Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 220 Swift

Anyone reload for or shoot the Swift? I'm hoping some of you can post the case head measurement off of some unfired brass.

It is supposed to measure .445" but my recent batch of Winchester brass measures .435". This causes a pretty big case bulge when fired. Just wondering if I can cure this to some extent by switch brass.

So, if you could measure yours and post the measurement and make of the brass, I'd appreciate it.

Older Winchester measured .436
Newer Norma was .441

Super, was hoping to hear that Norma was larger. Around here, all that I can find is Winchester or Norma.

Thanks for the info.

If anyone else has some measurements from other makes of brass, I'd love to hear.

New Hornady brass measures .443

Super, I was told today that there was some not to far away. I'll have to try and find some.

Thanks to all. Seems I goofed, the brass that measured .435" was Federal Factory loads. Those were the cases with the huge bulge. I loaded but did not get to fire any WW cases. I just measured them and the came in at .440" Still a bit small for my tastes but better than the Federal cases. I think I'll look for some Hornady brass.

Thanks for all the help.

Been seeing 220 Swift from Hornady at about any Sportsman's Warehouse I've been
in lately...at least here in Oregon...

The brass I have in front of me is W-W from the mid-90's. It measures .441. (And doesn't bulge in a pre-64 M70, for what that's worth.)

I see it a lot too. Wish I could find a rifle. Something with a nice slow twist.

Slow twist is for Luddites, go fast or go home!

Just kidding Jim, you need a swift

I saw one when I was 5 years old.

It was in a neighbors gun cabinet. Tang safety heavy barrel Ruger.


I asked what it was and was told "thats a Swift boy!".

Wanted one ever since.

Got some Hornady, it measured .4395". I had a chance to measure some Norma, it came in at .442". Gonna have order me up 100 pieces.

I'm putting together two more Swifts, one with a 14" twist, the other, an 8".

z1r,
That is interesting regarding the Hornady brass. I opened a brand new bag and measured one and came up with the .443 number I gave you. I will have to measure the rest, hope the quality control doesn't vary that much?

irfubar, yeah, me too. I'm gonna buy the Norma for my current swift and then buy Winchester brass for my next two. I'm gonna have my reamer reduced by .003" along the body to reduce case swell.

I'm interested in seeing what your measurements are. I think I'll measure 20 Hornady cases tomorrow night just for grins to see what the average is. I'll admit to only having measured 4 cases and all were the same.