist nicely. 22-250...na nothing there for me other than cheap ammo
What does that have to do with anything? Whats illogic, or impractical about the 220 swift other than your lack of knowledge on the round, or its capabilities?
The 220 swift is to the 22-250 what the 22-250 is to the 223.
Muzzleblast? Have you ever shot a 243 with 55's or 70's? Barrel burner?
Winchester makes 22-250 whitebox ammo that surpasses 4000fps...
Wooh, the swift is way, way faster.
Listen to this guy, he actually knows what he's talking about. Some good info Eagleye!!
223 wssssm is definetly a dead or close to it.
