My standard load in the traditional (1-14 twist) .220 Swift is a 55-grain bullet and 42.5 grain of Hunter. This usually gets around 3700 in a 24" barrel and excellent accuracy, but in many rifles the charge can can be pushed to 44.0 grains, for around 3800-3900, depending on the barrel.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
I agree with John on this, for some reason with the Swift there is no clear-cut perfect powder. In my current 1-14" barrel the powder of choice is W760-H414 with 55 grainer's. but my last barrel would not shoot this combo at all and preferred VVN160 and IMR 4831. My barrel before that liked either IMR4064 or RL15. With the Swift it is mandatory to shoot through a chronograph and find what your barrel likes to find a great load. dont know about Hunter????? try it through a chronograph and see what happen's. From my experience with 30 plus year's shooting a swift is that H380 is the worst powder possible for this cartridge but still many use it. use a quality chronograph and see what your barrel likes.
Big Game can work pretty darn well in the Swift, too!
It just depends on the rifle. My experience is any cartridge that pushes the ballistic envelope is going to be touchier about which powder works best in an individual rifle. While there may be overall trends, it's not like moderate rounds such as the .223 or .308, where almost any powder in the same approximate burning-rate range will shoot prerry well.
The Swift is touchier than smaller .224 rounds, but in my experience shoots pretty darn well without much dinking around. Hunter seems to match it's capacity pretty well with 55's.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
Hey John, thanks for the info. This is my first Swift it is a remington 700 VSF. Really looking forward to shooting it, would like to get to the same as our 243s shooting the 55s as far as velocity. I really like the 22 cals and looking to rebarrel this in a year or so to a Ackley in 220. I have a Chrony and will get it out and see what I can come up with. HAPPY HUNTING
Big Game can work pretty darn well in the Swift, too!
It just depends on the rifle. My experience is any cartridge that pushes the ballistic envelope is going to be touchier about which powder works best in an individual rifle. While there may be overall trends, it's not like moderate rounds such as the .223 or .308, where almost any powder in the same approximate burning-rate range will shoot prerry well.
The Swift is touchier than smaller .224 rounds, but in my experience shoots pretty darn well without much dinking around. Hunter seems to match it's capacity pretty well with 55's.
I agree with ya MD, From Benchmark to AA2700, They all will work in the Swift. Some better than others in certain rifles. Although other than being dirty burning, and prone to doing bad things on hot days at max loads, H-380 is good powder for both the 22-250 and Swift for alot of years. Burned a bunch of it myself. For the OP and others.
220 Swift Barrel: 24" ■ Twist: 1-14" ■ Primer: FED 210 ■ Bullet Diameter .224" Big Game 50 HDY V-MAX 37.0 3,500 41.0 3,800 60,000 2.680 Big Game 55 SIE BK 36.0 3,450 40.0 3,600 60,000 2.680 Big Game 60 HDY V-MAX 34.0 3,200 38.0 3,450 61,000 2.680 Hunter 50 NOS B-TIP 39.4 3,493 43.8 3,881 59,120 2.680 Hunter 52 SIE HPBT 39.8 3,394 44.2 3,771 56,990 2.600 Hunter 53 BAR X 39.0 3,407 43.3 3,785 62,720 2.680 Hunter 55 HDY V-MAX (M) 40.1 3,404 44.6 3,782 62,480 2.680 Hunter 55 NOS B-TIP 40.0 3,432 44.4 3,813 61,380 2.680 Hunter 60 HDY V-MAX 36.9 3,150 41.0 3,495 61,380 2.680
Would love to find a Ramshot powder that worked well in the Swift. My old standby has always been W760, good velocity and accuracy but dirty burning and pretty temperature sensitive.
I've shot tons of H414(760) in mine too, both std Swift and AI. My current .220AI shoots .3's at 3990 fps with 55 Sierras and 47 gr H414. Hard to let go or top that.
I have had very good luck with IMR 4064, H414 and Big Game in a 24" Ruger 77 sporter, all with 55-grain bullets. Have never tried Hunter but will eventually get around to it.
Incidentally, the 60-grain Sierra HP and 36 grains of Big Game gave me one-hole groups in my Swift, but velocity was only about 3325 fps. Similarly, 46 grains of Big Game also gave me one-hole groups with the 75-grain Sierra HP at 3300 fps in a Ruger 77 .257 Roberts.
Hi Guy�s, my first post here, im from australia and a long time shooter and reloader. I am not much of a forum kind of guy so you wont see that many post from me here. However i saw this post and wanted to let you know some of my experience with the 220 swift and 220 Ackley imp my current gun is a custom 220 Ackley using a Mcmillan A5 stock Lilja NBRSA HV 12 twist 3 grove barrel,, 26�..... With a tikka M55 action and worked trigger around 1/2 pound. Powders that gave me good speed and best accuracy also worked very well in the standard swift. These loads are for 220 Ackley imp only... RL 17 and H-4350 are my go to, with either 50,55 or 60 grain pills. All loads were tested over a CED Chronograph 15 feet from the barrel. A Sierra 50 gr Blz 44 grs RL 17 AV velocity 3790. 44.5 gave 3815. 45grs 3985 45.5 gave 4020 no pressure no stiff bolt. My max load with 46.5 grs of H-4350 and a 55 gr nosler BT gave me between 3995 and 4018 fps. the target was shot with H-4350 and nosler 55 gr BT @ 100 yds the other was 50gr sierra blz @ 200yds.
For pure velocity and temp stability AA 2700 is my go to powder. 26" tube gives 3975 for a 52 SMK over 43 grs w/CCI BR primer, 46 grs, 40gr BK, same primer gives 4450 in a standard Swift. Plus its very easy to down load with for Plinker loads.
Why do the Ackley to a .220 Swift??? Isn't 4,000 fps enough???
Actually the 220 AI, and /or the Weatherby 220 Rocket never did go anywhere. P.O gave up on it as he never saw any significant gain to justify the extra powder. Roy W did produce the 220 Rocket for a few years then dropped it. Is 4K enough. Yep it is. Due to barrel heat, throat erosion, and case life the added/purported/realized gain isnt worth it. The only thing wrong with it that I see is that the poster isnt actually getting any significant gain with the AI compared to my standard Swift for velocity and accuracy. Charge for charge, bullet to bullet, my standard is doing just as well. IMO
