.223 or 220 swift?

If it is for target shooting using medium weight bullets 223. If it is for varmints or for long range shooting with heavy bullets, the swift would be better for entertainment... accuracy would be as good in calm conditions, or go 22-250.

I know you asked either-or, but I have to say the 22BR with 90 Bergers can do amazing things!
 
I shoot the .220 swift and love it. Very fast and flat, however the cost of ammo forces me to reload. Plus not everyone has one if you are looking to be a little different. Everything I've read as technology has changed the barrel life issue of the older swifts is not the issue it was in the past so long as you aren't trying to send heaver bullets down range over 4000fps.
 
Im looking for something to shoot as much as possible. Its going to be mainly for target maybe the odd varmint if its there. I am going to be starting at around 2 -300yds then keep pushing as far as I can as I get better at shooting. I would love to eventually get to 1000yds in years to come but realistically 600yds is about as long of a shot I could find room for. I do plan on reloading if that makes a difference. I have read about people doing some amazing distances with 75 and 80's out of .223's. Whats the barrel life distances like between the two? Who makes a good 220 ?

Thanks
 
"...forces me to reload..." Give you better ammo anyway.
"...Who makes a good 220?..." The new Rem 700 Varmint SF comes in .220. One in 14 rifling. Better for light bullets. Not so good for extreme ranges. Come sin .223 as well. Still not rifled for long range. A Savage 12 Series Varmint in .223 is rifled for heavy bullets.
You'd be better off with a .223 though. Ammo's easier and less expensive to get. Reload anyway. Lets you tailor the ammo for your rifle.
 
With either .223 or .220 a quick twist is needed for long range. A Swift, .22-250, or any of the larger .22s will produce significantly more velocity, which does help with wind drift.
Barrel life is much longer with a .223, and quality ammuntion is a bit less expensive.
I'm not aware of any factory Swifts or .22-250s with quick twist barrels. I made up a couple of .22-250AIs with quick twist barrels for friends. They really shot well at long range.
There are .223s available with quick twist barrels. A 1:9 will shoot everything up to and including some 75gr bullets, a 1:8 will handle 80s. Either will also work well with lighter bullets.
 
TrxR said:
Im looking for something to shoot as much as possible. Its going to be mainly for target maybe the odd varmint if its there. I am going to be starting at around 2 -300yds then keep pushing as far as I can as I get better at shooting. I would love to eventually get to 1000yds in years to come but realistically 600yds is about as long of a shot I could find room for. I do plan on reloading if that makes a difference. I have read about people doing some amazing distances with 75 and 80's out of .223's. Whats the barrel life distances like between the two? Who makes a good 220 ?

Thanks
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Given these parameters, the 223 wins hands down. approx 5 times the barrel life. With a fast twist barrel you can go as far as you want with very good accuracy. Factory Savage will likely do all you want for a very long time. Upgrades later are simple and relatively inexpensive.

All factory swifts will have slow twist barrels. Great speed, blows things up great but not ideal for LR ballistics. Go 22br, 22/250 with a fast twist barrel and then you have a debate.

As for shooting further out, as long as you are grouping MOA or better at 200yds, going to 1000yds is simply dialing up the scope and holding more into the wind. Shooting far is really not a big deal and readily done.

Jerry
 
is there any problem running the faster twist when shooting lighter bullets for say 200-300yds? Savage only offers their .223's in 1in 9 and 1 in 7.
 
There is potential that they could break apart at top speeds. I have not heard of anyone doing that with a 223. But 204, 20 practical and 17/223 I have read of spiting due to fast twist at freaky speeds.
 
TrxR said:
is there any problem running the faster twist when shooting lighter bullets for say 200-300yds? Savage only offers their .223's in 1in 9 and 1 in 7.
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NO, there are quite a number of happy shooters using Win white box 40gr Varmint bulk ammo and shooting really well.

The 223 can't push any bullet fast enough to cause them to blow up. I think the 55gr makes for a very nice min weight. Go 9 twist way easier to find and do all you want.

Jerry
 
Not in a .223.
The 1:7 twist was developed for stabilizing the long tracer bullet. It is unnecessary for anything to 80gr.
There are heavier .224 bullets. They do require very quick twists.
A quick twist Swift might well blow up lighter, thin jacketed bullets. Even a slow twist Swift can do this with bullets designed for .222/.223 rifles.
 
My Sako .223 has a factory 1:8 twist and has no problem handling 40gr bullets at max loads. If you were after something for long range the Savage with 1:9 should be excellent.

220 Swift is a great round, but at the range I suspect you would spend a lot of time waiting for the barrel to cool off between shots. Ammo is substantially more expensive and not as easy to find as .223 so for me the 223 is a no brainer.
 
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