220 Swift

03 December 2002, 14:11

<AVMcGee>

220 Swift

I am getting ready to reload a Ruger No.1 in 220 Swift with 60gr. Hornady HP. Which powder will give top velocity? R-15, H414, W760, N-150 or Varget?

Hornady claims 3600 FPS in their 220 Swift cartridge w/ 60 gr. HP factory ammo.

Is 3800 FPS reasonable with reloads using a 26" barrel?

Thanks for your assistance.

03 December 2002, 16:04

<Don Martin29>

The Nosler #5 shows the highest velocity with imr4831 which is no surprise to me as I start with imr powder first anyway.

It's listed at 3715 fps in a 26" bbl.

I just got my third Swift barrel and will get it put on soon.

03 December 2002, 18:07

ricciardelli

RL-15 From 30.1 grains to 37.5 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

03 December 2002, 18:23

<AVMcGee>

Don,

In my Nosler#4 reloading book, it has this:
RL-15(37.0gr.) 3980fps w/55gr bullet
IMR 4831(44.0gr.) 3852fps w/55gr bullet
W 760(42.0gr.) 3830fps w/55gr bullet
using 26" barrel.

In my Speer#13 reloading book, it has:

RL-15(39.0gr.) 3656fps w/55gr. bullet
760(40.5gr.) 3534fps w/55gr. bullet

IMR 4831(44.0gr.) 3576fps w/52gr bullet.
using 26" barrel.

The manuals sure do have different information. It is hard for me to understand how this data can be so different from oneanother.

03 December 2002, 23:08

1894

My speer manual has VVN160 as best for just about every bullet weight in the swift.

04 December 2002, 02:41

<Don Martin29>

AVM,

The percentage change between 3700 and 3800 fps is 2%! It's never going to matter what the velocity is!

Just assemble a safe, accurate handload with care. This will matter and not the exact velocity. This is why I don't bother much with the chronograph any more. I had to have one and now I just spend most of my efforts on where the first shot goes and then the group.

Thinking about how powder is made with each company trying to match the performance characteristics that others expect from a particular powder you can understand why the results are not exact.

So use whatever powder you have on hand thats compatable but the Nosler #5 showed imr 4831 and imr 4350 the most accurate powders tested for the 55 and 60 gr bullets. I suggest Sierra bullets. The bullet choice is more important than powder but everything counts.

05 December 2002, 13:48

<Reloader66>

Forget all that speed crap and worry about accuracy, speed is nothing without accuracy. A guy gets a 220 swift and thinks he needs to shoot bullets at the speed of light. The fastest bullet to date I know of was 11,000 fps and it was not out of a 220 swift. But Im sure some swift owners tried to hit that speed.

05 December 2002, 17:22

<AVMcGee>

DonMartin29,

I appreciate your post. Your thoughts on velocity are correct. Just a small percentage different. I only was wondering if 3800fps is a reasonable velocity to be able to reach safely? But maybe I should not ask velocity questions on certain chamberings.

It seems like I have hit a nerve on the high velocity question. You are careful with your wording but others are not.

By the way, I do not own a Swift. My friend in Alabama owns three.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

06 December 2002, 15:42

<Chuck66>

Dont leave out IMR 4064 its the medicine for every Swift that I have loaded for. Speed and Accurracy.

Chuck T

[ 12-06-2002, 06:43: Message edited by: Chuck66 ]

07 December 2002, 11:00

Atkinson

I love that old Swift round, shot them a lot but can you believe that I have never owned one...I always opted for a 22-250 at the last minute...

One of these days I will run across a nice pre 64 with a throat left in it and the price is right and I will correct that situation.....

07 December 2002, 12:49

<AVMcGee>

quote:
Originally posted by Chuck66:
Dont leave out IMR 4064 its the medicine for every Swift that I have loaded for. Speed and Accurracy.

Chuck T

Everywhere I turn around I see IMR 4064 and the Swift. It must be something to it. I will try it next. Thanks.

Ray,
I hope you find that pre 64 one day.

07 December 2002, 20:03

<Oldmodel70>

I use 4064. It's a long stick powder, but the old Belding & Mull don't care.......By the way, load that Swift to true Swift velocities. If you are going to be satisfied with 22-250 speeds, well, then get one of those.........Grant.

08 December 2002, 02:22

sll

IMR 4831 and RL 15 both shoot the best in my Swift than the other powders that I have tried.This is while using 55 grain Nosler BT's.

08 December 2002, 10:50

<Chuck66>

AvM,

I find that 4064 works in several guns well.
My load for the 220 is 40gr. I4064 with a 55gr.Nosler BT Molycoated. 41gr worked better but blew primers on 2nd and 3rd loadings.

Chuck T.

08 December 2002, 14:35

<bullseye>

At least try H380. I know of several Swifts and all of them love it. You'll be pleased with the velocity. Also cram Sierra 52 grain hpbt match bullets on top. Good combo!

08 December 2002, 15:23

<Swamp-Man>

38.5 grains of IMR 4064
federal 215 primers
52 grain mk bt

I finally got this load over a chrony and it averaged at 4050 fps, with no pressure signs which I expected with the 215 primers. It is extemey accurate out to 250 yrds. If you are going to shoot a swift then load it to a swifts cababilities.just my 2cents worth.

09 December 2002, 14:00

Eagleye

As an owner of both 22-250's and 220 Swifts, I have to agree with those who say you may as well load a Swift to it's potential. If you want to shoot at 22-250 velocities, then shoot a 22-250. The Swift is the premier .224 Factory Centerfire if you are looking for accuracy AND speed. I have had excellent success with IMR 4064 and H380 in many Swifts. Reloder 15 works in some, W760 in many, especially with heavier bullets. Shooting 60 grain bullets usually means the slower powders suitable for the Swift will be the best. I would be tempted to experiment with some of those suggested already, i.e. VV N-150 & N-160, H414, W760 AA2700 etc. Regards, Eagleye. [Wink]

10 December 2002, 00:23

<AVMcGee>

Thanks for all the feedback on the Swift.

10 December 2002, 10:21

NBHunter

Just a question about the swift, How long can I expect my barrel to perform? All the "Experts" try to tell me it will eat out a barrel in a couple hundred rounds. That makes no sense to me because a 22-250 barrel the same people tell me would last me a lifetime. Wow that extra 100fps must really destroy a gun, sounds like made-up knowledge to me! any actual knowledge out there?

10 December 2002, 12:29

<Chuck66>

NB,
"OH NO here we go agian" This has been the topic of so many threads I cant count. N0T TO BE RUDE TO YOU.

I have one that I push a 55gr. bullet at 4060fps and have somewhere around 3000 rounds out of it and it will still group in the .15's if I try hard enough. I feel that one thing is the steel used today is better especially Stainless Steel. I also shoot nothing but Moly coated bullets.

BUT if you try to push a 40gr. bullet 4500fps that might burn one out pretty fast. Don't know for sure because I haven't done it.

Lastly, try to keep from getting to hot. Shoot it and let it cool.

Chuck T

10 December 2002, 13:07

<Swamp-Man>

Chuck is exactly right. I have close to 2000 rounds through mine and it still performs just like it did out of the box except for the bedding of the action and floating of the barrel, and my loads are a little hot. The most important thing I have found through trial and error is to shoot 3 shots and let it cool.My fourth shot will be wild so I dont even attempt it. Good shooting.

10 December 2002, 14:40

NBHunter

I plan on shooting chucks, coyotes and porcupines so fast rate of fire will not be an issue. Any bullet weight work best or is it good with just about all of them?

10 December 2002, 15:58

<Swamp-Man>

Depends on what you twist is in the barrel. Mine is 1 in 14 as best as I can tell.It shoots 52
grain matchkings superbly, but anything over and my accuracy goes to he@# in a handbascket.