220 swift ???

6.5x55swm

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l have a chance to make a trade for a Remington 700 Classic 1992 in 220 swift, i am using a weatherby vanguard .223 as a coyote rifle now and can hit any yote out to 300 yds, a 220 swift should be good out to 500yds?? what is out there for factory ammo?
 
Factory ammo is pretty much nill.
It will have a slow 1/14 twist so you will have to be happy with 55gr bullets as the heaviest, it may shoot some of the shorter 60gr bullets ok, but that will be trial and error.
55gr bullets should be fine out to 500m on yotes either way.
 
I have a LH rem 700 sps varmint that I slapped a factory stainless fluted heavy rem 700 barrel in 220 swift on, then dropped into an old bdl stock. I load 52gr berger FB varmints and 50gr vmax I have a couple comfirmed hits at 1000 yards with it on steel (that was just for fun). But have dropped coyotes past 300 yards easily. My 50gr vmax load is 37gr Varnet and its running @3850fps. Your only down side is that brass is expensive and brass doesn't last long. Its a slightly rimmed cartridge, so you end up trimming brass every damn time you load it... when I re barrel, ill simply be going to a 22-250 AI just to save on brass!
 
l have a chance to make a trade for a Remington 700 Classic 1992 in 220 swift, i am using a weatherby vanguard .223 as a coyote rifle now and can hit any yote out to 300 yds, a 220 swift should be good out to 500yds?? what is out there for factory ammo?

Factory ammo is available. Wolverine Supplies has it.

Mine is a pre-64 M70 Winchester. . Stocked up with ammo and have a ton of brass. Reloading is easy and economical. I'd suggest a rifle with a stainless barrel if you wish to shoot full power loads.
 
the 220 Swift is a dying cartridge, I would pass. Hard to find ammo, there's better choices for long range predator work
 
I have a LH rem 700 sps varmint that I slapped a factory stainless fluted heavy rem 700 barrel in 220 swift on, then dropped into an old bdl stock. I load 52gr berger FB varmints and 50gr vmax I have a couple comfirmed hits at 1000 yards with it on steel (that was just for fun). But have dropped coyotes past 300 yards easily. My 50gr vmax load is 37gr Varnet and its running @3850fps. Your only down side is that brass is expensive and brass doesn't last long. Its a slightly rimmed cartridge, so you end up trimming brass every damn time you load it... when I re barrel, ill simply be going to a 22-250 AI just to save on brass!

Swift at less than 22-250 speeds seems like an exercise in futility?
 
If you reload and drop your speed down to 22-250 speeds barrel life and brass will live for a long time ....or if you do like me and load hot well new barrel and brass after that ...my reloads are up at 4400 fps ......sorry my load my liability..not to be a goof or retard about it ...I love my swift .....love it when there out running like hell at 300 to 500...meters and you can still pick them off ...lmao...cheers long live the swift!!!
 
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The .220 Swift is for the nostalgia people. Like why i hunt with a .250-3000 ,38-55 + 44-40.Cuz in the right hands they still work and it makes me feel fuzzy.
 
The difference between the Swift and other "nostalgia" cartridges is that the performance still rivals and surpasses many of the new cartridges. I love the Swift and have owned several. Brass is still produced and easily found... if I were not a reloader I would pass and use a .22/250, but for the reloader it is still a great choice. My current Swift is an M77 Mark II Sporter with 24" barrel and it is half MOA consistently, with 55 VM bullets and 44.0 grains of W760.
 
The .220 Swift is for the nostalgia people. Like why i hunt with a .250-3000 ,38-55 + 44-40.Cuz in the right hands they still work and it makes me feel fuzzy.

and that is as good of a reason to use one as I can think of! The 220 Swift is romantic, like the 375 H&H
 
I remember reading that according to the Elk culling records at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, that the 220 Swift was the best Elk Gun.
 
I have long been one of those guys who loves the 220 Swift. If you are limited to factory ammo, forget the Swift.
Most factory offerings are anemic, and as has been observed, some are slower than equivalent 22-250 loadings.

However, for the reloader, equipped with a 26" barrelled Swift, It is a superior chambering.
You will always have those who spout warnings about barrel life, but properly cared for, and not shot until the barrel
is so hot you cannot hold it, the Swift will deliver 2500-3000 accurate rounds before the throat is completely shot out.

I always load my Swifts to their potential. This means 4000+ fps with 50-52 grain bullets, and 3900+ with the 55's
Powders that shine are: IMR 4064, IMR 4895, H380, VV N140 & N540, Varget, Ramshot TAC, Reloder 15, etc.

If your heart is set on a Swift, and you do reload.....go for it!! Regards, Dave.
 
Factory ammo shooters should go 22/250. For the hand loader the swift is pretty cool. Crazy stuff happens to varmits when bullets are going over 4000 FPS.
 
The 220 swift is one hell of a cartridge! Really wish I didn't sell mine. Have wanted to get another in a Remington 700 VSSF since I sold it, everytime I see one for sale the extra funds aren't there. One of these days I'll get another one.

Shot a skunk at 125 yards with it once loaded with a hot 52gr HP at north of 4000fps, what a mess, I'll never forget the cloud of mist when the bullet hit it! Did a number on groundhogs too. Killed one coyote with it, pretty much the only thing holding the 2 halves of it together was the spine.
 
I owned and used a Remington Classic 220 Swift on coyote and ground hog. furthest shot was 396 paces but it was a decent shooter. if you are looking for something in the muzzle FPS of the swift without reloading, go for a 22-250.
 
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