Been wanting a rifle in 220 swift for years and found a very clean used one at the gun shop yesterday---I need to ask though, can't my .22 cleaning rods, bore snake etc be used for cleaning this? The actual 220 bullet is just a hair larger than the .22, right? And, my last question would be, if using mid level loads, something in the 3600 fps range rather than the real hot stuff, would I be realistic in expecting some pretty decent accuracy with this round? This is to be my coyote/ ground hog gun---------John
New, to me, 220 Swift---
- Thread starter jrhilde
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Coyote_Buster700
New member
From what I've read with 22-250s some times people attain better accuracy when using mid loads. I'm sure it would be the same with your Swift.
The Swift can reach 22-250 max energies/velocities at about ~ 5,000 psi lower pressures... which means less stress/barrel wear.
When you push it to the same pressures, however you can pick up 150-200 fps.
`Same bullet as all other 22 centerfires. (I'll dig up my Swift's range book targets tonight.
Excellent accuracy all the way up the velocity ladder.
Who made the gun?
...and
WELCOME to the Swift Club (and exclusive membership to be sure.)
When you push it to the same pressures, however you can pick up 150-200 fps.
`Same bullet as all other 22 centerfires. (I'll dig up my Swift's range book targets tonight.
Excellent accuracy all the way up the velocity ladder.
Who made the gun?
...and
WELCOME to the Swift Club (and exclusive membership to be sure.)
I've owned a couple .220's and when shooting 52-55 grain slugs you're u nlikely to surpass 22-250 velocities, I never loaded for one that could, only with the ,franky less optimum light slugs, might you surpass the 22-250.
In the end I sold them since I did'nt really need a louder version of a 22-250.
I would love to hear if anybody has one that chrono's a 55 grainer at much over 3600 fps.
In the end I sold them since I did'nt really need a louder version of a 22-250.
I would love to hear if anybody has one that chrono's a 55 grainer at much over 3600 fps.
Scharfschuetzer
New member
A good friend of mine had a Ruger 77 in .220 Swift back in the 80s. I helped him reload for it with 52 grain match bullets. I didn't have a chronograph back then, but it was a real lazer when we shot prairie dogs with it, often out to 400 yards or so yards. It was a good 3/4 MOA rifle and it sure made my long suffering, but accurate .223 Sako Vixen look anemic on a windy day or at 300 plus yards.
I've often regretted not buying a worn Pre-64 Model 70 in the calibre years ago when I was in college. Guess you can't bring every gun or girl you meet home with you.
I've often regretted not buying a worn Pre-64 Model 70 in the calibre years ago when I was in college. Guess you can't bring every gun or girl you meet home with you.
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golfballshootr
New member
Load mine, as they have recently been called, "pussycat" 
load velocities. With that said though, that is my better accuracy load, bullet/powder combination and since I am not that much in the dire search for fps and would rather extend my barrel life, that is why.
I will say to use caution though, because a co-worker of mine recently bought a re-barreled swift and it did not like the factory loads, but shot my handloads well.
load velocities. With that said though, that is my better accuracy load, bullet/powder combination and since I am not that much in the dire search for fps and would rather extend my barrel life, that is why.I will say to use caution though, because a co-worker of mine recently bought a re-barreled swift and it did not like the factory loads, but shot my handloads well.
603Country
New member
I was lucky enough to have a pre64 Model 70 in 220 Swift, but I finally decided that the value of the rifle in $ exceeded the value of the rifle to me. I sold it and bought a Ruger 77V that I have since rebarreled (Douglas barrel). My most accurate load with a 55 grain bullet (Ballistic Tips) was with Norma cases, CCI BR primers, and 38.5 grains of IMR 4064 powder. These days I've gone to Winchester cases, and they seem to shoot just as well once I've done all the prep work. I highly recommend 4064 in the Swift. I haven't found a bullet that didn't shoot well in my rifle and that includes 50, 52, 53, 55, 60 and 63 grain bullets. I haven't tried the 40 grainers. As for that baloney that a 22-250 shoots just as fast, that's what a lot of the 22-250 guys say. Makes them feel better. The 22-250 AI will indeed shoot as fast as the Swift, but the standard round won't. Heck, look it up.
Sure come on up and I'll give you a chrono lesson. My straight 22-250 shoots Sierra 55 grain btsp slugs with 33 1/2 grains of 3031 out of my 40X @3815fps. Bring up your swift and about $1000 to wager and show me the swift that beats that.
I have yet to see ANY factory Swift that will push a 55 grain slug faster than 3800fps, I sure as hell could get no more than 3600+. This is one of the great misconceptions out there that gets dispelled within 10 minutes over a chronograph.
I have yet to see ANY factory Swift that will push a 55 grain slug faster than 3800fps, I sure as hell could get no more than 3600+. This is one of the great misconceptions out there that gets dispelled within 10 minutes over a chronograph.
FrankenMauser
New member
3,600 fps is plenty of velocity to pop varmints and predators. Accuracy should be no worse than with hot loads, and may be substantially better.
If you're interested in some RCBS dies, Norma and Winchester brass (most of it is new), shell holders*, and the Loadbooks USA .220 Swift book, send me a PM.
*(Each brand of .220 Swift brass has different tolerances, and different case head dimensions. You'll need as many as 4 different shell holders, to reload for the Swift. I used 7.
)
If you're interested in some RCBS dies, Norma and Winchester brass (most of it is new), shell holders*, and the Loadbooks USA .220 Swift book, send me a PM.
*(Each brand of .220 Swift brass has different tolerances, and different case head dimensions. You'll need as many as 4 different shell holders, to reload for the Swift. I used 7.
)Just for grins, I went to QuickLoad to compare and contrast:
Chose ...
50gr Sierra MatchKing
26" barrel
Ran the numbers for an isopressure of 60,000psi
Sorted on Velocity for 1st practical powder volume in both cartridges:
OK.... a delta of 153fps for same pressure
Now to compare the Swift figures to meet the 3,890 velocity of the 22-250:
Now for what it's worth, I happned to have RL-15 open about four years ago and my Model 70/Swift (the one I grew up on in the early-mid 50's) now has a tight Krieger barrel and Norma a thicker case so I get slightly higher velocities than I would otherwise expect -- hence the use of a chronograph (Oehler 35):
11/27/07 Overcast/55degr
53grSMK/RL-15/38.0 - 40.0gr/NormaCase/BR2/0.008" OFF lands
At 40.0gr/RL-15
1. 4,028 Press signs normal
2. 4,020 (ditto)
3. 4,026 (ditto)
4. 4,022 (mega dittos)
That's close enough to a 55gr bullet for me, and way more velocity than I need.
So I'm running RL-15/38gr and am very happy to save my barrel at 3,800 and 51,000psi.
The Swift, with 8% more case capacity, lets me do that.
(the extra powder's cheap all thing's considered)
Chose ...
50gr Sierra MatchKing
26" barrel
Ran the numbers for an isopressure of 60,000psi
Sorted on Velocity for 1st practical powder volume in both cartridges:
Code:
[U]Cartridge[/U] [U]Powder[/U] [U]%Fill [/U] [U]Wt(gr)[/U] [U]V(fps)[/U]
22-250 RL-17 100.0 39.6 3,890
220 Swift RL-17 98.6 42.6 4,043Now to compare the Swift figures to meet the 3,890 velocity of the 22-250:
Code:
22-250 RL-17 100.0 39.6 3,890 60,000psi (barrel burner)
220 Swift RL-17 94.7 41.0 3,889 52,723psi (barrel saver)Now for what it's worth, I happned to have RL-15 open about four years ago and my Model 70/Swift (the one I grew up on in the early-mid 50's) now has a tight Krieger barrel and Norma a thicker case so I get slightly higher velocities than I would otherwise expect -- hence the use of a chronograph (Oehler 35):
11/27/07 Overcast/55degr
53grSMK/RL-15/38.0 - 40.0gr/NormaCase/BR2/0.008" OFF lands
At 40.0gr/RL-15
1. 4,028 Press signs normal
2. 4,020 (ditto)
3. 4,026 (ditto)
4. 4,022 (mega dittos)
That's close enough to a 55gr bullet for me, and way more velocity than I need.
So I'm running RL-15/38gr and am very happy to save my barrel at 3,800 and 51,000psi.
The Swift, with 8% more case capacity, lets me do that.
(the extra powder's cheap all thing's considered)
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603Country
New member
That's right...you tell em, Mehavey. You da MAN! I knew I liked you.
Unfortunately for us Swift fans, that 223 WSSM pushes bullets even faster.
Unfortunately for us Swift fans, that 223 WSSM pushes bullets even faster.
A story from a graybeard.
When i was a kid, probably 1959, a group of the farmers and my father were discussing guns, hunting and reloading.
One of the groups was talking about reloading for his 220 Swift. He claimed that his bulletts went so fast that some would break apart in flight. Some times, he claimed, he would get molten lead splatter on his targets.
Like most stories they may or maynot have a basis in fact. It is, however, one of the events which started me toward becoming an avid gun nut.
When i was a kid, probably 1959, a group of the farmers and my father were discussing guns, hunting and reloading.
One of the groups was talking about reloading for his 220 Swift. He claimed that his bulletts went so fast that some would break apart in flight. Some times, he claimed, he would get molten lead splatter on his targets.
Like most stories they may or maynot have a basis in fact. It is, however, one of the events which started me toward becoming an avid gun nut.
I'd like to chime in with a question here. The OP states that the swift is used.. is there anyway for him to know if the rifle's been pushed to the point with hot loads that the accuracy has started to suffer? I've read elsewhere (as re-enforced by mehavey's "barrel burner" comment), that there is a point on the swift that you can load detrimentally to barrel life, which in turn, for practical purposes, is why a lot of people avoid it and just go with a 22-250.
Is it on the used shelf because the seller just wanted something else, or is it there because it's worn out? (What does a used up swift's accuracy look like vs. a new one?)
Is it on the used shelf because the seller just wanted something else, or is it there because it's worn out? (What does a used up swift's accuracy look like vs. a new one?)
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Easy enough to check and see if the leade is burned...
The Swift's bad rep dates back to the days of Hercules HiVel #3, which burned hotter than the IMR powders. And, maybe, barrel steels were not quite as hard; I dunno.
Anyhow, with IMR powder, or any other more modern powder which is not hot-burning, there should be no more leade-burn with a Swift than any other overbore cartridge.
The original factory load was a 40-grain bullet at 4,140 ft/sec. Given the bullet technology of way-back-when, I've seen those blow up on heavy target paper. A hole in the paper, and lead/copper spray on whatever was behind it. (Back around 1950...)
The Swift's bad rep dates back to the days of Hercules HiVel #3, which burned hotter than the IMR powders. And, maybe, barrel steels were not quite as hard; I dunno.
Anyhow, with IMR powder, or any other more modern powder which is not hot-burning, there should be no more leade-burn with a Swift than any other overbore cartridge.
The original factory load was a 40-grain bullet at 4,140 ft/sec. Given the bullet technology of way-back-when, I've seen those blow up on heavy target paper. A hole in the paper, and lead/copper spray on whatever was behind it. (Back around 1950...)
What we all missed the point of mentioning FACTORY swifts not the ones with the tighter longer barrels. If we're really getting into some shooting turn the Swift upside down, stick it in the garden for tomatoes, and come up to hunt and I'll let you shoot the TAC20 with the 26" Lilja. 40grain vmax @3925fps with a BC 50% higher than either of the .22 cf guns with 25 1/2 grains of powder.
Winchester's Swifts (both Model 54 & 70) came w/ original 26" barrels. So nothing of unusual length there.
A Swift is a Swift is a Swift is a 75-year old cartridge.... So small wonder we have all these flash-in-the-pan zipper whizzbang upstarts. And like another classic Lady of great character, the venerable `06, it performs best (beautifully) when loved by a competent handloader.
Next thing`ya know, you're gonna start bad-mouthing the Grendel.
A Swift is a Swift is a Swift is a 75-year old cartridge.... So small wonder we have all these flash-in-the-pan zipper whizzbang upstarts.
And like another classic Lady of great character, the venerable `06, it performs best (beautifully) when loved by a competent handloader. Next thing`ya know, you're gonna start bad-mouthing the Grendel.