State-of-the-art Varmint Rifle

[greenmachine]

Well, maybe in 1948 when it was new. Winchester Model 70 Target Rifle in .220 Swift. Marksman stock, 26 inch heavy barrel with a Unertl 2-inch Ultra-varmint scope. The second picture shows the same gun with a Model 70 Varminter in .243, also with a 26 inch heavy barrel and a Unertl Vulture scope. This one is a little later, I think about 1960.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

That's still the state of a beautiful art as far as I am concerned.

 

[rkittine]

Beautiful. I have always been a Unertl fan also.

Bob

 

[KalamazooKid]

Cool stuff, thanks for posting!

 

[SAFireman]

I bet that they would still get the job done today.....I'll take the 243 if given a choice

 

[Homie]

Very nice pair!
Still state of the art in some of our hearts- I'd go with the SWIFT!
Seriously, how do they shoot???

 

[LittleCooner]

I would take the swift if the barrel was in great shape. It is still a 400 yard prairie dog or groundhog gun. The rifleman's rifle.

 

[FlyTyinFool]

The longer scope looks like WWII surplus.
Very cool!

 

[Gene L]

Barrels for the .220 especially older ones would be suspect. The cartridge was a barrel-burner before better steel and powder calmed things down a bit.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

The longer scope looks like WWII surplus.
Very cool!

Those were well respected and used extensively at matches through the early 80s.

 

[H Richard]

I used a 20X 1 1/2" Unertle target on my Anschutz match rifle for 100 yard competition. The glass is so clear you could see the tiny tears on the edges of the .22 holes at 100 yards. The only problem with the Target scopes were the minimal depth of field, you had to focus very critically. Still very usable today, and have held there value very well.

For my Varmint rifles (Prairie Dog) I used a couple of Mod 700 Remington VS. and had a 6.5 - 20X Nikon Monarch on one, and a 6-18X Leupold on the other. Both were fine scopes and allowed me to make hits out to 500 yards, but my eye's weren't good enough beyond that. I still have one of them with the Leupold on the odd chance I ever get an opportunity to go again. The Leupold wears a custom elevation knob made to the exact ammo spec's. Wonderful combination. You can read your range finder, and dial in the exact distance for an on target hold.

 

[MCorps0311]

Those are absolutely three beauties!

 

[greenmachine]

Beautiful. I have always been a Unertl fan also.

Bob

Yes, Unertl scopes are great. I have several Unertl rifle scopes and a 20 power spotting scope.

 

[greenmachine]

I bet that they would still get the job done today.....I'll take the 243 if given a choice

The .243 would probably have the advantage down there. I've heard the critters are bigger in Texas!

 

[greenmachine]

Very nice pair!
Still state of the art in some of our hearts- I'd go with the SWIFT!
Seriously, how do they shoot???

The Swift has the advantage accuracy wise, well under an inch consistently. The .243 won't quite do that, but I love what it does to a groundhog.

 

[greenmachine]

Barrels for the .220 especially older ones would be suspect. The cartridge was a barrel-burner before better steel and powder calmed things down a bit.

This one has always been babied. Rifling is still strong at the breech. Mild hand loads can prevent that erosion and still produce impressive velocities.

 

[windypoint]

The Swift has the advantage accuracy wise, well under an inch consistently. The .243 won't quite do that, but I love what it does to a groundhog.

Not in my experience.

 

[Drm50]

The accuracy of 220Swift & 243Win are determined by the individual rifle.
Both cartridges have good reputation for accuracy.

 

[greenmachine]

Not in my experience.

No argument here, I was referring to my specific Swift and my specific .243 pictured in the original post. I was not making a general statement about the two calibers.

 

[petepeterson]

Gorgeous rifles. Always wanted to get into a .243, but I'm trying not to expand the caliber selection.
I have a .220 Ruger that is extremely accurate, even in my impatient hands, but truth be told, I'd prefer it in .223, only because that would probably be enough round for anything I do with it, and would be one less round to stock- along with being more cost-effective.
The Swift's capabilities are wasted on my abilities!