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220 Swift for a 300 Weatherby

ATHOMSONATHOMSON Member Posts: 3,399 ✭✭
edited December 2008 in Ask the Experts
I think this is a no brainer, but I am going to ask. I can trade my synthetic Vanguard in 300 weatherby mag for a Savage 112 in 220 swift straight up. The vanguard is near new, but nothing special. The Savage is stainless, 27.5" fluted barrel, timney trigger, with muzzle break. Shouldn't I do this deal?
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Comments

  • rsnyder55rsnyder55 Member Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Depends on how much you would use either. If you use the 300Wby regularly, is there another rifle you have to fill its place? The calibers aren't really interchangable in function. I hunt with my 300Wby, but nothing I hunt can be taken with a 220 Swift.

    Sometimes it's not a straight dollar to dollar deal.
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  • mrbrucemrbruce Member Posts: 3,374
    edited November -1
    Seems the Savage is the better of the 2 you mentioned, if you don't need the 300 trade it off.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you are using the 300 to hunt with then you will be disappointed in shooting big game with a 220 Swift. If you are shooting holes in paper you may or may not see improvement with group size with the swift. If you want to shoot Ground Hogs the swift will be awesome.
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  • ern98ern98 Member Posts: 1,725 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You know the old saying of "if it sounds too good to be true". How many rounds have been put thru the 220? One high use day on a dogtown can distroy a barrel if it is badly over heated and still shot. I'd consider taking it to a smith and getting the throat inspected just to be sure. Or even just a range run to do a comparison shoot where you both get to try what you would be getting. If it shoots good and you don't really want the 300wby anymore, go for it.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    pending a good borescope inspection, I would make the trade. If the swift has a lot of firecracking in the throat, I would pass.

    BTW, I LOVE the swift.
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sounds to me like the homeboy that has the 220 Swift has burned it, and wants a gun he knows that is pristine(your 300 Weatherby), and not shot a lot, to trade off for another varmint rig. Most people I know that have good shooting varmint guns will not part with them...not even if their mother were on her death bed. Sounds like a red flag to me. I would ask to shoot a group on paper MYSELF with it first if you are interested that much.

    Best
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  • ATHOMSONATHOMSON Member Posts: 3,399 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am getting too old for the beating the Weatherby dishes. I bought it on whim (I Doubt any of you fellas have ever done that). I hunt whitetails in Texas and this gun has to stay home because it really cuts down on the amount of meat left to process. I'm going with the Swift because I need a new toy.
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  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ATHOMSON,

    A lot of good advice here so all I can pretty much do is summarize it. The two are pretty much opposite ends of the hunting spectrum. The Savage is a great varminter the way it is set up. The .300 a great hunter. Maybe that's what your friend wants is a great hunting rifle and doesn't have time to drive out and use the varminter? I would still say get a nice compact LED flashlight and look hard at the lands area and see if you see any firecracking. Set the rifle up in bags or a rest and look closely at the lands. Anytime you see firecracking you almost always see rounded off lands.

    This would be a good thread for nn to come along and post a pic of good and bad lands. And, what you can see with the naked eye. (I hope)

    Edit:

    I must've skipped your last post. I feel, and many others do not, that the .220 Swift is an excellent deer rifle with the right bullets. It has been proven time and again to me by a friend out in NV that has taken some monster muley's and one very nice 6x6 bull elk in NV with his. He also shoots gophers out there to 500 yds. I personally wouldn't use one for elk, but for deer, the right bullet in the right place kills them first shot. If the rifles good, you have a good trade.

    Edit:

    Thanks for the pic mrbruce! I would imagine 6-8" would do a lot to the loss of accuracy.
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  • mrbrucemrbruce Member Posts: 3,374
    edited November -1
    Here's quick one from a heat cracked 22/250 from my Hawkeye, and my little Fuji F50SE.
    It's like this for about 6-8 inches.....
    akken5.jpg
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  • mrbrucemrbruce Member Posts: 3,374
    edited November -1
    That gun came from a old Amish guy, and the barrel was plated with copper from one end to the other.
    He traded it off because it didn't shoot very good for him anymore [:D]

    That 700 action now sets behind my 22/250 Ackley 9 twist....
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