Was just gifted a couple of year old M70, a push feed Varmint model, 26" tube in the blk plastic stock. Going to mount a spare Leupold 3.5-10X on it.

My question. I've NEVER loaded for the .220 Swift before.

I'm thinking 55 gr slugs or should I be looking at 60's??

I'd imagine loading it down a bit will save some barrel life, to maybe .22-250 velocity. Good idea??

Good powder?

FN in MT

a swift is a swift - 4100 FPS thats what its made for. heavy bullets OK, but 4100 comes from 50 gr. my favorite load is 44 gr of H414 and a 50 gr BT. if you load it down to 22/250 velocities or less accuracy might improve, but then it wouldn't be a swift

Load it to the max no matter what bullet weight you choice. You may be surprised how low the velocity is in some bullet weights. I use 55-grain bullets, not because they’re the fastest but because they’re the most accurate. I can make down range compositions for the lack of speed through scope adjustments.

The key to the longer life of a high velocity round (not just the 220 Swift) is letting it cool down between strings. Keeping your ammo in the shade, even if the shade is just your own body. Proper cleaning in the middle and at the end of a long shooting session.

In a prairie dog town a long shooting session is only about 1 hour, maybe 2 with 15-50 rounds shot (I work my towns hard, I can only dream of the days of sitting in one spot all day long). Then I move to another town.

I’ll work 3 to 8 towns a day. I have 16 towns I shoot over.

By the way, I use 2 to 3 rifles to shoot Pdogs, just not 1 rifle all day long.

My Mod 70 likes the 50-55grain bullets....Hornady 55 V-Max and Winchester cases with Fed primers and IMR 4064....37.0grains......check the chamber neck for proper clearance as the Norma brass is much thinner that my batch of Winchester brass and my factory chamber was at the min. end of std specs.......my gun likes a short seated bullet instead of close to the lands and it has mild throat errosion from nearly 50yrs of shooting...hth..good luck and good shooting-loading!

I don't load mine full throttle. Its more accurate going a little slower, in my Ruger M77 MkII.

I use 55 gr Hornaday Vmax bullets over 36.5grains of IMR 4064 and a CCI BR primer. I get a little over 3650 fps (26" barrel) and dime sized 5 shot groups at 100yds.

Its death on yotes too.

Cheers,
Canuck

Sorry about that.

I was a little vague last night.

Load it to the max as long as it shoots good groups and pressure signs are all right.

Just don’t back off the velocity of the 220 swift because some shooting writer said it might wear out the barrel.

Found a beautiful pre-64 M70 in 220 Swift topped with a Leupold VX III 3x-9x. Only concern is the availability of over the counter loads (I do not reload). Anything out there that does the round justice?

Also, price is $1,365 and the gun (metal and wood) is very nice. Bore is crisp - it has not seen a lot of action. Reasonable price?

quote:

Anything out there that does the round justice?

My load above seems to exactly match the Hornady factory load (Varmint Express?) with the 55grain VMax moly. It prints the exacts same POI at 100yds and 200yds. I haven't chronied it (my Dad has seconded my 220 Swift to eradicate some yotes on his bison ranch), but I'd imagine the velocity must be darn close. It also shoots nice little 3/8" groups.

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

Also, price is $1,365 and the gun (metal and wood) is very nice. Bore is crisp - it has not seen a lot of action. Reasonable price?

In Canada that would be a great deal. Not sure if your markets are similar.

Cheers,
Canuck

I'd like to add something but this has been prity well covered.

It seems like you guy's have been up against the same things I have with my swift.

In the end my conclution is keep bullit weight 55gr or under and find a bullet that can handel the velocity.

I had 55gr everything coming out at 4000 or just under but never any better than 1.75" @ 100yds. I finally slowed it down and got under an inch but I allready have 5 .223's.

The load that finally worked in the end was a 50gr. Barns x at full trhrotle. Shoots a ltttle over 1/2 inch. I'm not a real big fan of X bullets but I am in this case. I guess lead just dosn't do well At 4000 fps.

The load I prefer is 38RL15/55 Grain Ballistic Tip/ @ 3850 Fps. 3 shot groups in the 3's and 4's consistantly.

Jerry

H-414 is the powder I liked and 55 grain BTs looked real sweet on paper.

H-4831 55gn BT's works quite well for me, next up would be H-414 with 50-55 BT's.

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:

quote:

Anything out there that does the round justice?

My load above seems to exactly match the Hornady factory load (Varmint Express?) with the 55grain VMax moly. It prints the exacts same POI at 100yds and 200yds. I haven't chronied it (my Dad has seconded my 220 Swift to eradicate some yotes on his bison ranch), but I'd imagine the velocity must be darn close. It also shoots nice little 3/8" groups.

Cheers,
Canuck

Any idea what kind of velocity you are getting from the Hornady off the shelf loads?

Thanks

I wish Hornady would make their varmint 220 Swift ammo WITHOUT moly

I shoot a ruger model 77v and have used it for years with no signs of accuracy lost. My load is 41 grains of H380 and a sierra 50 grain spitzer. NOTE:In my gun that is pushing max load. It shoots under an inch all day long.

In the Swift, hot loads have always shot best, which is a good thing as velocity is its thing. The first H414 load is good, but you will probably have to creep up on that one, mine won't take that much but is chambered minimum. The second always good load is a 55 Sierra or 53 Match and 39 grains of IMR4064, again this is a max.

My 4 swifts all love the same load. 38.5gr RL15 topped with 55gr V Max.