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The 220 is still swift

Gary in MD

Gold $$ Contributor
I finally got out last weekend. The grass is getting high, but we usually like to wait until the females are done nursing so we don't wipe out a whole den by killing the mother (more targets and seed for next time).
I was able to get my latest 220 swift "bloodied". I decided to try a walking type varmint rifle after many years of lugging around 14 pounders. I special ordered a Cooper Jackson Game Rifle. It is shooting pretty good so far. I killed (3) at 322, 312, & 295 yards. I missed the first one at 312 yards, I held just a little high.....and that's right where I hit. LOL. I'll try and post a picture, but mine don't show up too well on here.
Gary
 

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Kool. I like the Swift too. A friend of mine says they are high shooters - I keep telling him you don't need to hold over so much when using a good gun. :)
 
Very cool! Love the Swifts! I whacked 2 saturday evening with my 8 twist Swift shooting 75 A-Max. Incredibly flat shooter, only need 9-10 clicks on my NF scope (1/8 MOA) to get on center at 300 from 100 yards.

You've got a beautiful rifle! What are your load specs?

Frank
 
Thanks, Frank.
I have always used 4064 in the Swift, but this one I am trying Hunter with a 55 gr V max.
I always use the 50/55 grain varmint bullets. Here in the East I have to have full "bullet blow up"... Pushed by the Swift....They do blow up!
I have not run this load over the chrono yet, but will soon.

Gary
 
220 Swift is one of my favorites. 20/250 might be next, and the 6mm/284.

The 300 WSM, with 110-125gr bullets and a 1:17 barrel great Groundhog round.
Nat Lambeth
 
ssv1761982 said:
Kool. I like the Swift too. A friend of mine says they are high shooters - I keep telling him you don't need to hold over so much when using a good gun. :)

+1, those swifts are some flat shooters.

Alan
 
Gary in MD said:
Thanks, Frank.
I have always used 4064 in the Swift, but this one I am trying Hunter with a 55 gr V max.
I always use the 50/55 grain varmint bullets. Here in the East I have to have full "bullet blow up"... Pushed by the Swift....They do blow up!
I have not run this load over the chrono yet, but will soon.

Gary

Gary, sounds good, 4064 is a great powder for Swift. Is your Cooper rifle a 14 twist?

Forgot to mention, looking at your pic again, thats a pretty big chuck!

Frank
 
Congrats on the gorgeous rifle and successful shots! The 220 Swift is a classic that never gets too old.
 
Try RL17 in your swift , I am using it in my .220AI , with 55gr Sierra Blitzkings & 55gr Nosler BT's , both projectiles group in the 4-5's and velocity is on average 3,879fps according to the Magnetospeed & I haven't really pushed the load as yet.
I like RL17 so much , I cleaned out all the stores of their existing stocks, I now have over 20lbs for use in 2 .220AI's.

Mike.
 
40X Guy said:
Gary in MD said:
Thanks, Frank.
I have always used 4064 in the Swift, but this one I am trying Hunter with a 55 gr V max.
I always use the 50/55 grain varmint bullets. Here in the East I have to have full "bullet blow up"... Pushed by the Swift....They do blow up!
I have not run this load over the chrono yet, but will soon.

Gary

Gary, sounds good, 4064 is a great powder for Swift. Is your Cooper rifle a 14 twist?

Forgot to mention, looking at your pic again, thats a pretty big chuck!

Frank


My Cooper has a 12 twist (I think Cooper switched to a 12 twist a couple of years ago for the swift and the 22-250)
That was a B&C class chuck!! Although, I have killed a few that were bigger over the years. All except one young one this year have been big males.
I have used all of the 55 grain plastic tipped bullets over the years and they all shoot well out of the Swifts and 22-250s that I have owned and are quite explosive. Here is another nice sized one, he had a little mange on his back.
 
Big hog. Nice to see.

As for the sideways, cell phone pictures do that. You have to turn them in Photobucket or on your computer. Just delete, turn and re-post.

Keep having fun.
 
Sideways or straight up, that's still a big pig. My largest ever is 14 1/2, looked like a German Shepherd........and killed with a Swift to boot! Nicely done, sir.
 
I love my swift!
Which i bought from gary in md.
I shoot imr4895 with 55gr vmax and it kills every ground hog within 500 yards no problem
 
Since I built my Marlin 6 Dasher a couple years ago, I have not used my Swift or any of my other rifles for varmint use. I have to get back to my Swift this summer, there is nothing that compares to them imo. Barlow
 
It has been a lot of years ago but I had a Ruger 77 varmint in 220 swift and in north east NC there were not too many groundhogs but were LOTS of crows out in the peanut fields. I used to shoot IMR 4064 with the Speer 52 gr HP. When you hit a crow with this combo it looked like it swallowed a hand grenade.
 
DOGCAPPER said:
38 gr IMR4064 with 50 gr Blitz. About 90% of max. LT
My standard load is 39 grs of 4064 with 50 grain bullets, mostly the old Nosler solid base because I had a bunch of them and they were accurate. I used the Swift a lot on deer but that Nosler was not the best for that use. I used the 55 grain Hornady and 60 grain Hornady hp and had excellent success on deer. Barlow
 
I always loaded 38.5 grains of 4064 and a 55 gr plastic tipped bullet of either Nosler, Sierra, or Hornady in my other Swift. That load and a load of Ramshot Hunter proved to be too hot in this Cooper that I have now. I'm guessing that the Cooper may have a tighter chamber. I had to back off at least 1/2 grain and the loads still seems plenty warm. I need to run them over the chronograph.
I wish Lapua would make a run of brass for the mighty Swift!!
Gary
 

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