220 Swift w/ CFE 223?

[Toolbreaker]

Starting to help a friend develop a load for his 220 Swift using 50 gn. V-max's. He has a little bit of IMR 4064 to start off with, but he's sitting on quite a bit of CFE 223. Looking at the burn rate & case volume, it should work well with this cartridge, but I have no idea where to start with it. Has anyone experimented with this powder & cartridge combo? Thanks in advance,

Jim

 

[357Mag]

Toolbreaker -

Howdy !

I do understand the reason you stated, for the desired use of CFE-223.

None-the-less, I feel compelled to share that ( IMHO ) more-favorable internal ballistics results would likely be found using powders like
VV155, IMR 4007, IMR 4350, WW760, VV160; et al. More to the point, obtainable " load densities " would be greater when using powders like the ( comparatively ) slower burning ones just listed.

For many years I campaigned a .22-35Rem wildcat, that had case capacity very close to that of the .220 Swift.
When shooting 50gr .224" cal bullets ( 50 SX ) out of a 24" Hart SS 1-14 5-groove, H380 proved a tad too " fast " on burn rate;
while loads w/ IMR4350 and WW760 provided over-all better load densities, accuracy; and ballistics. In my gun w/ my loads,
WW760, VV160, and IMR4350 outperformed IMR 4064 on all counts; which ( for me ) proved also to be the case when comparing these powders when used in multiple 24" 1-14 .22-250s.

Anywayz, best of luck with your buddie's endeavor !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[WyleWD]

I've owned 3 different 220 Swifts. The first 2 shot very well with 4064. The one I have now far prefers WW760. It also shoots well with N550 and H414. All of this is with the 50gr NBT or 50gr Vmax. WD

 

[charlesasmith]

Not sure if you care, but I will be trying 53 gr V-Maxs in my Swift as it has a higher BC than the 50 gr V-Max. However, I was told by a Hornady tech to make sure the barrel was at least a 12 twist and nothing slower to make the bullet work. I will use either H414 or Win 760 as they are the same powders. Found that out using the QuiickLoad program. Apparently Winchester makes H414 for Hodgdon. As an aside, also found out that Olin (Win) WC844 is H335. Did not know about both for many years until the past few weeks.

I am also going to try Nosler (Norma) brass to see if it holds up longer than Winchester brass.

Chuck

 

[Toolbreaker]

Thanks for the help, guys. I'll look into the IMR 4350. He & I both have some 4007 (great powder), but I hate to work up a new load using it since apparently IMR isn't going to produce it anymore. I'll give the 4064 a run for it's money first & see how it performs. I'll also check & see if he's got some H414/W760.

Jim

PS. Charlesasmith, I run the 53 gn. V-Max in my 9-twist .223. It's a great bullet. His swift is only 1-14, though.

 

[expiper]

JIm,,,,I have used some "fast" powders in my 22-250's over the years,with light bulltes (55 gr and smaller) ,,such as Benchmark-322-133,,,with excellent groups and good vel.,,,I wuld use aprox the same ammount of 223 and give it a try,,,you are burning less than if you use 4350 etc and that means better bbl life,,,you will loose some vel but gain much accuracy ,,,Roger

 

[Changeling]

I have been shooting the 220 Swift for a long time from Remington model 700.

I can't help you sir with CFE 223.

The swift was designed to literally be a "HELL ON WHEELS" type of cartridge, and that is exactly what it is!
If you want to load it down Sir, you don't need a 220 Swift, get a 222/223/PPC/22 Hornet/whatever! The Swift will never work for you. It was never meant to be a slave calibre but the "KING" of .22's!
There is a lot of BS out there about it wearing out barrels in 500 shots! This is correct if one takes it to a big prairie dog town and burns up the barrel by shooting non stop! It is NOT a PD type calibre.

However loaded to it's max with powders like IMR4064/H380/ RL15 it will show you what a true race horse it is, with EXCELLENT accuracy and good barrel life. You simply have to let it run cool somewhat, like a ghog rifle.

 

[40X Guy]

I looked on my Quickload program and CFE223 is not listed, so I can't help you with a starting point. But Changeling's recent post I agree with 100%. If you have some IMR-4064 start around 37.5 grains with 53 or 55 grain bullets and watch your chrony give you numbers you have never saw before. I have 2 Swifts, one a 13 twist setup strictly for 55 BT's with H-414 powder @ 42.5 grains which is a mild 3,876 fps. I can go up to 44 grains in my rifle but accuracy falls off and velocity is over 4000 fps easily. My other Swift is a newly completed project set up for 75 A-Max with a 28 inch 8 twist Rock Creek barrel. This one acheives 3,612 fps with an undisclosed amount of N550. I run this rifle on the hot side and it is a true laser! I did not see the need to improve the case as its already overbore. Long live the king!

Frank

 

[40X Guy]

Dave, I definately need to upgrade as its been probably 1.5 years since I did.

I do have about 3 pounds of the CFE223 and have yet to try it. Will roll some up later this summer in my .223 bolt rifle and try it.

Frank

 

[Toolbreaker]

Thanks for the help, guys. Dave Berg, thanks much for the Quickload info. I got to admit, those numbers you posted look good . I'd crunched some data & was figuring on a starting point of 40 grains. I'm still going to run through his 4064 first, but I'm also going to load a few starting loads of the CFE & see what the chronograph tells me, at least to satisfy my curiosity at this point.

 

[40X Guy]

Toolbreaker, keep us posted on the CFE223 in the Swift... I'm curious how it works out for your friend..

Frank