22-250 v/s 220 swift

[tdoyka]

Fellas...the subject line is 22-250 vs. 220Swift
The pros and cons on this subject are fair debate but don't start using 223 or other calibres to debate just because you can't make a viable argument for one or the other in the "subject line".
At the end of the day, everyone knows it's impossible to argue against the 22-250 calibre when compared to the forgotten 220

Nonsense - I own both and there is definitely a difference, and each has it's place.

For a forgotten calibre, the .220 Swift sure has a hard time being forgotten.

i argee with you there, the 220 swift is really not forgotten!!!

 

[Barlow]

A 22-250 at 3700 mv outperforms a 220 Swift at 4000 mv? Seems like funny math to me. Barlow

 

[CdnHotshot]

A 22-250 at 3700 mv outperforms a 220 Swift at 4000 mv? Seems like funny math to me. Barlow

22-250 inherent accuracy trumps speed !

 

[CatShooter]

A 22-250 at 3700 mv outperforms a 220 Swift at 4000 mv? Seems like funny math to me. Barlow

22-250 inherent accuracy trumps speed !

You are clearly a internet cowboy, and not a .220 Swift/22-250 owner, or you would realize just how silly that reply is.

 

[wapiti25]

You can use Lapua brass in the 22-250, rebarrel and maybe go to the 22-250 AI if you need more speed. I would take a Tika action over a Ruger 77.

 

[Barlow]

22-250's do not have inherent anything over a Swift and that includes accuracy. Ruger made them both for quite a few years in identical rifles, and kept track of their accuracy in their rifle testing, winner 220 Swift. That's probably as close to an inherent test that can be done. 22-250 is a good cartridge (not caliber) but it ain't no Swift. Barlow

 

[CdnHotshot]

new/used 220swift rifles are usually more difficult to re-sell....
There is usually a larger selection of rifles in varying price ranges in 22-250 rifle's

 

[RwBeV]

Where are all of these discounted 220 Swifts??? You must be going to different gun shows than me. I was at a gun show in Longmont CO a month ago, there was a old tang safety heavy barrel 77V in 220 Swift. I was interested in it till the bid went over $800 it sold for $875. Not much of a discount to me.

Bob

 

[CatShooter]

new/used 220swift rifles are usually more difficult to re-sell....
There is usually a larger selection of rifles in varying price ranges in 22-250 rifle's

Maybe it's that way up in Alberta Canada where you live, but that is not how it is down here in the United States.

People down here like Swifts and they do not sit on dealer's shelves very long.

No one down here is impressed with 22-250's... everybody (and their grand mother) has one. I am on my 6th. 22-250...

... but when you meet up with your friends to do some chuck shooting, and they ask whatcha brought, and you reply, "A .220 Swift", their eyes light up with "Lemme see."

.220 Swifts are well liked on New England farm land. I am on my 4th .220 Swift, so I am now shooting both concurrently.

Your information about barrel life, and the .220 Swift in general, must have come from old "Guns & Ammo" magazines, cuz you clearly have no personal experience with one.

I am tending to believe that you have no personal experience with the 22-250 either.

 

[dedogs]

Around here .220 Swift will last less than a day in the used gun rack at local shops & pawns. That's if they even make it to the rack--owner of shop makes 2 or 3 phone calls and poof!! Gone just like that!! I cruise the used guns at leastthree time a week and there almost always are TWO or THREE .22-250's of all makes. Haven't seen a .220 Swift stay in the rack for 24 hours in a long, long time. P.S. They'll both burn their barrels out in a prairie dog town. Just sayin'

 

[CdnHotshot]

22-250Remington cartridge is the most successful factory .224 varmint calibre ever developed.
222Rem., 223 Rem., have also been very successful.
These are dependable cartridges in the realm of accuracy, versatility and assortment of factory rifle selection. LAPUA now manufactures brass for all three... more positive proof of confidence in the 22-250

 

[CatShooter]

22-250Remington cartridge is the most successful factory .224 varmint calibre ever developed.
222 Rem., 223 Rem., have also been very successful.
These are dependable cartridges in the realm of accuracy, versatility and assortment of factory rifle selection. LAPUA now manufactures brass for all three... more positive proof of confidence in the 22-250

Your post sounds like something copied from gun magazine advertisments...

"... cartridge is the most successful factory .224 varmint calibre ever developed."

Not true, not true - the 222 family has been the most successful varmint cartridges ever made. The .223 Remington has put the kibosh on more varmints than any other cartridge (regardless of bore size) in existence.

"LAPUA now manufactures brass for all three... more positive proof of confidence in the 22-250"

Norma makes outstanding brass for the .220 Swift, so is that, "... more positive proof of confidence in the .220 Swift."?

Where do you get this stuff - do you actually speak like this, or did you get it from a magazine advertisement?

This is a moot comment - Lapua started making brass a few years ago, the 22-250 has been around since 1937, and a factory cartridge since 1965... so why did it take so long for Lapua to make brass?? Are you saying that Lapua was not sure of whether the 22-250 would be popular until a few years ago?? It is a truly dumb comment.

Lapua is going to be making 221 Fireball brass very soon... tell us, what does that mean about the .221 Fireball???


The Swift has been a factory offering since 1935, and there are millions of them around.

The only disadvantage of the swift is the semi-rimmed case, which requires a little care when loading a magazine... other than that, the 220 Swift uses ~ 8% to 10% more powder, and produces 8% to 10% more energy, and has ~ 0% to 5% less barrel life, all other things being equal.

If the .220 Swift had been a rimless case, the 22-250 would have never been born.

As an interesting side note - the 22 Hornet is the only calibre to have ammunition on retail dealer shelves for several years, without a rifle being made...

... and the 22-250 is the only calibre to have a rifle on the retail dealer shelves for several years without ammunition being made.

Alberta Kid, you started off with a stupid statement about something you have no personal knowledge about - and you keep trying to save face. You cannot save face on this.

Whether the 22-250 is more "popular" is not an issue - people that shoot either calibre are handloaders. Varmint shooters often use calibres that a are not commercially available at all.

Picking a varmint caliber is not a popularity contest, it is a personal choice, not based on sales numbers.

You need to walk away from this, cuz you keep digging yourself in deeper and deeper - by now, it is obvious to everyone that you don't own (and have no experience with) either a 22-250, or a .220 Swift.

Stop reading gun magazines and go get a rifle and shoot it.

 

[22BRGUY]

I have shot and reloaded for 22 250 for some 30 years and have witnessed the great accuracy and performance of the Swift also. After reading this whole post, which is interesting for sure but nothing I haven't read many times before in other places, I must conclude that beauty is totally in the mind of the beholder. As for me, once I got involved with the 22BR, my sweet Tikka 595 in 22 250 has been sitting dormant in the safe for several years now. I still think about her from time to time though and will probably get her out again one of these days. Maybe the lesson is if your having fun and enjoying what you're doing, keep doing it. Thanks all for great input and even though I've seen it before, it's always fun to see it again.

 

[CdnHotshot]

22-250Remington cartridge will live forever with sportsmen young & old.
Thanks for the memories and welcome to the future !

 

[CatShooter]

"... and welcome to the future !"

They are BOTH nearly 80 years old.

Welcome to the past !!

;D

 

[CdnHotshot]

22-250 Remington loaded with IMR4895 and Sierra 55grain spitzer bullets was one of my favorite loads as an early handloader. I can recall taking many coyotes and red fox in all sort of weather conditions.
The rifle was a Remington model 788 with a 3-9 Weaver scope.
The combination served me well and I can recall Rick Jamison articles reflecting many similar experiences.

 

[Coolhand]

Ironic that only Friday last I called my smith , and posed the question , which to build 22/250 or 220 Swift and then stumbled upon this discussion? The answer in short .220 Swift or better yet .220 AI he has both reamers. Today I called my barrel maker of choice and posed the same question , answer, .220 swift is good .220AI is better despite the known hassles and if you are considering the .220 Swift why not go all out ! Then I called the guy that imports Pierce Eng receivers , got a completely different answer which was go for a 22/250 AI, .220 Swift performance and no hassles.
I have great respect for the 22/250 having used one as a pro shooter and the ammo was supplied by the government, Winchester Factory. My buddy George and I shot on average 40 odd 'roos a night for a period of 4 months on a water reservoir area.
All up we culled close to 4000 'roos over the contract and am glad we didn't have to reload ! There are pro 'roo shooters here that will shoot out a barrels in no time. The guy that taught me to correctly skin 'roos used a .222 Mag but always lamented the scarcity of .220 Swifts, this is back in the late .70's early 80's when imported Swifts were rare and a custom job was out of the budget. And you almost never see a 2nd hand Swift come up for sale here. I know a guy here that has a Sako Forester .220 Swift, he has had it from new, I have threatened him with GBH , got down on bended knee , offered to marry his spinster aunt, offered ridiculous amounts of single malt and Cubans and he still won't sell it to me. Now I ask you how can any man refuse an offer for his spinster aunt ?

I am no closer to reaching a decision ! But I suspect that the .220AI just might win out for no other reason than, I can !

regards
Mike.

 

[Outrider27]

Lol Coolhand; if those offers didn't persuade him, it doesn't look like anything will. As I've stated before, I shoot the Swift because there are so many 22-250s out there, but I too wouldn't trade mine for anything after living with it for a all these years. One thing that I have learned recently (and it's a good case for having access to a boroscope) is that a lot of Swift barrels that were thought to be shot out probably weren't - they were simply heavily copper fouled, mostly in the first few inches forward of the chamber, a problem that seems to come more from bullets in the 40 grain range at full throttle than heavier bullets at full throttle, probably due to some difference in jacket thickness and/or metallurgy. With modern techniques for removing copper fouling, that problem should be relatively easy to deal with, with or without access to a boroscope.

 

[Barlow]

I haven't been using my Swift much the last year because I put a 6 Dasher sporter together and have been keeping the round count down on my Swift. The Dasher is a hoot, but there is something about a Swift that's hard to put into words. The terminal effect on game is astounding. I don't think there is much if any velocity gain with an AI, but case life would probably be better. When this barrel is gone I will replace it with a standard chambering. Barlow

 

[Coolhand]

Barlow/Outrider , I had a re visit with the local barrel maker to chew over a few things re the Swift, he told me that he built one years back on an early Sako receiver that belonged to his Dad. He stuck a 1:16 26" tube on it, only because it was laying about and was curious to see the results , he uses 40 grain Nosler BT exclusively for wild dogs and the result is devastating to behold !

I think I will go the .220AI , plenty of Norma 220 Swift Brass available but suitable receivers are scarce at the moment.

regards
Mike.