220 Swift factory rifles ?
- Thread starter PRR1957
- Start date
jackson1
Silver $$ Contributor
Spent a lifetime shooting and enjoying both the Swift and the 22-250. Bought them in the 70's. Tastes change as did mine, while I still enjoy them, couple of years ago built a 222 on a 40X action and it is now my 22 of choice. Back then I was greatly influenced by the gun magazines of the day. As my personal firearms knowledge grew I came to cherish efficiency over velocity. Maybe that kind of thinking has influenced today's manufacturers.
SSL
Gold $$ Contributor
It's hard to blame manufacturers for not chambering calibers that, statistically, aren't popular enough for wide distribution. I've had a few .220 Swifts in the past (all Rugers) and enjoyed them. Unfortunately there are far more popular cartridges around that accomplish the same thing, just minus the nostalgia. Demand warrants production.
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
There are still still Winchesters, Remingtons, Rugers in the mighty Swift floating around. You just have to keep your eyes open. You can also buy an off the shelf Cooper.
If you want the king of varmint cartridges then don’t be without one!
Gary
If you want the king of varmint cartridges then don’t be without one!
Gary
Bangs OH
Silver $$ Contributor
Out of those manufacturers mentioned by the OP, only Remington and Ruger have recently chambered rifles in .220 Swift (haven’t checked, but Ruger might still be running some in their M77 VTs.) Also could still be a New Old Stock stainless/Tupperware VSF, or even the similar VSSF with the H-S Precision stock sitting on a dealer’s shelf somewhere.
Of course - if one has the coin - an already-built Cooper might qualify (First Stop Gun is showing a nice Model 54 Phoenix now.) And, although not factory and if one wants to wait: Shaw can build you a Swift on their modified Savage action with several barrel twist options for around a grand; can’t remember if that’s available in Swift as a repeater or not.
A couple years ago, I bought a like-new Ruger Varmint/Target in .220 Swift on Gunbroker. It’s a dandy, and I know it will shoot; just have to find that first and only load that did so well. Only recently got around to getting that rifle back out, and realized I didn’t write anything down, thinking at the time I would “remember” the bullet, grains and type of powder, etc,. Yeah, right. Don’t get old.
Of course - if one has the coin - an already-built Cooper might qualify (First Stop Gun is showing a nice Model 54 Phoenix now.) And, although not factory and if one wants to wait: Shaw can build you a Swift on their modified Savage action with several barrel twist options for around a grand; can’t remember if that’s available in Swift as a repeater or not.
A couple years ago, I bought a like-new Ruger Varmint/Target in .220 Swift on Gunbroker. It’s a dandy, and I know it will shoot; just have to find that first and only load that did so well. Only recently got around to getting that rifle back out, and realized I didn’t write anything down, thinking at the time I would “remember” the bullet, grains and type of powder, etc,. Yeah, right. Don’t get old.
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AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
Try AA2700 in your next Swift, it is magic with 50 & 55g Bullets
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Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
Just did a quick search on Gunbroker There are 25 listed under bolt action and 220 Swift right now
PRR -
Howdy !
Winchester backed away from the .220 Swift as a factory chambering after offering it for 29yr. Their follow-on chambering .225Win was a mis-step.
Remington sealed the deal by offering the .22-250 as a factory chambering, thereby shuttling the Swift off to being a niche cartridge back in 1965.
Yeh.....commercially, the ‘Swift has been barely hangin on; encountered now & again ....thanx to Savage in the -70s w/ their 112V; and Ruger 77s.
The oft discussed barrel life for .220Swifts has been negatively impacted to a degree, by reloaders who try for 4,000fps when shooting 55gr bullets from factory-length barrel’s. The 4,000 fps load from way back used a 47gr bullet. Putting 4,000fps on a 55gr .224” cal varmint bullet takes some doing, and it don’t come free.
.220 Swift case and also custom-reloaded cartridge oal’s can influence a shooter to go w/ another cartridge. To achieve performance rivaling a Swift, shorter cases of necessity must feature larger base and shoulder diameters, especially if a sharp shoulder is used in conjunction w/ a neck that’s completely filled by the bullet’ body.
In theory..... use of long VLDs in a repeating bolt rifle chambered in.220 Swift could drive one to choosing a long action. Again, we can see the appeal of different.224” cal chamberings....ones that offer
rival case capacity and performance....while using a < 2.00” case oal for a mag- fed application.
I myself wanted something more than .22-250 level performance.
My choice was to wildcat .35 Remington by necking the case down to .224 .
My best friend shot a 112V .220 Swift during the same time I used my
.22-35 for groundhog shooting. I never once felt underserved. We both shot Hornady’s superlative 55SX
With regards,
357Mag
Howdy !
Winchester backed away from the .220 Swift as a factory chambering after offering it for 29yr. Their follow-on chambering .225Win was a mis-step.
Remington sealed the deal by offering the .22-250 as a factory chambering, thereby shuttling the Swift off to being a niche cartridge back in 1965.
Yeh.....commercially, the ‘Swift has been barely hangin on; encountered now & again ....thanx to Savage in the -70s w/ their 112V; and Ruger 77s.
The oft discussed barrel life for .220Swifts has been negatively impacted to a degree, by reloaders who try for 4,000fps when shooting 55gr bullets from factory-length barrel’s. The 4,000 fps load from way back used a 47gr bullet. Putting 4,000fps on a 55gr .224” cal varmint bullet takes some doing, and it don’t come free.
.220 Swift case and also custom-reloaded cartridge oal’s can influence a shooter to go w/ another cartridge. To achieve performance rivaling a Swift, shorter cases of necessity must feature larger base and shoulder diameters, especially if a sharp shoulder is used in conjunction w/ a neck that’s completely filled by the bullet’ body.
In theory..... use of long VLDs in a repeating bolt rifle chambered in.220 Swift could drive one to choosing a long action. Again, we can see the appeal of different.224” cal chamberings....ones that offer
rival case capacity and performance....while using a < 2.00” case oal for a mag- fed application.
I myself wanted something more than .22-250 level performance.
My choice was to wildcat .35 Remington by necking the case down to .224 .
My best friend shot a 112V .220 Swift during the same time I used my
.22-35 for groundhog shooting. I never once felt underserved. We both shot Hornady’s superlative 55SX
With regards,
357Mag
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
I will always have a spot for the swift in my safe, I’ve had a few and absolutely love it. I’m sure there are other choices to get that little bullet zinging but there is something about the swift I really like. Some of the most terrific kills shots I’ve seen on prairie dogs and varmints have been with a swift, fun!
They are harder to find but brass isn’t. The two best I’ve had was a Remington VSSF, had a weak moment and sold it. I still have a heavy Varmint Winchester, it will go to my sons, both of those rifles are very accurate. I never owned one of the Rugers. I had one custom built and it had feeding issues bad enough I sold it (full disclosure to the new owner).
If you hunt the used market try and find one with a low round count, I’m not sure that’s a caliber I’d buy if someone had really used it hard. My brother also owns a Winchester heavy varmint, they do t come up often but they are worth the wait when they do.
They are harder to find but brass isn’t. The two best I’ve had was a Remington VSSF, had a weak moment and sold it. I still have a heavy Varmint Winchester, it will go to my sons, both of those rifles are very accurate. I never owned one of the Rugers. I had one custom built and it had feeding issues bad enough I sold it (full disclosure to the new owner).
If you hunt the used market try and find one with a low round count, I’m not sure that’s a caliber I’d buy if someone had really used it hard. My brother also owns a Winchester heavy varmint, they do t come up often but they are worth the wait when they do.
WyleWD
Silver $$ Contributor
Your money on a 220 Swift would be BEST spent by going either with a Cooper, or finding a Remington Varminter with a poor barrel and having a premium stainless barrel chambered for it. Many of the barrel makers can even turn and chamber the barrel for you. Douglas is one that comes to mind and perhaps Hart and others may do this. I've owned and operated 5 swifts in my lifetime, the two best ones are custom built, I liked the Remington action best. Is it worth the extra? If you truly want a swift yes it is. I say that because factory offerings, especially the quality of barrels on some of them are a joke and a waste of money.
That being said...….. if you want a 220 Swift don't let someone talk you out of it as the Swift is the king of the varminter rifles. The first time you hit a coyote, rockchuck, armadillo, or woodchuck with a 50-55gr bullet from a 12-14tw barrel you'll see what I mean. Winchester makes very serviceable brass for hunting purposes, Norma makes extremely good brass as well. The only varmint rifle that I've ever seen in person perform close to it was a 22xc which could easily enough be made too. JME. WD
Thanks all for the replies.
I had a Swift once back in 1992 when Remington first offered the 700 Varmint Synthetic. It had a 24” barrel. With massaged Norma cases, Nosler 50 gr BT, Fed 210M, and AA2700 or IMR 4064 it would only get 3800 FPS. I could not get any more velocity before heavy bolt lift. It shot sub 1/4” groups, so accuracy was fine, but with only 22-250 velocities, but burning more powder I kind of lost interest. My shooting buddy had a Ruger Laminated 77Mk II Varmint that with the same load hit 4050 FPS. This kind of annoyed me. I traded it with his one neighbor for a Remington 700 PSS in 223 that shot with prepped Lapua cases, Nosler 50 gr BT, Rem. 7-1/2, and Win 748 shot groups in the .010” range. So yeah I gave up velocity for greater accuracy.
I’m just curious if the 220 Swift was still alive as for a reasonably priced factory gun, not from one of the smaller custom boutique builders.
I had a Swift once back in 1992 when Remington first offered the 700 Varmint Synthetic. It had a 24” barrel. With massaged Norma cases, Nosler 50 gr BT, Fed 210M, and AA2700 or IMR 4064 it would only get 3800 FPS. I could not get any more velocity before heavy bolt lift. It shot sub 1/4” groups, so accuracy was fine, but with only 22-250 velocities, but burning more powder I kind of lost interest. My shooting buddy had a Ruger Laminated 77Mk II Varmint that with the same load hit 4050 FPS. This kind of annoyed me. I traded it with his one neighbor for a Remington 700 PSS in 223 that shot with prepped Lapua cases, Nosler 50 gr BT, Rem. 7-1/2, and Win 748 shot groups in the .010” range. So yeah I gave up velocity for greater accuracy.
I’m just curious if the 220 Swift was still alive as for a reasonably priced factory gun, not from one of the smaller custom boutique builders.
None of the mainstream manufacturers chamber a 220 swift any more. I think Remington was the last, Ruger before that. I would have loved one built on a Sako AII or L579 action or a factory Win M70.
Mine is a Ruger M77 with a tang safety. It has been re-barrelled to a 30 degree version and then re-chambered back to standard swift. It shoots 50gr Vmax and Nosler BTs into tiny groups and I love it to pieces. I will always have one.
Mine is a Ruger M77 with a tang safety. It has been re-barrelled to a 30 degree version and then re-chambered back to standard swift. It shoots 50gr Vmax and Nosler BTs into tiny groups and I love it to pieces. I will always have one.
Check Gunbroker
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I have always wanted a Swift. I keep looking. Only factory rifles I find made new is Remington. Those are all out of stock. Until then I'll shoot one of my 22-250's.
The way I got my 220 swift, was to buy a cheap Remington 700 (mine was a 30-06 originally) then buy a low use, or new take-off factory Remington 700 barrel in .223 or .222, and have it re-chambered to a swift. When I had a gunsmith do mine, it didn't cost much, the finish on the barrel & action matched, and on a Remington 700 even a long action feeds the swift great.
I have never done it, but on a Savage 10/110 shouldn't you be able to buy a .223 and have it re-chambered, then change the bolt head ? I'm not sure if it would require feed rail work or not?
I have never done it, but on a Savage 10/110 shouldn't you be able to buy a .223 and have it re-chambered, then change the bolt head ? I'm not sure if it would require feed rail work or not?
mensajd
Quod Erat Demonstrandum
Not a fan or detractor of the swift but laser rangefinders and high BC bullets have probably obsoleted old school swifts having factory slow twist barrels. If you like it for nostalgic reasons, then fine but there are a bunch of wildcats that can be built using standard dies with different bushings/decapping rods that are better varmint rounds.
Like yotehater, mine is a single shot Savage 112 with the heavy barrel - blue action, stainless barrel, brown laminated stock. Have had it for quite a number of years, so I guess, from the comments above, that Savage no longer chambers the 112 in 220 Swift.
I have a 220 swift in a ruger M77 heavy barrel. The thing flat shoots! I’m shooting 52 gr amax bullets with imr-4064 behind it at 3800 FPS. It will flat splatter a ground hog. A lot of hype on these new cartridges for marketing reasons. Not a one out there will do something a swift won’t do! If you want one get another one. I love mine and don’t feel one bit inferior due to its age. Seems like today the only cartridges capable are the .224 valkery and the 6.5 creedmoor!!
Will always have at least 1 in the cabinet for a swift, current what I shoot is Rem 700 Classic, has killed pot full of coyotes, Ruger target, shoots very good, unfired swifts new Ruger target, Rem 700 vssf and a 98 Mauser, guess couple shots on it to check case. H414 with the 2 and 52 gr Sierra matchking, does good job on what your shooting at.
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