220 Swift

No problem, Stallion

Many of todays load books are way conservative with their load data. Most don't even use real guns- just test barrels. If you were to look at say a load book from 40 years ago, you would notice things were different. I have several in that era as that is when I began reloading, and 100-200 fps was the norm between the two.

No need to quibble about 100 fps or so. Nothing that you shoot with one or the other is ever going to able to tell the difference. Matterfak, after spending a way lot of money to put a new match grade barrel on my Swift a few years ago, I load mine WAY down now anyway. My brass and barrel both last longer and with my muzzle break, I can see my hits. I like being able to see my hits. And occasional misses.
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Rusty,

Thanks I did not know they were so off. Must be risk management issue in case of being sued or some thing.
I usually go with more heavier bullets and take the slower speed. You are right about the speed thing too. I have been shooting deer with a old k98 swedish mouser in 6.5x55 for years now and its suppose to only do 2000 fps out of a 29" barrel. But again its them reloading guides again.
 
Another Swift fan here. Ruger #1V. Love it

Which Hornady manual is listing 220 Swift slower than 22-250? Light bullet (40 gr. Vmax) max at 4100 for the 250 and 4300 for the Swift in Hornady 7th.

My experience has been my 220 likes near max load for accuracy, when my few 22-250's settle in better with milder loading.

Just my experience though.


Scott
 
I see factory ammo all the time around here anyway. I don't think it's rare. Go buy some and shoot that sucker. You'll have a ball.

Scott
 
I also have a Rugar 77 with the tang saftey
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love it. Only thing I even come close to shooting as much is my Remington 700BDL in 243. But the swift is hands down my favorite.

It was gun writers of the day that sort of applied the brakes to the swift. Said it was the do all cartridge and would bang flop deer. When the inexperinced shooters started looseing deer and complaining then all the gun writers cover their tracks with it is a barrel burner never mentioning just a couple years ago they were all for it.

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Al
 
Originally Posted By: Cabin FeverCan you buy 220 Swift factory loads? I have my fathers 220 in the gun safe, but wasn't sure if I could get factory loads or not.

Add Hornady Vmax to the list.
 
Originally Posted By: alleyyooperI also have a Rugar 77 with the tang saftey
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love it. Only thing I even come close to shooting as much is my Remington 700BDL in 243. But the swift is hands down my favorite.

It was gun writers of the day that sort of applied the brakes to the swift. Said it was the do all cartridge and would bang flop deer. When the inexperinced shooters started looseing deer and complaining then all the gun writers cover their tracks with it is a barrel burner never mentioning just a couple years ago they were all for it.

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Al


x2, the writers certainly hurt the Swift.
 
It was gun writers of the day that sort of applied the brakes to the swift. Said it was the do all cartridge and would bang flop deer. When the inexperinced shooters started looseing deer and complaining then all the gun writers cover their tracks with it is a barrel burner never mentioning just a couple years ago they were all for it. [img said:
https://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/images/graemlins/default/laugh.gif[/img] Al
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Not all of them. PO Ackley LOVED the Swift. Used it to dispatch some very large an tough animals with the Swift.

But what I found even more astounding was his article on one of the deadliest calibers ever invented 'The 220 Swift'

Ackley and his friends not only hunted deer but had the opportuninty in 1948 in Arizona to thin out herds of feral burros that weighed as much as 600 pounds. They were wild burros that had been specially bred to be as big as Missouri mules by Miners years perviously. The fellows participating in the hunt were all armed with weapons like the 30-40 Kraig, 30-06 and German 8mm. They all laughed when Ackley showed up with a .220 swift but Akley only smiled and promised not to use the gun if it proved too underpowered.

Well, when Akley unleashed [beeep] on earth the rest of the hunters saw burro's colapse like they were hit with bolt lightning as far away as 600 yards and even gut shot burros colapsed in their tracks. Soon everyone was screaming to get a turn at using one of the most deadlist calibers on earth.

I read that a few years before I owned one but I wanted on bad. Never used any of mine on borros (deer die quickly however) or anything larger. It would NOT be my gun of choice if going after Grizzly. My .458 Winchester mag would be here. But knowing what he used to kill many hundreds if not thousands of game with with great success is simply amazing to me.

One of Ackley's greatest quotes was "Shoot 100 deer with a 30-06 and another 100 with a .220 Swift and the Swift will come out the winner!"

I think that I believe him. But just as well, as I will never get around to trying it I dont think.
 
I'd be surprised if you polled people that owned both calibers and got a response that would support that POA quote.
 
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Originally Posted By: songdog223I'd be surprised if you polled people that owned both calibers and got a response that would support that POI quote.

I would be even more suprised if you were to find as many people that have tested as a many rounds on real live (and tough) animals as Mr Ackley had. I doubt that he any any reason to lie about it. He was a very intense person and tested ammo and their effects on living as well as non living things for many decades. His books are excellent reads.
 
I can personally attest to the Swift's effectiveness on deer! I've used it for years doing crop damage control. 55 grain NBT'S over max loads of 4064, smack them like Thor's hammer with well placed shots! I all honesty, they're mostly smaller antlerless deer, and only head, neck, and shoulder shots are taken, but it really crumbles them!
BTW, if loaded to the same max pressure, with the same bullet, the swift will always be faster than the 22-250!
F1
 
The swift will never be considered "fur friendly" - it's against it's nature. That's what .17 Rems are for. But swifts are a blast to shoot, accurate and hit hard. I don't know a lot of people but they ones I know that shoot swifts - well, we all like them. At the range every once in a while we setup all kinds of junk to shoot - cans, cinder blocks, steel, car doors - you name it and we shoot all kinds of calibers (nobody has a .50)- the swift always and I mean always puts on the best show. I'm glad when someone is around that is not familiar with the swift and can't understand why his .300mag can't penetrate stuff as much or explode stuff as well. My brother is a .22-250 man and despises my swift (you burn more powder, barrel wear, it's too loud etc etc said in a whining voice). I just tell him I'm sorry he bought the wrong gun but it's not my fault. So if you have an older brother that likes his .22-250, go buy a swift and then p*ss him off with it. It's worth it - trust me.
 
I was introduced to the Swift by my late father in law. He always loved it and after being around it a while I do to.
I have my Ruger 77 and his Rem 700 classic and his Ruger 77.
They all are amazingly accurate.
It's not really a fur cartridge but it's the most fun I've ever had shooting ground squirrels and summertime coyotes.
On coyotes with a 50 gr v-max sometimes there will be just a pencil size entry hole, others look like they were hit by a truck! All the coyotes I've killed with it have been called and shot close. The results may differ at longer ranges.

My Ruger really likes a 50gr. V-max. The other ruger shoots 55gr pills better sierras or noslers. The Rem 700 doesn't seem to care what it's fed, it shoots just about anthing I've tried well.
 
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