Any favorites? I located some new Norma brass so I ordered 100 cases then realized I have close to two pounds of IMR 4064, I have plenty primers. Going to work up some hard hitting coyote loads loading the 60 grain V Max.
Finished my build with a Lothar Walther heavy barrel 1 in 12, Sako AII Med Action with a Sako target trigger set at about 24 ounces, alum pillar bedded McMillan Sako style Varminter stock and topped it off with a Night Force NXS in Conetrol rings and bases. Had a box of Hornady 55 grain V Max loads so I used it to get on paper the group measured .670 at 100 meters with these factory loads seated damn near down to the ogive so I'm thinking once I start load development things should tighten up nicely...

In my Ruger tang safety .220 heavy barrel, I load 38.5 IMR 4064 under a 52 gr Speer hollow point, CCI large rifle (std) primer. Never chrono’d the load but was very accurate. Less so now the throat has moved forward a bit since 1977 when I bought the rifle. I get flattened primers but brass seems to last okay. Usual disclaimer-this load works in my rifle. It might not be safe in yours.

Good luck with your 220 swift. It’s a great cartridge.
I’ve used a custom in that chambering for many years. It’s a coyotes nightmare. My load is IMR 4064 and 50 grain ballistic tips.
My rifle is a stainless trued R 700 short action, Lilja sporter contour stainless 26”, and a McMillan hunter stock.

My old load before I shot out the factory Sako bull barrel was.
55 grain Nosler BT
39 grains of IMR 4064
Win cases
fed match primer

Many years ago I read an article by a well known sportswriter. I had just acquired a Ruger 77V in 220 Swift. The writer said he never had seen a 220 that didn’t like 38.5 gr of IMR 4064 behind a 55 gr bullet. So I worked up to that (which is max in some publications) and found that he was absolutely right. Brass life has been Ok. I use Norma brass, but did use highly prepped Winchester brass for some years.

Nice looking rifle, Grizz.

🦫

In my Swift I used IMR 4064 with great results & if working up loads now I might look at Varget.

I loaded my loads long, or nearly past mag length in a Ruger MkII with 55 NBT but got 3909 FPS w/a 26" barrel. Not much correction needed to go long.

Thanks Beav.

How bout more favorite Swift loads.

For 40 grain bullets 45gr of Varget and for 50, 53, and 55gr bullets 40 gr of Varget.
I have several swifts even an AI version, my favorite by far is a savage 110 with a 30" 16 twist McGowen barrel.

The standard load was a Hornady 55 grain SX soft point over 37.5 grains of IMR 4064.

That's an awesome build.

What speed do you get with that barrel and a 40gr?

That is a very sharp looking rifle.

55 grain SGK over 37.0 grains of IMR4064. I have a couple Swifts and that loads works well in them all.

4600 FPS plus almost 5000 with they AI version, I am the first to admit that these are "HOT" loads and the brass takes a beating and does not last as long as it could, When I shoot I want the rounds to perform the way I want with no compromise.

[img]https://forum.accurateshooter.com/attachments/20190315_160502-jpg.1095848/[/img]

[img]https://forum.accurateshooter.com/attachments/20190315_160421-jpg.1095849/[/img]

Local store here has 220 Swift ammunition on the shelf. Hadnt seen any in probably 6 years.

I’d like to have a Swift with a 1in 8 twist barrel just for the hell of it. The 62 grain TTSX or Bear Claws would be awesome.

Almost 5000 fps with the 220 AI ?? If you don't mind sharing, what construction is that particular 40 gr. bullet?

I use Vmax's, BlitzKings, as well as Noslers and pull the plastic tips off, all my rifles are slow twist 14 and up so there is not an excessive amount of bullet rpm to tear apart the jackets. I have a 300 RUM 30" 17 twist that shoots 110gr TTSXs over 4500fps that load is easy to remember 110gr of RL17 with a 110gr Vmax , Sierra HP or Barnes TSX or TTSX.

Here you go this is something you don't see every day These shoot 5000FPS all day any day and twice on Sunday.

[img]https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/img_0320-jpg.252734/[/img]

For you doubting Thomas. yes that says 17 T a 308 with 45gr of powder next to a 300 Rum with 110gr of powder both sporting 110 Vmax's.

[img]https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/17-twist-rum-jpg.254106/[/img]

Know where I can get a nice Ruger 220 Swift, just sent the guy a text I still want to buy it.

The 1st m77v in 220 swift I had thrived on 4064 and 50 -52 solid base nosler hp's. As the throat began to go I found 52gr Speer hp's a temporary answer. I traded it off and kept my eyes peeled for another. It didn't take long and I found a clean used one. I took a hint from a guy who wrote a few articles for Handloader magazine by the name of Norman Johnson. He maintained that WW 760 gave longer barrel life in the swift than 4064. I am still using it with 760.....mb

I'd like to see video of the chrony clocking 5K.

You'd have to be getting one loading out of each case.

I have two bags of .223WSSM that need a rifle at some point. Would make a fun project.

I'd like to see video of the chrony clocking 5K.

You'd have to be getting one loading out of each case.

I have done it so often that it's no big deal any more, I get 3 firings out of a case.

A long long time ago I bought this barrel with a certain caliber because it was all the rage and it was hip and trendy. Well I looked at the size of the brass and it's case capacity, and said to myself how the hell am I going to get any speed out of this itty bitty thing it holds just a little more than a 223. Anyways the next day a package came from PTG that I had forgotten about since it was backorder for so long, and said to myself this is no coincidence so I sent my new barrel and new reamer to the gunsmith and told him that I wanted him to rechamber it. He thought I was nuts I said that's beside the point, look it is already profiled crowned and threaded so just stick the reamer where the sun don't shine on this barrel and I will be a happy camper. He called me and asked what I wanted to do with the lazer etching on the barrel I said leave it there or no one will believe me. I crack up every time I think about it.
This is they end result.

PS: For those that are not familiar with this caliber a 6mm Mach IV is a 257 WBY necked down to 6mm or 243. And is another one of my many 5000 Fps rifles

Dean

Exhibit A

[img]https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/img_0324-jpg.254885/[/img]

[img]https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/img_0321-jpg.254888/[/img]

[img]https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/img_0337-jpg.254974/[/img]

Let's see the chronograph!

Just so you know you waste a lot of ammo trying to get a chrono to read 5000 FPS plus, I have several chrono's and they all start to act up and not record shots once you get up into the high 4000s if it records it great if not I don't sweat it since they are all the same load from the same batch.

Doubting 4600 with a 40 out of a Swift even with 30” barrel. Believe it was Hornady that set the world speed record with the Swift of 4665 fps using a 29 grain bullet and 42 grains 3031.

Here is some of my other stuff

338 EDGE 32" 13 twist Barrel 160gr Barnes TTSX 106gr of RL17 = 4200 fps
It's a Remage

https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/upload_2019-11-24_16-10-25-png.159560/

And here is Big Bertha my Barrett 50 BMG that I load 350gr Barnes originals with 240gr of RL17 that yields 4200fps the bullets have the lowest BC made but it is like launching a cinder Block.LOL

[img]https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/upload_2019-11-24_21-0-1-png.159626/[/img]

[img]https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/upload_2019-11-24_21-1-6-png.159627/[/img]

That was probably the most they could get and staying within SAMMI specs pressure wise, which I choose not to

They undisputed king of the hill is my 6mm Rum I won't post the numbers since I don't want to get into a pissing contest here she is the middle one.

What is a fair price for a Ruger m77 220 Swift, in good shape, Harold will sell me his, I don't want to offer too low a price?

Tang safety?

The first handloads I ever made were 220 Swift in 1984 on a ranch with an old M70.
I shot prairie dogs.

I'll throw $800 out there, assuming it's a 77V and the throat is in good shape. I may be off a couple hundred from the consensus, though.

Tanger?
Round top?
V?

$700 minimum.

don't remember been 6 months since i have seen it.

I'm not saying you can't.

But I'd like to see the Chronograph clocking 5K.

I'll start there, he text me back today and said he didn't need it.

Hottest load for .223

18 gr Blue Dot 33 gr Vmax moly:
Half the rounds show no pressure signs on the brass and read 4100 fps on the chrono.
Half the rounds show horrible pressure signs on the brass and read 4200 fps on the chrono.

H110 loads are too fast for my chrono.

The .223 is registered with SAAMI at 55kpsi, but the case head is good for more like 75kpsi, so the published loads for the .223 [from the point of view of an advanced handloader] are silly wimpy.

For 55 gr., 25.3 gr H335 is the Hodgdon published max load.
For 55 gr., 29.0 gr H335 is the max useful load.
For 55 gr., 31.0 gr H335 is short brass life.

If you load the bullet further into the case away from the lands you can load alot hotter, a typical load for me is .125 jump.

I thought the 6mm mach iv was the 7mm Remington magnum necked down to 6mm. Ross Seyfried did a article on it many years ago.

I load Varget with 55 grain Ballistic Tips. 3820 fps out of 27" 1 in 14 twist barrel, .010" from the lands, 5 shots in 0.4" @100yds.

There are several versions of that round.

6mm MachIV

6mm Atlas

6mm Incenerator

6mm Arnold

Mine is based on a 257 WBY but I can also use 264 WinMag and 7mmRem Mag brass in a pinch.
I also use 270 WBY brass, The reason I went and use the WBY chamber is I can really load the Snot out of it and doesn't say boo
this wildcat has no name as far as I know.

What's the barrel life of your Swift with those 5K loads?

The 6MM Mach IV was a 7mm Rem Mag case but used a 40 degree shoulder fire formed forward like the Ackley improved cartridges.

I came up with the name and chambered the first rifles that Ross used for that article.

My tang safety M-77 has never been picky on loads. IMR 4350 is excellent with bullets from 52 grains to 63 grains and every critter from prairie dogs to whitetails.

I recall P.O. Ackley writing about shooting burros with this .220 Swifty

He called the killing effect something like the "pulsero de cavernero" (sp.)(hydrodynamic shock wave) effect.

Bastids are tough. Took four perfectly placed shots with my Swift before I installed the new barrel up by CA NV line many years back two behind the ear, one in the pump house, and one in the spine. 55 grain Nosler BT.

Would you happen to know where he was aiming and what type of bullet he was using?

What's the barrel life of your Swift with those 5K loads?



This goes for all my wildcats and improved barrels, the first 500 rounds are match quality the next 200 to 300 are a good target quality shots and then up to 1000 a good hunting rifle barrel "most times I don't wait that long" Then I cut off 1/2 inch off they end of the barrel a run the reamer and cut a fresh throat and start all over again. that is why I start with a 30" barrel to begin with so I can do this several times, it is called setting back or rethroating. The threading, profiling, crowning, is already done and as far as the reamer you don't have to cut out all that metal to chamber it only the throat part 10% of the lenght of the reamer, my smith can do this in a 1/2 hour me an hour. You get the best of both worlds when you do a set back, first you get a fresh chamber second the rifling is already broken in and as a bonus the barrel has settled to where it wants to be from all the heat cycles so when you zero it in on the lathe it is truer than the first time it was chambered. I am a stickler for never letting the barrel over heat that is a big factor in a barrels life span I have a Raytech thermometer with me when I go Vapor trailing.

When I was young (and stupid) I got a 220 swift in a Winchester. Driving 40 grain bullets as fast as I could, and not restricting my fire rate, I smoked that barrel in under 1000 rounds.

I refer you to his Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders - IIRC it's in Vol I.

I would look that reference up if I had his handbook.

In his book I believe he also mentioned shooting domestic sheep with a 17 caliber rifle

OK.

So the throat on your barrel lasts how many rounds?

Only a matter of time before Burns claims he invented the question mark.

LOL

Fugkin' fraud.

So the throat on your barrel lasts how many rounds?

As the throat erodes this is it's progression.

Like I said the first 500 rounds are match quality, then the next 200 to 300 rounds are target quality, and then the last 200 to 300 a good hunting rig. for a total of 1000 rounds. Then Lather Rince Repeat.

Got it.

Steve Timm (used to post here as dozapper) had the greatest Swift story ever told. It involved blown primer pockets, 40gr bullets, and a stray cat. LOL

The Swift rules.

Will the 55gr Barnes work in a 1-14 barrel?

Or go with the Barnes Tipped Triple-Shock X (TTSX) Bullets 22 Caliber (224 Diameter) 50 Grain Spitzer Flat Base

I would think they should. I shoot the 53 gr. tsx in a 1 in 14 out of a 22-250 and had great results.

Just thinking about the length.

When the velocity is high - shorter twist is not needed to stabilize heavy or long projectiles. If the projectile is a cup and core or bonded - it's counter productive most times as rpm will tear the jacket off. I only use solid copper in the fast stuff and fast stuff is about all I shoot nowadays. Hammer bullets are the best followed by cutting edge and barnes. That's my sample of 2 (22-250 and 25-06) though so it's worth exactly what you paid for it.

Both of them punch WAY above their weight and kill like a bolt of lightning - it's a thing to behold. The light for caliber bullets also don't recoil much if at all.

Shot a lot of marmots with 52 Sierras and 38.6 gn IMR4064 but moved on to slower-burning and temp resistant powders.
210M primers unless otherwise noted. 26" Shillen 1:14 barrel. Winchester or Norma cases.

50 NBT @3960fps:
43gn 2000MR (.54")
43.5gn R16 (215 primers) (.36")
44.5gn H4350 (.35")

52 Sierra:
38.6 IMR4064 @ 3790fps (.35")
44.0 R17 @ 4030fps (.16")
43.5 R16 @ 3865fps (215) (.52")

55 NBT:
41.5 2000MR @ 3835fps (.57")
41.5 R17 @ 3775fps (.45")
43.5 R16 @ 3890fps (.5")

60 NP: 46 H4831 @ 3510fps (.28")

My current favorite with 50 to 55 gn bullets is 43.5 gn R16 (Speer manual #15).