Switch Barrel Wanted - Can't Decide What Caliber

[Safety1]

I am looking at purchasing a switch barrel for my gun. It is a
Savage - Model 10 - Tactical - .223 - SA

I am undecised between .204, .220 Swift, and .22-250

I have heard both good and bad reviews for all three. I like the speed of all three, the accuracy seems spot on, but the "barrel burner" capabilities of the .220 swift and the
.22-250 have gotten me a little concerned. You guys and gals have way more expertice on this, than I do, and I respect any and all information that you may rpovide.

 

[7stwhunter]

i would go with the 204 out of that list just for the simple fact that it uses the same bolt face as the .223

 

[RDavies]

But you could always be different and go with a 14/221, 17 Rem and 300 Whisper like I did.

 

[bohemR13]

The 204 Ruger is a barrel smoker too, not so much as the 220 and 22-250 but it will eat the barrel faster than a 223 does. Have you looked into a 20 Tact? It's the same brass as the 223 necked down. This would save you from having to buy more brass too. It's 2-300 fps slower than the 204 Ruger, it's not going to burn out barrels as quickly, and you can use the brass you have on hand but still get around 38-3900 on 32 grain 20 caliber bullets.

 

[RJinTexas]

Patrick, The 20 Tac is a great round, you can purchase 20 Tac new brass from Midway, it has a Dakota head stamp but it made buy Lapua, and yes it does shot better then your formed .223 brass after all it's Lapua. If I was going to use .223 brass I just chamber in 20 Practical, Then you'd just be necking down and not need to fire-form, you can then use your.223 bushing dies, you'd only have to change out the bushing. Save you $$$ on brass and dies.

Then there's the 2 VarTarg it's my favorite 20 caliber, deadly accurate, no recoil, watch your hits and misses, cheep to shoot. Just neck down the .221 Fireball brass.

You can find more info one recommended loads on the 20 caliber pages.

RJ

 

[BradY]

Im currently building a 20 practical with warren b's original reamer. Its going to be my main varminting rifle. If I had a 223 barrel that i was going to keep, then i would load 40gr bullets and use that for varminting and have maybe somthing a tad different either a 300 whisper or a 6mm-223. But if you want a faster cal varminter, look at keeping the 223 then doing either a 20 practical or 204 ruger, or even a 17 fireball on the new barrel

 

[tdboomer]

When you get ready for the switch barrel check out LPR gunsmithing. google it. I had a 221 fireball and a 6mm-222rem mag made as a switch barrel...I love the way he sets them up..may look a little different but it works.

 

[fdshuster]

I'll verify what bohemR13 said about the 204 Ruger being a 'barrel smoker'. As seen with my 'Hawkeye', at a documented 673 rds. fired, velocity averages 3700 to 3850, so not really being 'pushed', and I'm already seeing the beginning of some serious firecracking in front of the chamber. By the same token, several 223 barrels at 1500 to 2100 rds fired still look 'as new'.

 

[olympian]

.22BR

Reasons:
stellar accuracy
great velocity
great bullet availability
much better barrel life than the larger .22 centerfires
works well with several powders
great brass is available for necking down
reloading is easy