Through a convoluted series of trades this morning at the gun show I started out with a Colt 3-5-7 and ended up with a minty Ruger No.1 in 220 Swift.

I've found brass but am wondering what bullet to start with. The rifling is 1:14 so I'm assuming I'm limited to <55gr? It will be a varminter.

Any advice is welcome. I am experienced in loading rifle cartridges but this is a new caliber for me.

I use a Nosler Varmageddon 55gr in my 220 Swift (Ruger M77, tang safety), I load up the black tipped metallic bullets although they make a non tipped hollow point. It is devastating on varmints and predators alike. If you look at the copper jacket it is thinner toward the nose than other 22 cal bullets. Gives some pretty good bang/flop results if you place the bullet right.

Varmageddon Bullet — Nosler - Bullets, Brass, Ammunition & Rifles

bob

The Nosler site for load data shows loads up to 62 grain bullets, all with 1-14 rifling.

The ol Swift will be able to use bullets up to the 62 grainer..maybe more if it isn't too long. I think in Texas you can also use the caliber on deer and other medium to smaller game. The ONLY bullet to use on deer and other game like that is the 60 gr Nosler Partition. We can use the 22-250 and 220 S on deer and antelope and that bullet does a credible job on them. Every antelope I have seen it used on was DRT. The Varmageddon is a good varmint bullet unless you want to save hides. I've gone to using the 40 gr plastic tipped bullets(Nosler) on coyotes...never had one exit yet.

I had a friend, sadly now no longer with us, who was a decades-long Swift fan, and a really knowledgeable rifleman. He once told me he had been using 60-grain spire points in his Swifts (same twist) because he found they shot more accurately and were a bit less susceptible to wind drift at longer ranges. I’d sure give them a try before writing them off. It’s the only way to know for sure what your rifle will do - say at 300 yards and beyond.

What I find kind of amazing is that the 220 Swift is still the benchmark for 22 cal varmint/predator bullets. Not bad for a round developed in 1935.

bob

There are far better cartridges for deer, but a heavier bullet that should work in a 1 in 14" twist is the 64 gr. Nosler Bonded. I'm trying some loads with it now in .223 and .22-250.

My Ruger 77V Swift is on it's second barrel and shoots very well with many bullets, but Sierras in 50 and 55 shoot so accurately, I seldom try others.

They make a Blitz version in 50 and 55; has a very thin jacket and is not recommended for velocities above 3,600 fps. The regular soft point version in either is a better high velocity bullet yet will shoot to the same point of impact as the Blitz.

I would recommend the Combined Technologies' 50 grain Ballistic Silver Tip. The 50 grain Polymer tips are my go to bullets for 22 center fires! The CT BST seems to be a tad more accurate in more guns than any other. They also are the most expensive, but a couple pennies more for a round that hits is the best money spent!

I don't have a Swift, but I shoot my 22 BR at the same velocities and any the of the polymer tipped bullets will blow up varmints with spectacular results!

By the way, with a 1:14 twist you can go as light as 30 grain. I have run 35 Berger HP's grain at 4400 fps in the 22 BR and they are unbelievable on impact. The load data I got accurateloading.com said the would get 1/2" groups at 100 yards and the did! But the 50 BST get consistently less than 1/10". Accurateloading.Com shows some very good results with Reloader 12 & 15 and Federal 210 primers.

I hope you are all set up by Ground Hog Day!

Ivan

My #1V Swift likes the 50 gr. Nosler BT w/42.5 gr. of AA 2700 @ 3850fps.

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Good shooting.

I get the feeling that the .222 Remington cartridge is not popular anymore.

Have owned four Swifts, two were Ruger M77VT, one was a custom rig on a Mauser action, and I currently have a Weatherby Super Varmint Master chambered in this grand old round.

I've always gotten superb results with a 55 gr. Hornady V-Max over 35.0 grains of Varget.

Have fun -- it's a fantastic cartridge!

Just finished reading Wolfman of Alaska. The guy feed the crews building the Alaskan RR. He stated the best killer of all cartridges he used was the 220 Swift. He did think it a little light on the grizzlies.

Charlie

My 220 Swift is a Ruger M77 and shoots a 53 gr bullet 5 shots less then .5"
all day.
Got it when Ruger first started making them somewhere in the 1970's...
Wouldn't go with any other 22 CF rifle for varmint.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Let's all agree that the 220 Swift is a great cartridge.

I would like to have an answer to the following question.
What's the heaviest/longest bullet that will shoot well from a 1:14 twist barrel at 220 Swift or 22-250 type velocities?

I think the .222 is still somewhat popular. For field use with 50 and 55 grain varmint bullets, it gives up little or nothing to the .223 and the .222 was used to set lots of benchrest accuracy records in the '50s and '60s.

I use bigger .22 centerfires, including the Swift, but I find the .222 far more useful than the rest.

That comment reminds me of what Robert Ruark wrote about his experiences with the Swift in The Horn of the Hunter. Ruark was no expert rifleman, but no tyro either. His experience with it in Africa with ammunition available in that era was “considerably different”.

Not sure where that subject fits in here but I will say that I enjoy shooting the .222 as much as I ever have, and I’ve been shooting it for close to fifty years now.

Thanks for the comments fellas. Evidently flat based bullets are as accurate as boattails? My ARs seem to shoot better with the heavier 69-77 grainers. It’s kinda hard to wrap my head around 30-40 grainers and sub moa accuracy. I will try them though. Next question....

Optics?

A friend of mine thinks very highly of the 222 Remington. He had a gunshop that specialized in target and accurate varmint guns. Over the years people traded in their Remington 40x guns in Triple Duce, actually over 40 people did; He never sold 1! Before the Nationals at Camp Perry, he would go out West and Prairie Dog hunt for 2 or 3 weeks. He only used 22 RF and 222, his personal record is a 523 yard shot that took 3 dogs at once!

My preference has been toward smaller 22 Center fires, While I own Three 223's and a 22 BR. I love my 22 Hornets (3), 218 bee, and 221 fireballs! (2), As my friend gets older I'm trying to get 2 of his 40x rifles, I want a good one for the 222 cartridge and a poor one to rebarrel in 221! By the way, all his 22's sport a 10x scope, either a Lyman or Unertl! (That is a fortune right there!)

Ivan

From a practical perspective for many years, flat base bullets were often a bit more accurate than boattail bullets until ranges become long, usually beyond 300-400 yards where the higher ballistic coeffients proved advantageous.

When developing handloads, I still prefer a flat base bullet design as a first choice. However, that's not always possible these days, but that's okay. Many boattail bullets available now are better than those of years past and may shoot just as accurately as a flat base bullet.

I use either 6.5-20x40 AO veri-x III Leupolds (around $500 used and I have about 12 of these) or a Unertl 2" Varminter in 15x (around $900 used, I've only found 1). Mostly it is about the best glass you can afford and it should be adjustable objective. I use Nightforce on my 1000 yard rifles, but on 400 to 600 yard varmint rifles, put the $1200+ difference into ammo or reloading good ammo! (or an additional gun!)

The Bushnell 3200 (price-? I got $800 for a 20x) These haven't been made since the 1970's. They are about 15-16 inches long. These use the barrel blocks like Unertl, Lyman and Lechtner, but have internal adjustments, like more modern scopes. (some people use regular rings on them, but yuck!) They have great glass and repeatable adjustments! They are very under estimated. I've had 10, 16, and 20 power, but sold them to pay bills. They are easy to use and look Classic on a Ruger No.1!

Ivan

I think the 220 swift is a stellar performer, regrettably I just sold my 1903A3 re-barreled as a 220 with a Lyman 12x scope mounted on it....it was a real tack driver. I still shoot my 222 Sako L-46 using a Zeiss 12x scope. I used 52gr Sierra bullets for the 220 and Hornady 40gr in the 222. I will admit, both were/are real accurate.

The "Swift" was one of the first loads that was know to do 4,000 fps................
However this speed and the amount of powder used, was known
to shorten the life of a barrel and chamber area.

The 1:14 twist will handle the 52 and 55gr bullets quite well but
bullets over 65 grs may start to tumble at 200 yards. This will just
have to checked out on paper.

Enjoy that "Hot Rod".

Fan of the 220 Swift here myself also, it stems from my dad’s fondness of it even though he never had one. I have a pre ‘64 Model 70 in one. Shoots great but it’s been years since I shot it. Memory says the 40gr Hornady’s would clover leaf at 200 yards in a 3 shot group

Cory

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Cory
SWCA #3015 SWHF #465

Optics, can vary for these guns. My Ruger M77 was made in 1976 and it sports a fairly popular optic for the time, a Weaver K4W. Someday I may get around to putting another scope on it, maybe not.

bob

I have not used heaver bullets, but 50, 52, and 55 grain bullets shoot fine in my FN .220. Yes, one CAN use the Swift on deer, but I personally would not do it. What's the point? I have better calibers for that purpose, and I imagine most hunters do also.

My Model 70 heavy barrel likes 52 grain Berger hollow polnts and 4895 powder. Would shoot 1/2" 5 shoot groups all day. Shot alot of prairie dog's over 600 yards with it.

Ok. A 6.5-20x40 Leupold is on the way. Ruger site says #4 medium rings. I assume this is good info?

Two Swifts reside here and have for many years, a flat-bolt Ruger 77V from 1972 and a Winchester Model 70 from 1937. Five Texas whitetail have fallen to the Swift here and it has given a flawless performance. I've used up to 62 grain bullets in the Swift with good results. The deer were taken with a 55 grain Sierra spitzer boat tail soft point wound tight to a little over 3900 fps. The 52 grain Sierra Match bullet with the little hollowpoint is a sort of "secret recipe" bullet for gratifying bench rest accuracy work when shot at about 3700 fps with a suitable charge weight of IMR 4064.

I use a 6.5 X 20 with fine cross hairs and varmint dot. Been using for 30 plus years. Works great.

I have shot the 220 swift for about 20 years. It’s worked well on prairie dogs but these days I use it mostly on coyotes.
My go to bullet if the nos 50 bt.