.220 Swift vs. 6mm Remington

[danny]

I am not sure if this belongs here because of the added 6 mm content, so, move it if needed. I have a couple of .220 Swift Varmint rifles for woodchucks. I have components for shooting 6 mm Remington, but no rifles currently. I have run some ballistics programs but will ask some advice for added information. Is there any reason or advantage to have a 6mm Remington rifle set up for woodchucks over a comparable .220 Swift?

Thanks,

Danny

 

[mac86951]

Yes, bullet selection would be the key.

A hunter needs to have a complete understanding of entire package for ideal cartridge and rifle selection. 6mm bullets allow the shooter to have higher BC examples, allowing for longer shots. Unfortunately, heavier bullet and more powder will mean more recoil for same velocity. With a proper smith and chamber set-up I'll say everything else being equal, accuracy will be equivalent.

If you have no need for longer chuck shots, nor wish to use the rifle for larger game (deer); the definition of "better" quickly becomes user choice and opinion. For myself, I'd be more inclined to remain with the .224 bullets as I see the selection and availability keeping constant or increasing as long as the military supports that caliber. 6mm bullets and powder are available, but due to supply / demand tend to cost more.

Finally, I'd be curious to see barrel life between the two, and Id be sure to talk with varminters who might be firing 200 before cleaning the bore.

-Mac

 

[snert]

On this question I have some experience. My varminting is traditional eastern woodchuck. Most shooting is between 250 and 650 yards, with traditional bullet weights for both 220 and 6 Rem. I use a 14 twist 220 with 55 and 50 grain bullets. I use a "normal twist" 6mm Rem with up to 80 grain bullets, but mostly Sierra 70 and Hornady 75. i do not run max charges.

In simple terms, both shoot about the same accuracy wise. Where I find the difference is at the longer distances and DRT ability. The numbers indicate that i should expect very similar results. However, the groundhogs seem to be willing to die right there a little better with a hit by the 6mm. I like my chucks to flop over dead, and I like the 6mm Rem for doing that. Up closer, both cartridges seem to make pieces about the same.

 

[rcol317]

I shoot both but I believe the 220 Swift seems a little harder on barrels then the 6mm. I'm assuming the same powder down a smaller pipe is the reason. Seems the 243's been harder on the throat than the 6mm Ackley I shoot. Not sure why? Just my observation and am surprised because the 6mm Ackley's pushing more powder down the same size pipe?

 

[stacy]

MY OLD 6MM DOES A STAND UP JOB MY SWIFT DIDN'T LAST LONG !!!!!!

 

[yotehater]

I shoot both also Danny.
The Swift doesn't spook them as bad but the 6mm makes sure they don't crawl off. With coyotes I'd recommend the swift as the 6mm Rem will all but scare away a double. Unless you are looking to eliminate a calf killer those need to be blown out like the 6mm will do. Forget about the fur. Both seem about the same on wind drift with the lighter pills. On prairie poodles the Swift is my choice on extreme range with the 17s or smaller .224s.
under 300 yds.

 

[P72]

I have a .243, 6mm AI, and a .22-.250. For the 6mm's I use 87 VMax and 95 Berger VLD's. For the .22-.250 I use 70 Berger VLD and 75 Amax bullets. Paper ballistics are very similar between the 6mm;s and .22-.250 but I use 10-14 grains less powder for the .22-.250 with less recoil and blast. Barrel life might be better. The situation with the Swift would be sort of the same but brass might be more difficult to buy than for the .22-.250. I make my 6mm AI brass from 7X57 and fire forming and neck turning is a bother. Of the bunch the 87 VMax is the most destructive and the .22 bullets mentioned seem to "ice pick" rodents but slam yotes.

For high volume rodent removal I like the .20's - they use 10 or so less grains of powder than the .22-.250 and don't heat up as fast.

I tend to lump differences rather than split differences and prefer simplicity.

 

[WyleWD]

I am not sure if this belongs here because of the added 6 mm content, so, move it if needed. I have a couple of .220 Swift Varmint rifles for woodchucks. I have components for shooting 6 mm Remington, but no rifles currently. I have run some ballistics programs but will ask some advice for added information. Is there any reason or advantage to have a 6mm Remington rifle set up for woodchucks over a comparable .220 Swift?

Thanks,

Danny

I've chuck hunted with a 220 Swift and a 243 for quite a long time. If you're hunting coyotes, chucks, and the like the Swift will fill all your needs. If antelope, goats, sheep, deer, etc are also on your hunting menu or in the future, then a 243 or 6mm Remington would be a nice compliment to your gun safe. Chuck hunting with the 6mm would keep you familiar with and give you practice with your larger game rifle too. And that is a very good thing.

So to answer your question directly, for simply chuck hunting at safe, normal, and reasonable distances... no advantage, the Swift will fill your needs. JME WD

 

[1raggedhole]

6mm bullet BCs are better. They will handle the wind better, so I think it's a better choice for long range (500+).
I don't think any animals can tell the difference between 220 swift and 6mm.

 

[P72]

Shooting 70 VLD & 75 Amax bullets in a 1-8 twist .22-.250 or .220 Swift is quite different than the old approach of a 1-14 twist 50 grain bullet at 3800 plus. True the drop will be less with the 50 grain bullet at 3800 plus but hit probability over 500 on the usual windy days will greatly increase with 70 VLD that can be driven close to 3400 fps. Looking at the form factor (not BC) business in comparing the 70 VLD with the heavier 75 Amax they are close to being the same but the 70 VLD can be driven almost 200 fps faster. Essentially, performance at the rodent grounds is slightly better with the .224 70 VLD than the .243 87 gr VMax except the VMax is more destructive. Powder charges to drive the 87 VMax out of a .243 at some what less velocity than a 70 VLD out of a .22-.250 are about 10 grains more, producing more blast and recoil.

For zipping through the wind with a nice flat trajectory the 6mm AI is better yet. The 95 grain VLD at 3300 (+-) but barrel life and real fine accuracy is not as good as the smaller 6mm's. I use over 50 grains of powder in mine but blast is more noticeable but the recoil from a 12 pound rifle is light.

My preference for a .22-.250 or .220 Swift would be a 26 inch long barrel of at least #4 contour and 1-8 twist. Should you want, the 1-8 twist shoots the 53 VMax just fine also.

 

[AckleymanII]

I am on a another wave length, I like to make chucks fly, just like Tiger Wood would hit them off a golf T!

For flying chucks, it takes bullet weight, and I have shot thousands of them. IN the 6 Remington, max load of R#19 with a 80g Sierra Blitz bt is awesome at 3500-3600 fps will get the job done, helicopters abound!

The swift with a 55g Sierra Blitz king at 4000 puts on a show also!

 

[fredo]

Making a rockchuck cartwheel off a slab of granite makes for a wonderful launchpad. Lots easier to achieve acrobatics than trying to launch an eastern 'chuck that is peekin' thru 10" of alfalfa. I've blasted plenty of eastern chucks with my 7WSM, 162 Amax @ 3K, and have yet to see one leave the ground. Bits & pieces fly, no doubt! But you western guys can get some real hang-time by shootin' your chucks off a rock solid trampoline!

Lucky dawgs...