Gents I may have come across a pre 64 winchester rifle in .220 swift and I am just wondering what case head size this action could accomadate ?? Could it be opened up for a .375 H&H or say the .416 Taylor or will it only accomodate the .308 family of cartridges only ??

Regards PC.

My 1951 vintage 220 Swift became a 7X64. I think you can use it for most any cartridge based on 30-06 case length as it stands. Anything larger is going to need some surgery.

Remember Winchester used this same length action for 22 hornet all the way up to 375 H&H. For the H&H length cases the action was relieved at the top of the rear bridge and at the front right of the ejection port, for easier ejection. The mag box was also lengthened obviously.

PC--

You can take the angled plate out of the back of the magazine box and rebarrel to any of the 2.5" standard (.473) cartridges.

You can open the bolt face and rebarrel to any of the short magnums.

To use the long magnums the receiver will have to be milled to open the magazine opening and a new, longer magazine box fitted.

If the barrel isn't shot out, why not keep the Swift? That's a quite interesting and excellent cartridge in its own right.

If memory serves me and it has been getting foggy of late. ..................... Now where was I?............. I thought the .220 Swift was a high dollar collector in a pre 64. If so you might be better off selling it and using the funds to buy one that is cheaper and use the change for improvements, barrels etc.