Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters question on a Bolt face 220swift--308 same or different

Is the bolt face on 220 swift and a 308 the same could I rebarrel a swift and put on a 308. nothing wrong with swift barrel just don't shoot it and need something for a youth to grow into.

Yes - Both have a 0.473" bolt face.
Yes - You could rebarrel to 308 Win (or alot of other cartridges).

It would be less expensive to just buy the kid his own gun if you have to pay a gunsmith for the work and buy a new barrel.I have checked various rim diameters and while Nosler #6 says .473 they seem to actually vary from .465 to .471" from the Swift to .308,280,270,30-06. The Swift has alot of taper in its case and if the mag box was setup for it, will it work for a 308 with considerably less taper? Will the feed rails need modification or a different mag follower ? Nosler #6 shows a max length on the Swift at 2.68" and 2.81" for the 308,will you reload your 308's and short seat them to work or rely on factory 308's which are probably crimped in a cannnuelure and maybe to long to work in the Swift mag box?Just asking questions that need to be addressed. A youth model might be the way to go until he needs the full size stock and full power chambering. Magnum Man

Get him a Marlin XS7 in 308 or 7mm-08 and keep the Swift. There are certainly no flies on the Marlin. It will cost less, and you can give him the Swift, as well as the 308.

Ted