Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Twist on a 220 swift custom

If you were building a 220 swift custom rifle, and will shoot 50 grain bullets, not heavier than 50 grain, would you choose a 12 or 14 twist?

Thanks

Yes.

On the chance you will shoot heavier, why not twist it faster. There is no disadvantage to a faster twist

You might think 50 grain bullets shoot flatter than a 53 grain VMax, but if you run the numbers, at 300 yards the 53 VMax drops less and has over 2 inches less (10 mph) wind-drift. Ideal twist for the 53 Vmax is 11 twist, but 10 twist is what's made. Don't be crazy and handicap yourself with the old 14 twist, if building a new Swift. Having said all that, you are better off running the new 62 grain ELD-VT in an 8 twist, which by 350 yards has the same drop as the 53 Vmax and 3.5 inches less 10 mph wind drift (assuming 3850 fps for the 53 gn and 3650 fps for the 62gn). Make sure the reamer you use has a short throat for the 62 gn.

You can still shoot a 55 through an 8 twist.....

They shot great in my last 22-250 8 twist. 40 grain BT's shot great too..

1in 12. I had a 1-8 it shot best with 55 gr. and then not so great. Heavy bullets in a /22 means turrets and range finds. I don't always have time for that. 1917 said the 53 gr vmax almost makes the heavy stuff pointless.

i went 10 twist so i can shoot 60 Nosler Partitions for coyotes and deer but this rifle a Ruger #1 Brux barrel 26 inch 10 twist still shoots 55 grain bullets fine.

8 twist handles 40s through 90s.
Like having 2 guns in one. Your rifle, but I know what I'd do.

True. And, should the time comes to move it, it'll be more attractive to a wider audience.
Though the Swift is a tweener so mag restrictions become a hurdle with many of the the heavier bullets.

1-14" if you're absolutely certain.


Not entirely true. I very much enjoyed shooting the 45 grain Hornady pointed Hornet bullet, the 50 grain Speer TNT, and 50 grain Hornady SX from my 1-14" twist .22-250 and .220 Swift. The jackets on those are thin enough you'd have to download a bit to use them in a 1-12" twist else they'll disintegrate in flight. As the throats wore, even with a 1-14" twist they'd no longer hold together at max velocity.

That may not matter to you. It did to me. So .. IMHO it depends a bit on the OP's intended use.

At 100 yds sight 53gn Vmax and 62 ELD-VT 2" high, at 200yds 62 is 1.7" and 53 is 1.9", 300 yds 62 is -2.9 and 53 is -2.7, 350 yds 62 is -7.2 and so is 53 Vmax. After 350 yds, 62 gn is flatter. No need to twist turrets before 350 yds with 62gn ELD-VT and if you have hash marks past about 350 yds. If you don't need a range finder with 50's or 53 Vmax up to 300 yards then you don't need it with 62 ELD-VT.

As mentioned previously with thin-jacketed varmint bullets, with too fast a twist some come apart before they reach the target.

For a 53 V-Max, guessing 3,600-3,700 out of a Swift, I’d 1:9” or 1:10”.
That 53 is fairly long for its weight but, a 9” at 3,700 will keep it JUST under 300k rpm.

53’s are MEAN at 3,000fps. Would love to play with it 3,700+!!!!

I guess I wasn’t explicit enough about what weight bullets I will and will not shoot.

My apologies, I thought I spelled out exactly and in detail why getting a new slow twist barrel on your .220 Swift was a dumb idea, given the relatively low b.c.'s on the current 50 grain bullets.

Seems like the OP decided that he would only shoot 50 grain bullets in his Swift? However, twisting a barrel for only one bullet doesn't really give you much flexibility to change your mind, or the next owner of the rifle to have the best compromise....
If a faster twist will work as well with 50 grainers and also give you latitude to shoot lighter and heavier bullets as well or better, why not? My 12 twist Remington 700 223 and 22-250 shoot everything up to 50 grain well, 55 grain fairly well, and doesn't like anything heavier. A 9 or 10 twist would change that equation substantially and allow me to shoot anything from 40 grain up to 75 grain with equal results IMO, like my 223 ARs do.

Sorry Dale. Saw another fellow mention 53’s and I just really like that bullet.

But if you’re determined to run 50’s, I don’t know that it’ll matter anywhere from 1:9” to 1:14”.

Good luck!

There is a possibility that in the future, some bullet manufacturer will make a higher b.c. 50 grain bullet (around .275 G1) which will be longer than the current plastic tipped 50 grain bullets and will probably require a 12 twist. The current 50's only require a 14 twist. Running a faster twist than necessary results in 4 things happening: 1. velocity is marginally reduced - but the reduction is next to negligible 2. pressure is marginally increased - but the increase is also next to negligible 3. At extreme distances when the bullet is in the downward part of its trajectory, the nose of the bullet will have more of a tendency to go in a straight line as opposed to following its trajectory path. This will not show up on a target at 100 or 200 yards because the bullet is in its relatively flat trajectory phase. Again, this will result in negligible accuracy difference even at longer ranges. 4. Increased centrifugal force on the jacket of the bullet. On a very thin varmint bullet run at very high velocity, some bullets may come apart in flight at too high an rpm caused by too fast a twist. So, if the OP wants to continue with his "desire" to only run up to 50 grain bullets, the current 50 grain bullets are optimized with a 14 twist.

Thanks guys.
I have other rifles, in 220 swift, 22/250, and 240 weatherby that I can shoot 55-80 or so grain bullets if I want. I’m a “speed” guy and on this rifle I don’t give a rats ass if along heavier bullet will drop less at 500 yards. Cause 99.9% of my shots are under 300 yards, and probably 80% are under 200 yards. I’m talking called coyotes. I know that I can kill them at those ranges with a variety of cartridges, I have done so. I want a fast accurate swift in this build.
Guess I’ll go with 1:12”.
Let’s move on.

Excellent.

Dale

I can relate to "The Need For Speed". It great for a " point and shoot" rifle, hold on the hair and shoot.

No need or TIME to range, read your chart, dial and shoot.

Some critters just won't wait to die. Your coyote will be down and dead before they fire a shot.

Let us know how your new SWIFT shoots.

Hal

Unless you are building a real Benchrest rifle, they're is no reason to every own a 22 with a 1: 14 twist. There is NO upside

^^
This is the voice of a varmint hunter. Not a long range gong ringer. They had it right decades before anyone heard about BC and fast twist barrels. Speed plus a light soft varmint bullet kills best with no holdover on the majority of varmint encounters. Especially when calling in calm conditions. I too would build a 12 T 222 Rem right through to the Swift.

I would do an 8 twist same as I'd do a 22-250

I had a 1-12” twist Douglas Premium barrel put on my Ruger M77V a couple years back. Had it crowned at 24” instead of 26” to make it a bit handier.

It is my go-to coyote and chuck rifle. I shot some 50 grain Varmageddons and 50 grain Vmax in it when I first got it. They shot excellent.

I have shot as heavy as 62 grain bullets as well but decided on the 55 grain Nosler BT as my all around. For your intended purpose, a 1-12” twist is plenty fast enough and will work perfectly.

I couldn’t be happier with mine!

Within 4 posts, the original question is derailed. Asking specifically about which twist for a 50 grain bullet and out come the fast twisters singing praise to the heavy bullets and fast twist.

Go for a 12 and continue with your build. Forget heavy bullets and fast twist if the 50 grain bullet is your preference…

Yep, 50 grainers at 4000 fps. I bet that will explode a crow or a rabbit.

Starting velocity,isn't impact velocity and atmospherics matter. Hint.

1-7" for 88's. Hint.

Pardon my shooting it all and then some. Hint..............

Spoken like a true gong ringer.

Thanks guys. As stated, I was looking for 50 grain accuracy out to 300 or so yards.
It’s is “barreled” with a 26”, 1:12 twist. Getting stock made so will be couple months before I get to shoot it.
I have prepped some new Norma brass and will load up some with various powders and bullets to see what works best.
It should be a coyotes nightmare.

It will be, good for you for sticking with what you want and what will work. You won’t be disappointed…

Lol.... I really wanted to post on this thread as I have 2 / 220 swifts.... but one has 1/8 twist and the other is a 1/7.7 twist.
So I kept my yapper shut....

I have 2 220 Swift's, Love them both. 1 is a 1-14" twist the other a 1-7 1/2" twist, for the OP's uses there is nothing wrong with a 1-14"twist, but a 1-12" will be awesome.
For my rifles shooting 50-55gr bullets W760 has always worked the best for me.
Good choice with the Norma brass

Fair enough. Derailment always seems to have a twist rate involved.
If I build a rifle, I don't build it necessarily around a bullet weight but the game/varmint I'm gonna primarily shoot with it. It doesn't take heavy, high bc to kill varmints. A 50 grain pill is an excellent choice. However, remember that your building a custom rifle. I think for versatility, you'll love the 1:8. It will open many doors for various bullets and loads.

I already did this years ago...

Same here.

If shooting BR bullets is your thing the slow twists work.
My one and only 220Swift was a pre-64 Winchester with the 14 twist. It would not even stabilize 52 grain AMAX bullets. I was relegated to 40 grain tipped bullets or 50-52 grain flat base BR bullets. Wrong rifle for those bullets. Down the road it went.

I have a 220 Swift Super Grade made in 1950 that shoots 50 grain bullets as well as I can shoot it…

I doubt you will actually build a .220 Swift but of your choices the 1-12 is smarter.

Good luck.

My most recent Swift. Hint.





Just sayin'.............

I don’t know why you would doubt that I’d build (have built) a 220 swift. I have one already.
But the build is in progress. The Sako A2 action has a #3 contour Shilen, 26”, 12 twist installed. That barreled action arrived at Brown Precision yesterday. They’re building the stock.

enjoy your new 220 Swift custom rifle its your rifle . have fun,Pete53

Mine shot some 50 grainers great too but not tipped ones.

OP, if you want to go with a 22-250, I have a 14 twist Shilen barrel, short chambered in 22-250, threaded for a 98 Mauser.
$200 shipped

Thanks Bart, but the barrel is already chambered for 220 swift and screwed into the action.