220 Swift

[MrG5122]

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.

 

[Bob R]

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

 

[SMSgt]

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

 

[Skeet 028]

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.

 

[M29since14]

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.

 

[Bob R]

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

 

[rockquarry]

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.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

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

 

[Homie]

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

 

[mrchuck]

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

 

[Dashriprock]

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!

 

[crsides]

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

 

[STCM(SW)]

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.

 

[shocker]

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?

 

[rockquarry]

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

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.

 

[M29since14]

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

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”.

 

[M29since14]

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

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.

 

[MrG5122]

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?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

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

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

 

[rockquarry]

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.