A good .220 Swift load?

[DWalt]

I've owned a very nice .220 Swift commercial FN Mauser sporter from 1952 (proof-marked 1952) for almost 15 years, but have fired it very little. I added a Timney trigger which has an excellent crisp release (it originally had a military-style two-stage trigger). I never got around to working up what I consider to be good accuracy loads, and what limited experimenting I did with it resulted somewhat disappointing grouping performance, no better than about 1.5"-2" groups (10 shots) at 100 yards. I have always believed that five shot groups are next to worthless for any purpose except for sighting in a scope. The bullets I used were usually 60 and 63 grains with IMR 4895. I'd like to dust it off and play with it some more. Does anyone have some tested tight-grouping .220 load suggestions (any bullet weight) I might try?

BTW, back when I first got it I did scrub the bore very thoroughly, and there is no copper fouling. The bore still looks sharp, bright, and shiny. From its appearance, I doubt the unknown previous owner ever used it much either. Difficult to call it a sporter, as it is quite a heavyweight.

Interesting to note that back then, FN made commercial actions designed for different calibers. Mine has an action specifically designed for the .220 Swift, and it is marked as such.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Oh yes, DWalt!

.220 Swift is one of my favorite cartridges of all time. There's nothing out there quite like it. Reloading notes here have a whole stable of .220 Swift loads proven in my rifles. Of course take them all with a grain of salt and do your own load development in your rifles.

Do you feel the need for speed?

45 grain Sierra Spitzer
38.5 grains IMR 3031
Remington 9 1/2 primer
Muzzle Velocity 4140 fps
.875 inch 5-shot groups 100 yards

An accurate and somewhat less "enthusiastic" load.

45 grain Sierra Spitzer
36.5 grains IMR 3031
Remington 9 1/2 primers
Winchester cases
Muzzle Velocity: 3888 fps
.359 inch 5-shot group 100 yards (tightest group ever shot in Ruger 77 - probably a fluke)

Good accuracy load.

52 grain Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail Match
37.0 grains IMR 4064
Remington 9 1/2 primers
Winchester cases
Muzzle Velocity: 3768 fps
.562 inch 5-shot group 100 yards

General purpose range load

55 grain Sierra Spitzer
37.0 grains IMR 4064
WW Lg. Rifle primer
Winchester cases
Muzzle Velocity: 3746 fps
.687 inch 5-shot group at 100 yards

Deer hunting load (I've taken 5 deer with this load, our son took one when he was 11, and my dad took one at 206 yards).

55 grain Sierra Spitzer
39.0 grains IMR 4064
WW Lg. Rifle primer
Winchester cases
Muzzle Velocity: 3912 fps
.750 inch 5-shot groups at 100 yards

There are more, but the above are useful favorites.

.220 Swift rifles on hand.
1937 Winchester Model 70 with Lyman All-American 6X (top)
1972 Ruger 77V "Flat Bolt" with Burris 6x18 target scope (bottom)

 

[SMSgt]

Methinks your bullets may be the issue. Your barrel rifling twist rate may not be fast enough for those heavier bullets. Try lighter 50-55 grain bullets and see if that helps.

 

[DWalt]

Thanks for the information. I have a fair selection of 50, 52, and 55 grain .22 bullets, and have noted that some of the manuals recommend IMR 4064, and I have several cans of that also. The main reason I worked with 60 and 63 grain bullets is that at one time I considered using that rifle for deer and felt that the heavier bullet weights might be better for hunting. But I have never hunted with it, mainly because that FN is so heavy, 11 pounds with scope and loaded.

I'll try some of the lighter bullet 4064 loads to see if there is any grouping improvement.

 

[AKtinman]

The old standby 37.0 grain IMR 4064 load has given good accuracy in most of the Swifts I have owned, using 52-55 grain bullets.

My 1978 vintage Tang Safety M77V likes 40 grains of H414 under the 60 grain Hornady SP.

Another promising load is 35.0 grains Varget under the 53 grain Hornady HP.

Nothing wrong with 4064, I just decided to try some different powders.

All the usual caveats apply: these loads work fine in MY rifle. Check the load manuals.

Have fun!

 

[Drm50]

I had Custom 98 and Ruger 77v in 220 and always loaded 55gr bullets and went for accuracy over velocity with lighter bullets. Also used IMR-4064. I only shot varmits and don’t see 220 as a deer gun.

 

[Nevada Ed]

In a 1:14 twist barrel I have had good results with the;

Hornady 52g HPBT..... #2249 BC.229
Nosler .. 55g poly-tip .. #17240 BC.255 length .810" ..... with imr4895
Hornady 55 V-Max SP poly #22271 BC .255
Sierra 63g .. #1370........ would not group.
Speer 70g SP .. #1053 BC .215 100 yards ok ....with H414 powder.

My rifle had only two reduced loads that it liked with the 55g bullets with imr4350 for 100 yards and SR4759 for 50 yard work, with the 4759 powder almost used up.

The .22 large case rifle is a hard rifle to get right for a good load.
1. You need to find a bullet weight that works....
2. a speed that that bullet works at.....
3. a powder and primer that work together well....
4. your rifle screws are snug and the sights are snug and clean.

My rifles like 98-99% full loads but there are a few 91% and the 78% loads that don't burn the barrel up.

Good luck.

 

[Homie]

Here's some info that may be of interest, but not 10 shots-

My Rem. 40XB KS came with a test target of .30" shot with a 52 GR. HP and 36 gr. of 3031.

With my ammo-
Shot a 5 shot .052" with 52 Gr. Bergers and 40.0 gr. 4007 (alas)!

Shot a 5 shot .062 with same bullet and 42.1 gr. of 2700.

Must confess my shots were also 100yds indoors.

Remember-BULLETS, BARRELS, and BEDDING.

Love the SWIFTER for dusting 'dogs.

Good shooting!

 

[Rangerone]

DWalt, just PM'd you...

 

[rufgr]

I own 2 rifles in 220 Swift a Cooper 22 and a pre 64 Winchester model 70. Both of these rifles are very accurate with 50 grain Blitzking bullets and 39 gr. of H380. The 100 yard, 5 shot group shown below is from the Cooper.

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

I had a Savage 112 BVSS-S in .220 Swift. This gun shot one hole groups at 100 yards with this load. At 200 yards you could cover a 10 shot group with a nickel. The bullet was a Seirra Matchking flat base and he barrel was a 1:12 twist. I'd shoot about 5 shots and then let it cool.

The Swift can be rough on a barrel if you're not careful!

 

[DWalt]

Yesterday I made up a number of .220 Swift loads using 50, 53, and 55 grain bullets with IMR 4064, about 120 rounds altogether using both R-P and Winchester brass (surprisingly, there was very little difference in the average weights of each brand, only a few grains). I'll probably test them in my FN next week.

 

[M29since14]

I’m just curious, not being critical. I’m wondering how long it will take you to shoot a ten-shot group with your sporter-weight Swift? And how long do you expect to wait between 10-shot groups? Looks like you have quite a project on your hands. I’ve never made it a practice to shoot 10-shot groups so I am in the dark on this. Good luck and be sure to tell us about your results.

 

[DWalt]

I’m just curious, not being critical. I’m wondering how long it will take you to shoot a ten-shot group with your sporter-weight Swift? And how long do you expect to wait between 10-shot groups? Looks like you have quite a project on your hands. I’ve never made it a practice to shoot 10-shot groups so I am in the dark on this. Good luck and be sure to tell us about your results.

I have lots of time and have a private range with no one waiting for a spot. I usually fire a 10-shot group with a few minutes spacing between each shot, then put the rifle on the stand to cool for a half-hour or so while I shoot something else. If the first load's group doesn't look promising, I'll move on to another load. If it looks good, I'll fire another group to substantiate. I usually fire five 10-shot groups and take the average ES as the definitive measure of grouping performance, but I won't do that many this time.

 

[Squarebutt]

I only shot varmits and don’t see 220 as a deer gun.

My late hunting buddy had an orchard that would be wiped out by deer if he didn't "thin the herd." He had a state permit as a farmer to shoot them year-round, and his gun of choice was a scoped .220 Swift. He only took head shots and rarely missed.

 

[Drm50]

I can never remember which is which but I shoot Hornady 55gr Soft points
in all 224 cal cartridges. They make same bullet for 3500fps and over 3500fps. SJ & SJX ? More explosive than Sierra Blitz

 

[bmcgilvray]

I think it was a Hornady 50 grain SJX I shot in the .220 Swift some 30 years ago with no regard for the little paper slip in the box cautioning to keep the velocity under 3500 fps.

Yep, the Swift shredded 'em. Mysterious misses in the middle of a good 5-shot group and finally a bullet striking a foot from the group, leaving an ugly hole in the perfect shape of a bullet impacting sideways.

Guess Hornady was right.