.220 Swift range report

[1000yardstare]

Just bought a Rem 700 VSSF in .220 Swift and have been working up loads for it. Beautiful rifle, great trigger. Puts five 45s, 50s or 55 SPs into 7/16 at 100 metres (110 yds) on a regular basis. The plastic tipped 55s open up to 7/8. I suspect they are too long for the 14 twist barrel. Am sure I can put 5 into 1/4 inch at 100 once it warms up enough to shed the gloves and overcoat.

Went out to 300 metres (330 yds) today. Gusty headwind, some sun, 10C (50 F). The mirage was coming straight at me so I shot on no mirage. Got the 5 shot 1 5/16 group shown below with 50 VMax seated .020 off the lands. Chronos at 3810 fps with RL15. The inner light circle is 1/2 moa, inner dark circle 1 moa. The squeeker out at 12 o`clock came on a boil just as I pulled the trigger. Elevation at 100 meters is 3", half that of a 155 out of a .308.

Have been inconsistent at 300 yards in F Class competition with my 6AI which is dynamite at 900 and 1000. Am seriously thinking of using the Swift for the 300 yard targets at this summer`s F Class competitions. Will try 52 and 53 hp match bullets next to see if I can squeeze the group any tighter than the one below which is 0.40 moa.

 

[TRECustom]

Good info. I've got a 12 twist that I haven't been able to shoot more than about 20 rds. Looks like the best bullets will center around 50grs. Velocities so far are just slightly higher out of the 26" Lilja barrel. A fun rifle to shoot.

Thanks for taking the time, Tom

 

[357Mag]

.220 Swif report

1K -
Howdy !

Those 55s.... in fact..... ALL .224" calibre 55gr bullets should work just fine with your twist.

For a 1-14 twist, the upper stability limit is more like
60 grainers..... and those bullets themselves will need to be under .75" in oal.

It'd be interesting to see what a Swift-sized.224" cal case could do in 1-12.... shooting Sierra 65SPBTs.
THAT combo oughta be nearly unbeatable for all-around
shooting for 500 and under.

Your definitely in need of some WW760, H414, I4350; or VV160. If you haven't yet... by all means DO try some FED LR Magnum Match primers, along w/ the above powders.

My custom hyper velocity .224" wildcat rifle was
set-up for Hornady 55SXSP. Despite my best efforts over 25+yr and two barrels ( 1-14 and 1-8 ); I never found a more accurate bullet... that includes all polys, and all 52-53s ( custom bullets too ).
Yes.... that flat base DOES scrub-off a lot of vel compared to the more aero bullets.
But.... you start it off w/ a bunch of vel, and 55SX'
terminals are STILL great when it " gets there "

Best of luck in your endeavors.

Regards,
357Mag

 

[1000yardstare]

357mag, thanks for your input.

I actually tried H414 with 50s and 55s and did not get the accuracy as when using faster powders such as RL15. IMR 4064 is good but hard to find up here north of the border.

The Sierra manual says 10 twist or faster for the 65 spbt. Might work in a 12 twist but I am hesitant to try them in a 14 twist.

The most consistently accurate 55 I have tried is the Sierra 55 spbt. Put 5 into 2 inches (0.60 moa) at 300 metres. Chronos at 3600 fps with RL15.

The 55 spbt are 0.11" shorter than the 55 BKing which lets them stabilize out of a 14 twist. I am lucky to get a 1 inch group at 100 with the BKings.If you look very closely at a 55 BKing hole in the target paper, some are just slightly oval which indicates they are marginally stabile.

 

[Laurie]

An 'interesting' choice of cartridge for target shooting. You have shares in a barrelmaking company and do your own gunsmithing, I presume?

Seriously, as Oscar Wilde reputedly said:

"You should try everything once with the exception of incest and Morris dancing."

(For my US friends, Google "Morris dance" and see the Wikipedia entry including pics of guys dancing in wierd costumes with bells attached to their legs, Yes, really! I kid you not.)

Laurie,
York, England

 

[1000yardstare]

Laurie, roger on "shares in a barrel company". The Swift is a barrel burner. I keep velocities 150 fps or so off max in an attempt to extend barrel life. I just got my RSO certification for Canadian Army ranges so this might cut down on my practise time a bit. But I expect a new barrel will be needed by the end of the Summer.

The eventual new cartridge might be the .240 Cobra, the .220 AI necked up to 6mm. Or I might increase the dividends from the barrel company and go with the .220 AI.

But the Rem 700 VSSF and .220 Swift are such an accurate combination and a pure pleasure to shoot that I will definetly try it at 300 in the first few F Class practises starting in April. Hope the snow is all gone by then.

 

[BoydAllen]

I have shot Varget with 55s and H380 with 50s. I find that with my Savage loading .010 longer than touch, as measured with a Sinclair rod and collar setup gives better accuracy. Since having that particular caliber was a fluke ( I got a heck of a deal.) and I don't need top Swift velocities, I just load for accuracy at a reasonable velocity, something that would make a 22-250 shooter happy.

 

[cliffy]

I've never triggered a .220 Swift, so I'm envious. But, thanks for your skillful insight into the greatest .22 Centerfire ever produced. Cliffy

 

[white121]

I bought one of those VSSF 220 swifts a couple years ago and it flat out shot 1 hole with anything I put through it, a dime would cover a 5 shot group at 200 every time. But I was dumb and ripped the barrel off (at less than 200 rounds)because I wanted a custom rifle and ordered a krieger for a 243ai. Long story short is I built this rifles for f-class/hunting and with all the work and money( trued, lapped the lugs, holland recoil lug,bedded, barreled, trigger) it never shot as good as the factory 220 swift, dont get me wrong the rifle shot real good and was a competitor but never quite as good as the original 220 swift. Someone off here bought that barrel and I am sure they are still laughing!

Go for it! If not I will take the barrel off your hands

Shaun

 

[1000yardstare]

Today shot 55 gr Sierra spbt over RL15, .020 off the lands, chronos at 3650 fps. Put 5 into 7/8 (0.27 moa) at 300 metres. Pix below. Inner lite circle is 1/2 moa. No wind. First group so not quite centered.

I can recommend the Rem 700 VSSF in .220 Swift to anyone. Incredible rifle.

 

[Laurie]

Impressive to put it mildly for a factory rifle! Also, I'm impressed that it did this with expanding sporting bullets - shows just how good those Sierras are.

Laurie

 

[KevinL]

I built a 220 swift last fall with a 9 twist for a fun project got it late enouph I have only shot about 45 rounds threw it so far around 20 in az 2weeks ago and so far love it 55 grn sierras will stay in and under 1/4 inch and hope to try some hevys in a week or two snow is melting hear so I can get out a little more !
Sounds to me you have a good factory gun!!
Kevin

 

[fordwrench]

Had that same gun. Wish I never sold it w the 55 match bullets use n160 or h4831. Almost a full case of powder and great speed and accuracy

 

[Ole]

357Mag, not quite true what you said about a 1x14 twist handling all 55gr .224 cal bullets. I have a 40X in .220 Swift with the 1x14 twist and it will not group 55gr Sierra Blitzkings at all, shotgun pattern is more like it. I called Sierra and was told the Blitzking is to long and I would need a 1x12 twist to stabilize them.

Ole

 

[Gary in MD]

I have always had the best luck in my swift with the traditional 4064 combining speed and accuracy, almost always with 55gr. bullets. Would like to try VV-160. What velocity are the VV users getting?
Thanks, Gary

 

[sscoyote]

Man those are some great groups you're shooting sir!

I've been playing around with some of the JLK Low Drags over several years now--52/14 twist/BC-.302, 60/12/.339, and 65/10/.395. Only had one rig they wouldn't best every bullet tried so far, and the 60 out of a buddies factory Svg. Striker 22-250 does <.5 MOA most of the time. Went out after developing a load for that rig, calcd. a zero for 425 using the 4.5-14x Burris FFII Ballistic Plex reticle, and shot a 3-shot 2.5" group cloverleafed. Man was i impressed with that load.

 

[deadlyswift]

357Mag, not quite true what you said about a 1x14 twist handling all 55gr .224 cal bullets. I have a 40X in .220 Swift with the 1x14 twist and it will not group 55gr Sierra Blitzkings at all, shotgun pattern is more like it. I called Sierra and was told the Blitzking is to long and I would need a 1x12 twist to stabilize them.

Ole

I agree with the 55gr blitz king. My swift is a 1in14 It will shoot the 55gr ok but it want hold a candle to the 50gr blitz king in the 1in14. The 55gr would shoot tight groups at 100, but when you step it out to 300 or more the 1in14 defenitly seems to be too slow for it.

 

[357Mag]

Ole -

Suprised by your 1-14 experience.....

My .22-35 wildcat shot 55gr any-bullets just fine.

Boxes of Hornady 55gr SXSP's come w/ a velocity warning... to not exceed a certain amount of FPS.

I called to tell Steve Hornady, that I was regularly launching .224 cal 55SX's
above 3,600fps. Steve H. commented that the only way I was able to
"get away with it " was that my twist was 1-14.

I'm wondering if there might be some other mitigating circumstance, whether it might be the qual/condition of your barrel ?? Or, some difference in the depth of of your barrel's rifling; or so forth ? Hmmm..... Curious.

Iv'e owned or loaded for/shot a bunch of various case capacity .224 centerfires.
They ALL did well w/ 55s.

55gr .224's and 1-14 twist are like corn flakes & milk.

With regards,
357Mag

 

[1000yardstare]

357mag, the problem is the plastic tipped 55s. They are too long for a 14 twist.

You had good luck with the Hornady SX lead tipped 55s and I have good groups with the lead tipped Sierra 55s. The lead tips are roughly 0.1 inch shorter than the plastic tips which lets them stabilize in a 14 twist.