Wha tis the highest velocity ammo?

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The fastest factory load that I know of was the .220 Swift with a 40-grain bullet at 4,140 ft/sec.

The factory '06 load with a 110-grain bullet was advertised at around 3,500 ft/sec. I handloaded some 80-grain bullets to some 3,900 ft/sec.

I've read that the ball load in .50 Browning has a muzzle velocity of 3,300 ft/sec.

Phil Sharpe lists a load for the .22 Savage HiPower at 3,900 ft/sec, using a 40-grain bullet and a lot of 2400. :)

.223/5.56? I've seen claims of some 3,200 ft/sec.
 
The fastest factory load that I know of was the .220 Swift with a 40-grain bullet at 4,140 ft/sec.

The factory '06 load with a 110-grain bullet was advertised at around 3,500 ft/sec. I handloaded some 80-grain bullets to some 3,900 ft/sec.

I've read that the ball load in .50 Browning has a muzzle velocity of 3,300 ft/sec.

Phil Sharpe lists a load for the .22 Savage HiPower at 3,900 ft/sec, using a 40-grain bullet and a lot of 2400.

.223/5.56? I've seen claims of some 3,200 ft/sec.
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The 204 Ruger is the fastest factory round I know of. With light bullets it can have speeds in excess of 4,300 fps, and even faster if you hand-load.
Edit: Hornady lists their 24gr NTX Superformance 204 Ruger ammo at 4,400 fps...
 
What twist rate is common on these barrels to keep the bullets from disintegrating at over 4000 fps?
 
I imagine that among factory cartridges, if handloaded, the 220 Swift could be run up to somewhere in the range of 4,500 fps with a 35 grain bullet. Also, I believe that the 220 Rocket was once a factory round from Weatherby. It's basically a 220 Ackley Improved, with that rounded Weatherby shoulder. Probably that could hit an even higher MV.

Art, didn't you get your Swift up to some amazing MV with little bullets?
 
308 Warbird is in the 3900's
5.56/223- 22-378 Wthby was rumored to break 5000fps
204 Ruger is 4400fps in factory ammo.
 
Is the op specifically asking about the fastest ammo for .308/7.62, .223/5.56, and .50bmg? Or just a blanket question of what firearm and cartridge combo has the highest mv? Is the question simply a matter of curiosity (a fine reason to ask) or is there a desire to possess a super fast gun for a specific application? If the latter is the case, muzzle velocity isn't everything...the monster .22 centerfires are the fastest guns around (and that .204 and the 17s too I guess) but out beyond their mpbr they really start losing to the larger caliber rounds.
 
Swift

I believe that back in the 50's and early 60's the swift was clocked at 4600 - 4800 fps in the old loading manuals. A gunsmith friend of mine told me he regularly shot over 4600 with his, I was only 15 at the time and have no idea what he was loading.

His influence caused me to build a swift later in life, mauser action, douglas 1 1/2" straight barrel air gauged at .2235 in a fajen benchrest stock with a 30x lichert on top. took a while to work up the right load due to the tight barrel, but 10 shots at 150 yards could be covered with a nickle. Had no way to measure velocity, still just a kid then (23).
 
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220 swift. 36gr varmint grenade. Bolt got a little sticky with this load. It did not shoot the 36gr well. It likes the 40gr vmax right at 4500 fps. 1-16" twist
 
204 advertised at 4,225

223 WSSM factory 4,4352

223 WSSM Monolith Munitions 40 gr---claims 4,700

And there is webpage where 5,329 is stated out of a 22BR Improved
pushing a 30 gr Berger.

50 BMG sabot claims 5,900

30-378 wildcat with a alloy bullet---6,000+
 
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