.220 Swift Ackley Improved Question

R

Rugershooter

New member
I have a .220 Swift in a Ruger M77V (tang safety). I bought this rifle about 20 years ago and shot a lot of rounds through it and it still shoots 1 inch groups. My question is, when the accuracy drops off due to throat erosion what are my options besides getting a new rifle. Would I need to put a barrel on it? One person told me to make it an Ackley Improved. By cutting the new chamber, it would cut away the eroded part in the process. Is there any truth to this? It wouldn't take much to talk me into having an AI unless the price of having it done is really outrageous. I reload and I like having something different. Also what other signs of wear should I be looking for that could be a factor in my decision?
 
Personally, I would just put a new barrel on it cut to 220 AI if that is the chambering you are after. Yes, they can be set back and recut. Many BR guys do this after they have found what they believe to be the holy grail of barrels. For a hunting rifle, I do not feel it is justified.
 
I think lots of rounds is the clue it's time for a newer barrel. But why a .220 AI you'll gain very little but will gets lots more barrel ware.

Read a little on the .220 Wilson Arrow. Same velocity as a .220 Swift in fact you can shoot .220 Swift ammo through it. But you will not have to trim your brass all the time.
 
The problem with the Swift case is it's taper. It tends to flow brass toward the neck and this can result in short case life. Making it an AI resolves some of that tendency, but Ragncagn hit the nail on the head. Put a new barrel on it and enjoy another several thousand rounds of good shooting. Depending on how much throat erosion is in the barrel you may have to cut to much off to set back and rechamber properly.
 
You won't really notice the change in accuracy until the barrel is too far gone to do anything with and keep it as a 224 caliber.

About the 220 Swift AI. P.O. Ackley said that this is one cartridge that there would really be no advantage in additional velocity because the 220 Swift is right on the line of being over bored. The Ackley improved cartridge design didn't just give additional velocity, though. Case life is improved and case stretching is reduced. Stress on the bolt is also reduced because the pressure is moved to the chamber walls.

If it were me I would just have a new barrel made in standard 220 Swift and call it good.
 
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I love the wildcats, AI's etc. and have several. However, a 220AI...man that's like messing with the pure, cussing your mother, putting coke in your Jack Daniels, having an automatic transmission M/C, etc, etc.

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I love the wildcats, AI's etc. and have several. However, a 220AI...man that's like messing with the pure, cussing your mother, putting coke in your Jack Daniels, having an automatic transmission M/C, etc, etc.

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Here here! It a fine chambering as it is. Leave it that way. When it was time to put another barrel on my shot out swift there was no question in my mind- it was going to be another 220 Swift! No 22/250's or 22/250 improved or 220 AI or nothing like that. Nosir. When Leonardo finshed his Mona Lisa it was perfect and he knew it. When Winchester made the Swift they were thru as well. The masterpiece of varmint rounds was here and designed never to be outdone.

And you know what? It hasnt been. Long Live the Swift! Long Live the Swift!
 
By the time that the throat is shot out, too much of it is gone and you will have to set the barrel too far back to clean it up.

When you decide that you don't have the accuracy you want, rebarrel it.

On the AI thing... I'm with the other guys - leave it a straight .220 Swift.

The Swift is a legend in it's on time.

It don't need no stinkeeen improvement.

I have never had problems with case stretching in two Swifts.

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I agree with most of the previous posters . I have also been shooting the swift a long time and have never noticed and huge case stretch, flow or any other difference in that chambering
 
I will rebarrel mine in AI when it is finally toasted. reason being,....you will gain some case capacity, although not much. The sharp shoulders make use of slower powders than were originally designed for the case,..useable. And,..when I do this,..it will be to run the 90gr pills,..so I want max powder capacity to run the long heavy pills. Parker was a brilliant man,...but he did not have the vast amount of powders we have today. I improved a 6.5x55 and it increased a LOT in capacity,..the swift is a smaller version when you look at case taper. It may not be a lot,..but I will try one anyway. I can always set it back and chamber to the original if it doesn't do anything better,...but I am still gonna try it. Just cause I want too (grin)
 
Thanks for all the input. I think when it is time, I will try the AI. My main reason is the same as JustC, "just cause I want too" I originally bought the swift because not to many people around here had one. I like to have something different. This would make it just a little more different. I realize I might not be gaining much. next question is finding someone around here to do the work. I would rather not send it out. Again, thanks for the input.
 
If you improve the .220 Swift, keep in mind that you might have to re-do the feed rails, because the new shape of the case will probably not feed well (or not at all).


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