I have a young man come to me asking about loading a 220 swift 1/9 twist for long range. He is hoping to load 75 -80 grain + - , for long range shooting 7-800 yds +. Reloaded for 50 years but this is new to me. I go with the light fast stuff in the 22's. I could use some help here. place to go, suggested loads, etc. Thankx Dick
For long range you want high BC, and the 1/9 is a limitation. Is the young man shooting at altitude? If not, about 70 grains is the max bullet weight. There are a few to try in this range, notably the 70 and 75 gr. berger VLD. There are also match bullets from sierra, hornady, etc. in this weight range. They have a lesser BC, but they're cheaper too.
You'll want powders a bit slower for these, like H4831 or H4350. Superformance would probably work really well.
If he is interested in long-range precision shooting, I'd definitely go with the 1:7.7 or 1:8 twist to allow using the 80 gr. bullets. The 75 Berger VLD works very well for me in a .223, and should be terrific in a tight twist Swift.
Clarence
Posts: 303 | Location: Hill Country, TX | Registered: 26 December 2006
Not the Swift, but have shot the 22-250 w/ 8 twist barrels for number of years and is indeed accurate w/ little recoil. Once considered doing same with Swift but 22-250 filled the need for me. See no reason w/ the fast twist barrel it would not work equally well if not better?? Currently have 22-250 on Ruger No.1 w/ 7 twist barrel and had in mind using the 90gr SMK's, but so far only worked with the 80gr SMK's and it is accurate.
I use a .220 Swift with a 1:8 barrel. Shoot 80 gr AMAX bullets with 32 grains Varget (I think it is 32 - might be 31). Like Instructor says, great long range load - light bullets may go fast, but the wind drift of the 80 grain AMAX is HALF that of a speedy 55. I also tried the 90 Sierra, but rumors it would be dropped put a dent in my enthusiasm.
The heavy .22 bullests are also far less affected by changes in temperature, since they are on the "flatter" part of the ballistic curve (you get more going from a .2 to a .3 than you do a .3 to .4, but likewise, going from a .44 to .4 (due to colder more dense air) results in a smaller increase in bullet drop than going from a .34 to a .3.
Probably ought to refer to Litz stability tool- I would think that an 80vld like an Amax or SMK etc would do well from a 1/9 twist bbl at swift velocities. Since I can't push an 80 faster than about 2700=2800 from a 223 wylde 20 inch bbl, a faster twist is needed. But I assume a swift, properly throated, can push an 80 to at least 3000 if not a bit more from a slowish powder/ bolt gun load and a 26 or so bbl.
No?
Posts: 1082 | Location: MidWest USA | Registered: 27 April 2013
One can guess and gamble on a 1:9, but 1:8 leaves no doubt. In the .223, the lighter bullets shoot just as well in the faster twist, so I don't personally see a rationale for going with the more marginal twist.
Clarence
Posts: 303 | Location: Hill Country, TX | Registered: 26 December 2006
I had a 1:10 twist 22.250 that I built for shooting the 50 grain Barnes varmint grenades. It will shoot the 69 grain SMK's to 900 yards fairly well but sometime doesn't stabilize them at 1,000 yards, depending on atmospheric conditions. It will not stabilize the 75 grain A-Max bullets, at all.
I AI'd it just to get another 100-150 FPS.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
Posts: 12818 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002
I would think a 1:6.5/7" twist and those nifty new 90gr Match VLD Target bullets a bit over 3100fps (according to the Berger Manual) with a G7 BC of .281 would be very effective out to 1000yds.
Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter: I would think a 1:6.5/7" twist and those nifty new 90gr Match VLD Target bullets a bit over 3100fps (according to the Berger Manual) with a G7 BC of .281 would be very effective out to 1000yds.
I can tell you once I get out to 800 yards my Swift really starts to give it up when it comes to wind - my 210 Bergers (300 RUM) or 285 ELDs (LM/Edge) really kick its butt.
I just picked up two new custom LR guns last night; one is an AR with a 24 in Krieger bbl chambered in 6mm Hagar. Still breaking in the bbl, but it put two shots on top of each other at 200 yds. Be interesting to see how it shoots at 800.
I ran the 90gr Berger Match VLD Target numbers yesterday on their ballistic calculator. Berger's Manual shows 3100fps from a 1:7" twist and a short 26" barrel. BC is pretty good, .281 G7.
The long time favorite load for the 300 Win Mag is the 185gr Match VLD Target at 3100fps. That load has 15" more drift in a 5mph wind at 1000, 22" more drop, and about three times the recoil from a 26" barrel.
Brian Litz is making a believer out of me. As he once said, BC is like diamonds, forever. Velocity is always decaying. Or, something to that effect.
Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter: I ran the 90gr Berger Match VLD Target numbers yesterday on their ballistic calculator. Berger's Manual shows 3100fps from a 1:7" twist and a short 26" barrel. BC is pretty good, .281 G7.
The long time favorite load for the 300 Win Mag is the 185gr Match VLD Target at 3100fps. That load has 15" more drift in a 5mph wind at 1000, 22" more drop, and about three times the recoil from a 26" barrel.
Brian Litz is making a believer out of me. As he once said, BC is like diamonds, forever. Velocity is always decaying. Or, something to that effect.
I agree with that. An even more dramatic effect is the 55 gr 22 pill vs the 80s or 90s...why anyone would shoot those in a long range varmint rig is a mystery to me.
