Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .220 Swift opinions

I'm interested in hearing some personal experiences and assessments of this cartridge. I often think I should get one but already have the 22-250 and some say you can't practically beat the performance of the -250 with the Swift. But when placed side by side the Swift does tower over the shorter 22-250 much like the -250 does over the 223. It seems like there should be a several hundred fps difference in velocity but that doesn't seem to be the case at least with 55's?

The Swift is nostalgic, and still a good round. I've had both it and the 22-250, the 22-250 AI and the 22/6mm (224 TTH) . IMO now, the 22-250 AI is the most practical if you want really high speed and long case life/barrel life. Use determines what twist you require, of course. I used my hot 22s more for deer (and deer size) hunting and coyotes. I stopped at the 68gr Hornady in the 22-250 AI and the 75 Swift in the 224 TTH. It was plenty for my use. In the Swift, I only used it with the then available Federal Premium 55gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaw, and Hornady 50gr Vmax factory loads.

I have a Left Hand SA Rem 700 chambered .243 in the safe that I am contemplating building "something else" on the action. An 8 twist .220 Swift is my current thought for a walking rifle for critters that would also be capable of taking deer with proper bullets.

There will be those that will come along and talk about brass stretch, and tall skinny vs short fat. Yada, Yada, Yada... If you want a .220 Swift, no practical reason not to buy or build one...

I am one of those...

However, that said I own a number of rifles all chambered the same.....so which makes more sense?

As mentioned...if you want a .220 Swift...get one!

A Swift with a fast twist barrel would be awesome!

Yes, a fast twist Swift could do some nice things I believe.

JMO, they are both interesting and useful cartridges. Speculation only but I doubt that brass for the Swift will be readily available 10-20 years down the road. That said the difference in SAAMI specs between the two are quite small. Like the Poobah said, if you want one, go for it!

My late brother's Liberty Ruger 77 was stunningly accurate. Later, it became a .22/243 and finally a SAAMI .22/250 for easier sale after he got sick. Still a place for the screamers for some varminting. As he found out, some bullets can't take Swift speeds, even with a 1-14" twist.

Hanco,
I have a 1/8 twist swift and a 1/7.7 twist swift and yes they are awesome...

I have two and have had many .22-250's... Had I known I could put a Swift on a 700 action, I would have had one in the 70's... I like my .22-250, also a .22-250AI, but the Swift has slain more coyotes for me in the short time I have had it than the others.. All are good.. I only use 1-14 twist barrels.. If I rebarreled again, I might go 1-12.. For my use of the Swift, I want 50 grain bullets going as fast as I can.. If I want to shoot a heavier bullet, I use a bigger rifle..

I love the Swift. There isn't a big step up from .22-250 to the Swift but it IS a step up. The only negative I can offer with the Swift is that in some rifles like my old 700 VSSF the Swift works better with the magazine loaded one round short of full, otherwise it'd tangle up / jam up. I didn't experience any measurable difference in barrel/throat life between .22-250 and .220 Swift .. I pushed both very hard. I also didn't notice any difference in case stretching, both are tapered enough they're built to grow. The negative right now would probably be brass. In the days I shot the Swift (i've owned 4) WW .220 Swift brass was very good, hard as hell, consistent, and accurate. I''m not hearing good things about WW brass now. I would not want softer brass at Swift pressures. Sure as hell not going to load it down. If you want that level of performance it might be worth checking into .22-250AI, .22 Creedmoor, or a .22-243 for the availability of better brass.

Tom

I've had several .22-250s and one .220 Swift, a Ruger 77V. Got rid of all the .22-250s but still have the Swift that I bought used in 1991. It's pretty far into it's second barrel, but continues to shoot so well I doubt I'd ever get rid of it. I use mostly the 50 grain Sierra Blitz or Spitzer. Great coyote rifle, and, as my gunsmith friend remarked once when comparing the Swift to lesser .22s like the .222 or .223, "coyote kills with the Swift are more dramatic". They are.

Pass the 224 Kreedmire and hold the Fluff.

Hint...............

Or get the swift, like "you" want too Mike..

Pass vastly superior case design,vastly superior brass and the vastly superior COAL latitude. Congratulations?!?

Pardon my simply shooting it all and then some.

Hint..............

What do you want to do with it?

Sure it is fast, but if you find one, it will likely have a 1-14" twist. A 45-50 grain jacketed bullet at 3800-4000 fps is certainly fast, but it is still a relatively low B.C bullet.

I had a Temporary 700 VS in 22-250 (factory 1-14" twist). I shot 50 grainers at 3500 fps. Great Chuck gun, but wind is a factor at 400+ yards. My brother had the same rifle, but chambered in the 220 Swift (1-14" twist). Same issue. Both were fun, and load. I wished my 22-250 was at least a 1-12", and 1-9" would have been better. I'd rather shoot a higher b.c. bullet at lower MV, and have less wind drift.

My Chuck hunting buddy rebarreled his Remember 700 to 22-250 AI with a 1-8" twist barrel, to shoot 77 grainers. THAT was an impressive rig. We called it "the wind cheater.". He mad several 500 yard, first-shot Chuck hits with that outfit, in wind.

Fast bullets alone aren't the end all and be all in shooting. If you want to shoot long range, go for higher B.C, and maybe even 6mm. (6mm BR? 6 mm Creedmore?)

If you just want to shoot a bullet as fast as you can, then why not?...get a Swift, and see if it meets your needs.

Oh, most white men wanna come home every night after work too..... Hint

1000 words and now The Do Nothing Gang can say they've "seen" a 224 Kreedmire,a 75 ELD and an 88 ELD. Congratulations?!?



I shoot 22-250's in 7" and 8",along with 22-250 AI's in 7",8" and 9". Have 6 BR's in both 7" and 8" and only (3) 6 Kreedmires that are 8" or faster.

A 1-7" 223 will absolutely CRUSH a 14" Swift and pardon my shooting all of it.

Hint....................

Hey dumb dumb, he wants to shoot 50's..... Savvy?

I don't condone Stupidity,though you revel in it...if only because have NO alternate "move". Congratulations?!?

Pardon a "lowy" 22 BR CRUSHING the Swift,if only because I shoot 'em all and then some.

Hint.................