I've got my new Rem VS SF in 220 Swift and have mounted a Leupold VXII 6-18x40 LRV duplex in meduim Burris Signature rings. Seems like a good start for this varmint rig project. I also picked up a S/S Timney trigger which is being installed by my gunsmith with a speedlock firing pin. I'm wondering if I should be considering trueing the action or skim bedding the action in the HS stock? Accuracy seems to be inside MOA now when tossing some hand loads down range to zero the scope, but no real load development yet with the 55 Nosler BT's. I'm planning on using this as my primary ground hawg rifle which will need to be able to go 500 yards in a pinch. I am certainly going to find a way to ensure the reticle is square and true. Any one know of better brass for the 220 Swift other than Remington?
220 Swift VSSF project
- Thread starter Chilly Willy
- Start date
Well the Timney is in and adjusted down, the new shroud and firing pin has been installed. The smith has gone over it with a fine tooth comb. Before all this was done the VS SF shot well inside MOA...actually 1/2" groups @ 200 of the caldwell Lead Sled. Can't wait to do the fine tuning on the hand loads and get this machine dialed with the Leupold VXII 6-18x40 A/O LRV reticle out to 500 yards. I'm expecting to be able to feed the needle out to 300 easy on a good rest.
I agree with cynik. I have very good success with un bedded rem 700s in original HS precision Stock.
as for brass did you try Lapua? Federal? etc...
If no Lapua brass available you might consider segregating by weight.
It's tedious but worthwhile
buy a good amount of brass of same lot (important)
segregate them by 2 grains.
say you get 3 bags of 100
for ex. they might be around 140 gr
weigh them all and keep the 138-140 together
same for 140-142 and 142-144 etc...
normaly they should not vary more than 6 grain total
also do primer pocket reaming/uniformizing and flash hole deburing.
fired brass (in your rifle) is a must before you do test loads.
If you can't do 1/4 to 1/2 MOA groups then you can try a stoney point gage and tune the OAL to be near riflings (.005 min) or try different set-ups:
.005 .010 .015 and .020 Be careful not to do too much of quick firing especialy if you're real close to throat as this increases pressures but also temperature at the throat. you can burn a bbl in less than 100 rds that way.
If you find you need to get very long OAL then you're at the std rem 700 throat offering. At this point a re-chambering to shorter throat might be necessary.
I doubt you will get to that. My rem 700P in 22-250 was doing 5 shot 3/8 inch groups at 100 yds with the reloading technique described. I now have a 260 rem gaillard bull barrel on it for F-Class (8 inch twist, the rem700 comes with a slower twist)
Good choice with the Signature rings. use the pos-align inserts to zero the scope with inner tube centered (as much as possible) fine tuning will only need a few MOA E & W.
Good chuck huntin'
as for brass did you try Lapua? Federal? etc...
If no Lapua brass available you might consider segregating by weight.
It's tedious but worthwhile
buy a good amount of brass of same lot (important)
segregate them by 2 grains.
say you get 3 bags of 100
for ex. they might be around 140 gr
weigh them all and keep the 138-140 together
same for 140-142 and 142-144 etc...
normaly they should not vary more than 6 grain total
also do primer pocket reaming/uniformizing and flash hole deburing.
fired brass (in your rifle) is a must before you do test loads.
If you can't do 1/4 to 1/2 MOA groups then you can try a stoney point gage and tune the OAL to be near riflings (.005 min) or try different set-ups:
.005 .010 .015 and .020 Be careful not to do too much of quick firing especialy if you're real close to throat as this increases pressures but also temperature at the throat. you can burn a bbl in less than 100 rds that way.
If you find you need to get very long OAL then you're at the std rem 700 throat offering. At this point a re-chambering to shorter throat might be necessary.
I doubt you will get to that. My rem 700P in 22-250 was doing 5 shot 3/8 inch groups at 100 yds with the reloading technique described. I now have a 260 rem gaillard bull barrel on it for F-Class (8 inch twist, the rem700 comes with a slower twist)
Good choice with the Signature rings. use the pos-align inserts to zero the scope with inner tube centered (as much as possible) fine tuning will only need a few MOA E & W.
Good chuck huntin'
