220 swift..should I get one?? Uses/Pros/Cons

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DiscoRacing

New member
After getting a long awaited 22-250... I have been giving thought to getting a 220 swift also... not that I need one.. I have two .223 already and the 22-250 that I just got.... anyone have further insight to the need or lack thereof for the swift??? Any pros/cons that you would like to share?? Anyone have any info on the reloading components for the caliber as far as availability?? Tks in advance for any help.:cool::eek:
 
I remember my dad saying that because of the design of it, as opposed to some of the newer fast .22s, it had a habbit of eating barrels ar full power.

I don't know if that's true today with better steels and different powders but you should check on it before you buy one, especially a old one.
 
The "220 Swift eats barrels" thing is a function of available steels and powders of the time when it first came out. Just don't do rapid fire and you should be fine.

Lots of people like to load the 220 and 22-250 with light bullets at really high velocity. I like loading heavier bullets to slightly less velocity to buck the wind. Their large cases lend themselves to that though you will probably be limited by the barrel twist. My Savage has a 1-12" so that gives me a little more leeway, but most will have a 1-14" twist.
 
I've had Swifts and I've had .22-250s. Dunno why, but the Swift is one of those cartridges that for me has a, "There's just something about it that I like," attraction.

Way years ago I had a Ruger 77 heavy-barrelled Swift. Reliably 3/8 MOA. It loved the Sierra 52-grain HPBT, as quite a few feral cats discovered. One of the few rifles I regret parting with.
 
Performance between the two is so close it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have both. I prefer my 22-250, but that's me. If you "gotta have one", get it.
 
i have a rug77 bull barrel in 220 swift, most accurate rifle i have shot to date(55gr vmax-good stuff:))...plenty of reloading data and materials still left out there to make it cost effective to shoot...i would still like to try out the 6mm-22 before i call it the king of the 22s...

cheers
 
I have shot a lot from the .220 swift and seen a lot of shots from it. Great varmint round..

I prefer the swift from the 250 but that is personal opinion..

Performance wise the swift holds an edge of about 100-150fps..
 
If you really want to step up from the .22-250, go with a .243 Ackley, or even a 6mm-284

Or just have your .22-250 turned into an Ackley, if you want a faster 22.

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