There's a nice Ruger heavy barreled varmint rifle at the local gun shop. It's a 220 Swift, though, and I've never owned such an animal.

It's always been my opinion that the 22-250 really doesn't give up much to the Swift, but I've based that opinion only on published load data.

Some folks say that it's no trouble to get 4000 fps and better from 55 grain bullets through a 220 Swift, and that current published data is on the conservative side due to the existence of some older rifles.

I can easily get the 55 grain .243's going better than 4K fps. But can the Swift safely do the same with 55 grain pills?

Just wondering...

Dan Newberry
green 788

If you don't buy it, let me know as I would be interested. I have one already, and she is a fine shooter.

Im getting a 1/4 bore Bob built, I think that may be the optimum caliber for the mid length Mauser type cartridges. Not to say anything bad about the swift, but I think that the 22-250 is a better caliber to bore adjusted cartridge than the swift. Given the choice of the two Id go with the 22-250. Just my .02c. Both great rounds though.

I have two Swifts and three .22-250's. Love all 5 of them!

Just remember those 4200+ fps loads can make your barrel cry "mama".

Dan, I had one of the Ruger Mk I rifles in 220 Swift. It was a good rifle (the varmint version), accurate and well built. I ended up trading it because I just didn't need anymore varmint rifles, but I thought it was a good gun in an interesting caliber. Lot's of speed (but not as much as the 22 wildcats I was playing with, so the 220 went) FWIW - Dan

So will it or won't it do 4000 fps with a 55gr bullet?

No, not unless you run some really hot loads in it. The swift is good for about 100 fps over the 22-250 with the same bullets. A 220 swift in a 26" barrel should be good for about 3900 fps with a 55 gr bullet. 4000 is pushing it.

Mine wouldn't, at least not with loads that I was comfortable with. - Dan

green 788: I load mine on the mild side and get 3827fps with a 55 gr bullet and thats good enought for me. I remember that the older rugers were all pretty good shooter in the 220 alot better than the later ones. Good luck!
Tom

It would be stretching it, but I think it can be done. Drop down to 50's, and I know it can be done...I'am getting 4300fps swith the 45Barnes varmint bullet. On second thought there is no way it can be done, and you need to give me the name and address so I can buy it.

[ 10-18-2002, 08:14: Message edited by: LeeC ]

I have owned at least 8 Swifts and half that many 22-250's through the past 40 years. At present I have one 22-250 and two Swifts. One Swift is a 77V Ruger, and the other a 700 VSSF Remington. The 22-250 is a 40X Remington. These are all very accurate rifles and you cannot go wrong with either one if you're looking for a "hot" 22 centerfire that can be fed factory ammo. However, as to the question whether you can make 4000 with the 55 grainer. Some Swifts will do it, some will not quite make it. To get these velocities,you will usually have to go to a slower powder like W760 or H414. A 26" barrel is needed in the Swift to exploit it's potential. Don't be put off by "barrel burner" stories. The Swift barrel will last a long time if you allow it to cool down between shots, and you clean it properly. I actually wore out a couple of Swifts, and it took over 4000 rounds [all loaded to safe max.]in each to show a deterioration in accuracy that was noticeable. Personally, I favor the Swift, but the 22-250 is a great cartridge in it's own right.Regards, Eagleye.

Thanks for the info, folks... I'm still pondering the whole issue, as the 220 Swift would be a new chambering for me, requiring loading dies and brass.

LeeC, Check your private messages...

Dan

green,
check your private messages

Dan, Reading your post, I assume you already have a .243 that will shoot the .55 gr bullets. If it's doing it accurately, and getting velocities at 3900 or more, why would you want a .22 cal. chambering?? Unless you just want a new gun, I would stick with the .243. Otherwise, go with the 220 swift. I was shooting with a bud of mine a few years ago, He had a swift, and I was using a .25-06. We were shooting in some windy conditions, at about 450 yds. He was using .55 gr bullets and I was using my 87 gr TNT's. I couldn't believe it, but the wind was getting me about twice as bad as his swift. His loads were at about 4000 fps, I don't know what my velocity was, maybe about 3600, but his swift was making my 06 look pretty silly. Don't under estimate the 220 swift. Speed Kills.

Safely getting 4000 fps with 55s through a 26" bbl isn't going to be easy. My buddy and I were never able to do it with his 40XBKSS 27 1/4" bbl. Not saying it can't be done. 50s are no problem, of course, and 52s will often get you there.

Given the choice between the Swift and a 22/250 in otherwise identical packages, I'd go with the Swift........if you're set on a hot standard chambering .22 why settle for 50 - 100 fps less? There isn't much difference in ease of loading, case life, accuracy, or bbl life between these two, assuming loads to equal pressures. You can burn out bbls in either caliber.....we did.

Moreover, after many outings and rounds we concluded that light pills at 4000+ were inferior - beyond 325 yds - to the 63 gr Sierra SMP at around 3700 fps. We didn't start out this smart - we really wanted to believe that 4000+ fps was the way to fly. We also learned something about the value of minimal velocity SD, and which powders would give this to us.

Same goes for the 243. The best long range program is most certainly not based on the hypervelocity 55 or 60 grainers.

Sam

Sam wrote: "Moreover, after many outings and rounds we concluded that light pills at 4000+ were inferior - beyond 325 yds - to the 63 gr Sierra SMP at around 3700 fps."

Words of wisdom and experience, to be sure...

We tried the 40 grain VMAX Hornadys at 4100 fps (22-250), and solid, fur scattering hits on groundhogs at 300 to 350 yards resulted in wounded animals which crawled back into their holes. We found two such unfortunate hogs at the mouths of their holes hours after the hit. They had crawled to the ground's surface and died there. No exit wounds, and barely could locate the entry. If you're shooting 40 grainers it's best to keep the range inside 250 yards, unless you're shooting prarie dogs or paper.

Thanks for the continued input, guys. I like the flat trajectory of the 55 grain .243's, but agree again that the heavier bullets do more damage at ranges beyond 300 yards.

Believe it or not, most of my varmint hunting is done with the 270 and the 30-06. I've noted that the farther away those 130 and 165 grain game bullets hit the groundhogs, the more damage they do. Presumably, the bullet has slowed enough by the 400 yard point that it tumbles and/or changes course on contact with the groundhog. Shots made at 100 to 200 yards kill instantly of course, but actually do less damage.

Y'all take care,

Dan Newberry
green 788

Green 788: I always loved the Swift and started out back in '72 or so with a heavy barrelled Ruger 77. It shot well. Later I got a Shilen DGA Varminter in .220 Swift....it shot better. Now I shoot .223s. If I need longer range I use a .308. I simply decided I didn't need a hot rod anymore.
One thing...way back in '81 or so, I shot a silhouette match using the Shilen. All the metal animals were at 200 yards off hand. The Swift would knock them over every time, but a friend's .22-250 couldn't be counted on to do it reliably every shot. Sometimes we could hear the bullet strike the steel turkey, but it would remain standing. Maybe he just loaded them wimpy.

Saeed has a couple of swifts and he is a large proponent of the cartridge. When I was looking into purchasing a .22 centerfire he convinced me. I have a win m70 hv and consistently get 4100fps with 55 bk and w760. I could only do it with the moly coated bullets. Pressure signs show up much later with these bullets. The only bad thing about the velocity is that accuracy tends to go south pretty quick. I think that the current barrel on my swift has maybe 2000rnds on it and its in need of a recahmber job already. The throat is pretty long. If you were going to buy a swift to load it down I would just get a 22-250 or a 22br. With the non moly bullets I could get 3900-3975 with good accuracy. Over that and I would start getting cratered primers and sticky bolt lift with poor accuracy to boot. Good lUck and be safe

Bullet speed without accuracy is a waiste of your time and reloading supplies. Peak accuracy bore life is not long in both cases probably about 1500 to 2500 rounds. Both cases will push the 40 grain bullet past the 4000 fps mark. The 220 Swift and the 22-250 give their best accuracy at about the same bullet speed 3650 fps using the 55 grain pill. The 243 case with the 55, 60, 65 grain bullets will out perform the 22-250 and the 220 swift.
Blinding bullet speed with light weight bullets only produce short barrel life and the ability of the shooter to say his rifle really smokes them 40 grainers. Concentrate on safe accurate loads and your rifle and you will last longer over the long haul.