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Is the 220 swift finnicky??????

JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
edited July 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have heard some of the older guys at the shop saying they tried the 220 swift 8-10 yrs ago and it was a picky caliber. One guy, who is reputable and a good shot, told me all they could get her to shoot well was imr4198 and sierra match king bullets in 52gr weight. I know powders and guns have improved ten fold over the last decade, soooo,.......can anybody tell me of thier positive or negative experience with the 220 swift? I want the rem 700 VSSF and I know the gun will shoot beyond reproach, but is the caliber going to be a PITA, in which case I would just go for the 22-250. Thanks guys.

A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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Comments

  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Some people swear by them,I think its a matter of opinion.Id rather stick with my Ruger Model 77 22-250.Ive heard the 220 swift is pretty hard on barrels.



    Best!




    Rugster

    Edited by - Rugster on 07/15/2002 15:40:19
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  • PJPJ Member Posts: 1,556 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have also heard the 220 is a barrel eater.

    Pete

    "Be kind to your neighbor, he knows where you live."
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  • Guns & GlassGuns & Glass Member Posts: 864 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Swift was developed many years ago. A lot has changed since then. It isn't as finicky as it used to be.
    But, the 22-250 has better inherent accuracy, is easier on barrels, cheaper to reload, and factory ammo is cheaper.


    Happy Bullet Holes!
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  • varmit huntervarmit hunter Member Posts: 1,674 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hands down 22/250 over the swift. The 22/250 has never been picky.

    The most important things, Are not things.
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a Custom .220 with a 1.25" Bull barell built on a Rem 700 action. The gun will shoot 3/4 or less with several bullets. (Berger, Hornaday, Sierra) Therefore, I don't believe accuracy is an issue. I do agree with the barrel issue, if your using max loads and shooting regularly, the barrel life will be short! I don't shoot mine at max, so I'm not any faster than a 22-250. My advice is to go for the 22-250. Cheaper ammo, better factory ammo selection and longer barrel life. If I had to do it over, I would have went with the 22-250

    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the honesty gentlemen. Now, as far as me handloading, is the opinion still that the 22-250 is more accurate? I can load any bullet/powder/case combo, so the factory ammo is less important due to the fact that once I find the weight it wants, I will be loading my own anyway. The 22-250 still the winner with that taken into consideration? thanks again.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Think again.
    The Swift will not hurt a barrel any faster than a 22-250 and usually less.
    I have a load that shoots a 52 gr bullet at 3790 FPS in a Swift.
    It has outlasted 2 barrels in the 22-250 of a friend trying to get the same velocity.
    Think pressure and flame speed.
    They are both great.
    This is like asking which is "better",30-06 or 300 Mag.
    Pressure and flame are less with the bigger case always for a certain velocity.
    cpermd
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  • rick_renorick_reno Member Posts: 186 ✭
    edited November -1
    Mine was. It was a Sako, I never got it dialed in, and I spent a fair amount of time trying. I went back to the 22-250, much easier to deal with.
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  • rg666rg666 Member Posts: 395 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I echo CPERMD. The 220 is a superior shooter. I have 2 rugers & 2 remingtons 1 in each caliber. The 220 is in NO way hard to reload. Key thing is to ask people on this board for good loads to get you started. Then you can tweak them to fit your particular gun. If you are talking about barrel erosion it will happen if you load ANY gun to the max time after time. I usually use H4831 and it push's the 55gr bullet out at about 3850fps. The 22-250 will push the 55gr bullet with a similar accuracy load out at around 3550fps. The big thing is that the 220 swift KILLS (in my experiance) the 22-250 in accuracy at 200 yards & out. RG
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've had a .220 M77 Ruger for close to 25 years. My loads run 3600-3800 fps, usually with 52-55gr bullets. If the barrel is shot out, I sure wish I had a whole bunch more worn as badly! I've never owned or shot a .22-250, but I sure don't feel like I'm missing anything.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    rg666, what kind of group size you getting at 200? 300? ?

    cpermd, how many rounds through your barrel?

    Teak, what kind of groups are you getting at distance?

    Also, what twist rate do you guys have? what barrel length?




    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    4200 documented + another couple of hundred not counted.
    Shilen SS barel.
    cpermd
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