220 Swift reloads and IMR-4831--Chrono results?

M

MOJO67

New member
Hello All,

I'm new to reloading and just began loading for my 220 Swift and 25-06. Do you find velocites obtained from the Swift with reloads using IMR-4831 are often well below published manual numbers? Seems most of my handloads chrono well below published re-loading manual numbers.

For example, my favorite load is 44.0 gr of IMR 4831 and a 55 Gr Nosler BT. The published velocity in my Nosler manual is appx. 3850 fps, which is listed as a max load. I chronographed the load recently and it was only doing 3566 avg. The load data from Nosler is obtained with a 26 inch barrel and mine is a 24in. I realize the shorter tube will make a difference, but 300 fps seems excessive. The factory loads I've chronographed are much closer to published data.(within 100-150fps, which I can live with.)

When it comes to my 25-06, the spread I see using IMR4831 is only 100-150 fps shy of published. Just like the Swift, it has a 24 inch tube and the re-loading data is from a 26 in. tube.

Not sure what to make of it. It doesn't seem as if I'm getting the max benefit from shooting the almighty velocity king...with re-loads anyway. One theory I have is that the IMR-4831 may be too slow of a burner for the Swift. I've used a few recipies with IMR-4350 that seem to get a little closer to advertised numbers. One thing I can say about the 4831 though is, my gun loves it. It consistently put's 5 shots into .50 or less with the 55GR BT. It's just that I'm don't feel I'm maximizing the benefits of the 220 Swift.

Anyone else experienced this issue with the Swift using IMR-4831?

Thanks for any insight you can provide.
 
Depends on tons of things. Different components, different lots, different chambers/throats, bullets/powders/primers/OAL.

My swift shot the 44g of IMR-4831 w/55g nbt 100fps slower then the book, around 3750fps and I had a 26" tube.

OTOH, with 38g of IMR-4064 and 55g nbt, it was moving 3925fps and shooting very good.

I would try 4064, its about THE best all around powder for the swift.

I"ve had many many loads with several rifles/bullets over the years that didn't meet the book numbers, and I've also had it swing the other way where I was above the book numbers.

Books are a rough guideline, they are not set in stone, and just because there listed MAX with THERE rifle, that doesn't really mean squat in YOUR rifle. You can use there velocity with that powder to get a rough idea of what YOUR rifle will do, but dont expect to always duplicate things.

If your one who doesn't like to experiment or wants to stay on the really safe side, dont go above book numbers, or when you reach there velocity with a certain powder, then stop, even if you havne't hit there listed max yet. Velocity is correlated to pressure.

Anyways, hope I helped a little bit.
 
I have recently sent an email to Shooting Times to verify this very question: Is it worth the extra 40% cost to shoot .224 Nosler Ballistic Tips (40 grain) in the "hope" they will achieve the 3700 FPS+ velocity level (e.g. in the .223 Remington) as listed in the Nosler #6 [13 years old now] loading manual?!
[No reply yet from ST Magazine...!]

After 25 years of reloading, I don't own a chronograph but was always gonna buy one....

I wonder also re Nosler data for the Swift and 22/250 calibers....their manual #6 lists the velocity as significantly higher with their 40 and 50 grain BT in the .223 than do other manuals per the new Lyman and Sierra; conversely, those other respective manuals list somewhat higher maximum powder loads and higher velocities with the 22/250 and 220 Swift calibers than does the Nosler #6.

Its worth it to compare manuals closely before choosing a starting powder/bullet. A lot of the older, classic .224 bullets shoot pretty fast and accurately and aren't the cost of the Nosler BT, V-Max,Barnes,Bergers, etc....

Safe shooting to you
 
Good info Kyote. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I plan to try IMR-4064. Seems lots of Swift folks are obtaining excellent results with it.
 
MOJO, 38g of IMR-4064 and 55g nbt is a classic load for the Swift. The IMR 4831 is real slow for a 55g Bullet. The 63g Sierra will shoot very well in your swift, and the 4831 is better suited for that bullet.

I shot the barrel out of two swifts shooting 44.0-44.5g of AA2700 with the 50g Sierra Sp on yotes, and switched to the 50g Nosler Ballistic tip for squirrels, jack rabbits and chucks.

I can't say enough good about the 2700 and the 50's, velocity is a touch over 4000 and all shots touch at 100 yds.

When the leade was shot out so far that I could not touch it with regular bullets, I went to the Sierra 55g Semi Point, which is unreal accurate, then the 63g Sierra Semi point as the leade got even longer...we got in a lot of jack rabbit shooting...needless to say!
 
I have had the best results with IMR4064 (very accurate) 38grains behind a 50g v-max. I tried H380 and IMR4831 but did not get good accuracy with them...Jason
 
One of the best loads a bunch of us have found out in West Texas is 38.5-39gr RL15 topped with 55gr V Max or BT's. I prefer the V Max, they are cheaper and shoot under 1/2" with all my Swifts. Pretty good load whether 10* busting yotes in the winter or 110* on PD's. I personally load the 38.5gr and shooting 3850 with the 55's. They'll suck the life out of a yote and launch a PD out of sight.
 
Look at h380 and 2015 as well
like most others have said your choice of powder is not the best for what you want to do
however most reloading manuals use longer test barrels and do not use standard firearms for their testing...but again some do..just a thought to keep in mind when researching load data
and welcome to the madness
smile.gif
 
I used to use 44 gr. of IMR 4831 in my swift. Best group was .334" with a Zia Bullet. Most of the time it was about .750" I shot the barrel out and had a Hart barrel put on. Now it likes 43 gr. of IMR 4831. Best group so far is .244" with most groups under .500" this is with a 50 gr. Ballistic tip. I might have to try some 4064. I thought speeds would be closer to book. If I can get the same accuracy with a faster load, I am all for it.
 
Out of my factory Win M70 220 Swift I get 3858 FPS with 44 gr of IMR 4831 with an SD of 26. It is a factory 26" barrel, so apparently the additional 2" over a 24" tube is needed to reach velocity. My components are Winchester brass and Federal 210M primers. Very easy extraction with this load.
Same components with 41.6 gr of IMR 4007SSC give me 3899 FPS, SD 0f 27 and very easy extraction.
Average groups with the IMR 4831 load is .52", with IMR 4007SSC it is .77".
Overall length for both loads is 2.800" which is .005" off the lands in my rifle.
I haven't adjusted seating depth to improve accuracy yet.
 
Never reloaded for the Swift, but in 35 years of reloading it's been my experience that the loading manual figures don't jive with what you get when you chronograph it yourself. I remember a load I was using for a 7X57 was supposed to be running 2900 fps according to the Sierra manual........until I chronographed it at 2650. Another example is the Winchester white box 22-250 45 grain HP's that are advertised at 4000 fps, yet when chronographed out of a 24 inch barrel, gave 3650.
 


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