Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints .220 Swift

I'm with Shrapnel and others as far as the .220 Swift vs. the .22-250 goes.

Have owned several rifles in both chamberings and the Swifts have been more accurate overall--and two of my Swifts have been tang-safety Rugers. I've never encountered any problem keeping myself in brass. Bought my last batch at a local store a few months ago. And in my experience the Swift case doesn't stretch any more than the .22-250.

I'm not that big on shooting prairie dogs or other high-volume small varmints with either the .220 or .22-250 anymore, preferring the .204 or something even smaller. But for use on larger varmints the Swift has both a 100 fps edge (which may not mean much, but it's there) and something indefinable.... After all, it's a SWIFT!

Ordinarily I might agree with you that it's a lack of shooting skill. However, I'm having no problems hitting groundhogs with my .25-06 Varmint rig that I've gone back to in place of the .223.

Maybe I've been spoiled by a flat shooting cartridge that I've used for 30 years. The .223 in no way is flat shooting, probably at its best when ranges are under 250 yards from my experience. Throw a good wind into the mix and the .223 looks even worse.

I bought the .223 to replace the .25-06 for hunting in more densely populated areas of OH. I've heard from people telling me they use this cartridge for hunting prairie dogs with shots up to 600 yards. All I can say is I don't believe it.

The .22-250 performs much better then any .223 could ever hope to do. My partners gun easily out performs my .223 without much more noise or recoil. hence the reason for wanting to go to either a .220 Swift or .22-250.

Started looking at rifles. It may be cheaper to just buy another rifle. I thought the Savage might be good for upgrading but at a price of over $350 to convert it I may just buy something else and sell the Savage.

The Savage 10fp is very accurate but it has issues, one of which is a failure to reliably feed the next round. And this is a rifle built for LE.

I'd like to get another Winchester 70 Stealth if I could find one at a reasonable price.

I'm still a RCH away from getting a Swift screwed together, just cuzz I can.

Double dog dare you.

Get a 22/250 AI instead, you will thank me later.

Joed49: If you have never experienced a 220 Swift while Hunting predators and Varmints then you OWE it to yorself to have a go with one!
I am a firm believer in the 220 Swift.
I have killed all manner of Varmints, predators and Antelope with the Swift - it is a remarkable and versatile caliber in many ways.
It will heat up a barrel quickly in a Colony Varmint situation though and the recoil makes it VERY difficult to spot ones own exact point of impact/shot.
But it makes up for some few less than desirable attributes with so many desirable performance attributes.
I am currently shooting/Hunting with 6 (six) Varminters in caliber 220 Swift - the Swift is indeed a special cartridge.
Last month I just added an eighth (8th) Rifle in 22-250 Remington to my Varminting cadre of arms.
As you can see I also love the 22-250 Remington cartridge.
But if it were a choice of one Varminter I would probably choose the 220 Swift over the 22-250 Remington.
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

My little guys holding my old Sako L579 in .220AI. The throat is about out of it again and the next barrel will be the 9th one. The last four have been the AI'd version. The Ackley conversion was worth it for me. I bought this rifle brand new in a sporting goods store in 1978 for $345.Scope is a fixed 10X S&B. This rifle has racked up 1800+ coyotes.

Pat, why dont you give us the WHOLE list of what the "Swift" has planted??!!

And boys, I believe there is a bull Bison in the mix...

I have no doubt of the kills with a Swift. For 30 years I used a .25-06 in a Rem 700 that they sold in a varmint configuration back in 1977. This rifle has gone everywhere with me including a bear hunt. I've used it mainly for ground hogs and have never seen anything hit as hard as it does.

I bought the Savage in .223 to use in more densely populated areas, it has been a disappointment. I think the only draw this cartridge has is it is used by the military. I'd love nothing better to convert it to .220.

Well that, modest appetite for powder, long barrel life, great for plunking [bleep] at long distance with bullets spun 1-8" and hell on deer.


Granted they ain't groundhogs....







Not much of a trick busting cans at 450 yards with a 223 nor center punching steel at 710.

Trick Shooter..........laffin!

I was told the Swift isn't going to like the short action Savage, any truth there?

Can't believe someone can get the .223 to shoot decent. Bullets maybe? Haven't reloaded for it yet and I'm using Federal bulk ammo. I can tell you it don't like a windy day.

You haven't handloaded for the .223 yet and yet you're doubting that it works on prairie dogs at 600 yards? Have you ever shot AT a prairie dog?

Huh?

Reality check...

That is one of my dream hunts. Some day maybe.

I love shooting at groundhogs but you just don't find them in large numbers. This year I've been finding them at 400 to 600 yards. I just can't get the .223 to go that distance. The .25 is another story.

LUCK

Quit using schit for bullets, and you'll be amazed at what "can/can't" be done.

Federal bulk ammo is great for turning money into noise; in my Rem 700 varmint they grouped no better than 2 1/4" at 100 yards, 5 shot groups. That's the Federal American Eagle FMJ.

In the same gun, a simple handload of 26gr Ramshot TAC and a 50gr Nosler BT (loaded in bulk brass, CCI primer, but seated with a Redding Match Grade Micrometer die) consistently grouped .75", 5 shots, at 100 yards. Rounds were single loaded and fired in the space of 30 seconds. I shoot fast when the wind flags look good.

I'll chime in, I've had at least 4 of each .22-250s and .220 Swifts.

When it comes to trigger pulling time I'd prefer a .220 Swift every damn shot.

OTOH, I've had some feeding issues in some bolt actions with the semi-rim of the Swift, and even when I didn't, the rimless .22-250 fed better.

The ideal answer is the .22-250 AI. Shoots as fast as the Swift, feeds like a standard .22-250.

The fire forming issue is a moot point. If your chamber is set up right so you get a slight crush fit on the shoulder with virgin .22-250 brass, load a middle of the road (too light won't form the shoulder) .22-250 load with a good varmint bullet, you'll still get .223+ performance: just go kill some sh*t and you'll have formed cases when you're done.

I don't have a .22-250AI right now. I'm doing the same thing though with a 6mm Rem AI. It **works**.

Tom