Anyone shoot the 220 Swift anymore?

[SomeDude]

I've been looking around for a rifle in 220 Swift but it seems that my options are limited. I see that Remington has a model but other than that I haven't found too many current production rifles. I don't really have the capital to buy a custom rifle so if anyone knows where I can get a production rifle please let me know. I spent my childhood watching my grandpa drop coyotes and foxes with the Swift. I could never figure out why so much boom came out of a hole so small.

 

[9x19sig]

If it was me I would look into a 22-250, it's basically a similar cartridge with many many more rifles and ammo commercially available.

If your really interested in the .220 swift like you said there is the Remington or you can sometimes find a used Winchester or Ruger.

 

[Stump Water]

There's a couple of prospects on gunbroker right now.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Absolutely! I have a ruger m77 varmint/target 220 swift. It is without a doubt the most accurate rifle I have ever personally fired. Sadly ruger discontinued this caliber in the varmint rifle. The 22-250 is for all purposes nearly a ballistic twin. Nearly. If you must have a swift, there are plenty of excellent used rifles or a new remington.

 

[Art Eatman]

Me!!!

I had a 1970s Ruger heavy barrelled Swift that was a tack driver. I've seen Ruger late-models in the Swift, but I don't particularly care for stainless steel, generally, and the one I saw had that funny-looking plastic stock.

I'll stay with my old 1952 variety of Model 70 Super Grade. Heck, I'm still getting under one MOA with ammo my father loaded for it in 1978!

 

[wleggart]

.220 Swift

I have a custom swift that is devistating on prairrie dogs. The decision is: are you going to reload? If so, the swift is excellent. So is the 22-250 I have owned both. Factory ammo for swift is expensive, rare and not necessarily what your gun would like. The swift likes to be loaded down just a little so there is little difference between the guns

 

[SWC Bonfire]

A friend has a Sako in .220 swift, he's shot quite a few does with it as a designated hunter on a managed ranch. Don't know if he shoots it much now, though.

 

[jjohnson]

Still a few, but not many.

The Swift was at one time very popular with varmint hunters as the ultimate 22 long range death on groundhogs and the like, but the .22-250 Remington nearly edged it into oblivion. There were a few reasons.

First, the 22-250 is nearly the ballistic equivalent, but in a short action cartridge, so you don't need a M98 Mauser action to get there.

Second, the earlier barrels would 'burn out' fairly quickly. Steels have come a ways since then, but I think the Swift barrel will still erode more quickly than a 22-250 barrel. Somebody may correct me on this.

Third - the very popular 22-250 was officially adopted by Remington as a "factory cartridge" and non-reloaders found out very quickly that at most ranges, the minimal difference in velocity didn't matter. There is much more gap between, for example, the .223 and 22-250 than there is between 22-250 and the Swift. This spelled commercial success.

I think new barrels in Swift are more durable than the earlier ones.

One thing to consider in 22-250 versus Swift; Remington rifles in 22-250 had, at least last time I bought one, a 1:16 twist, and Swift barrels may be faster twist (or not). If you want to stablize the heavier bullets, like 63 grains, you will need a faster twist than the Remington 1:16, so you'll need to factor this in.

 

[SwampWolf]

The most accurate rifle I own is a Ruger Number One Varmint (1V) rifle chambered in .220 Swift. And there's no reason why a Swift barrel should "burn out" any sooner than a .22-250 barrel, everything else being equal.

 

[c.latrans]

I do......A WHOLE LOT! I have 3 swifts at the moment, the most accurate of the bunch is a 10 year old Remington VS which is a no b.s. one holer when I manage to do my part. A whole bunch of coyotes have tripped over 55 grain Ballistic Tips out of this one.

 

[waumo]

Yes.

I have 3 220 Swifts.

A Remington 700 Varmint, a Savage 12BVSS and a Stevens 200 with a Douglas barrel.

The Stevens with the Douglas barrel is the most accurate. The last time out it shot 4ea 5 round groups at 200 Yards of .324, .399, .338 and .659 MOA.

I guess I blew the last group.

I was using 52 Grain Berger Moly Match bullets with N540 powder.

You can put together a like rifle pretty cheaply.

 

[skinewmexico]

I've rebarreled several Savages in the garage, it takes about 30 minutes. Just find a donor rifle cheap, and put a Douglas or Shilen pre-fit barrel on it.