220 swift question

[Lovemyswift]

OK I sent my ruger m77vt off to McGowan barrel and had a stainless steel barrel put on . I went with a 28 inch varmint barrel and changed the twist to 1 in 12. OK with that said I am having a bit of trouble finding the perfect load for coyotes nosler ballistic tips in 55 gr seem to work good and accurate but seems not to shoot as flat . I usually run it around the 3800 fps mark. I am just wondering if someone else has a 28 inch barrel and what they recommend. Thank you

 

[justinp61]

Just out of curiosity, why a 28" tube on a coyote rifle? I don't shoot a Swift but do shoot a 22-250, both of mine have 1-12 twist barrels too. My bullet of choice is a Sierra 55gr Gameking. I've never chronographed them but have killed groundhogs out to 470 yards with it in my Savage mdl 12 with a 26" factory barrel.

I finished my second 22-250 this summer, it's a Savage LH mdl 11 with a 24" Shilen SS Select Match varmint contour barrel, it's a shooter too.

I must be a wuss because I used a shorter barrel for a lighter (9lb 6oz) weight packing around rifle instead of the almost 12lb mdl 12. LOL

 

[DSheetz]

You may not want to run them quite that fast and they may stabilize better for you . Try a different brand of bullet as well nosler bullets are good bullets it's just that with different barrels and barrel lengths some bullets just shoot better then others . Did you break your barrel in as recommended by the barrel manufacture ? So many variables to be explored . Play with powders , bullets , seating depth ect. you will find what it likes .

 

[dogz]

OK I sent my ruger m77vt off to McGowan barrel and had a stainless steel barrel put on . I went with a 28 inch varmint barrel and changed the twist to 1 in 12. OK with that said I am having a bit of trouble finding the perfect load for coyotes nosler ballistic tips in 55 gr seem to work good and accurate but seems not to shoot as flat . I usually run it around the 3800 fps mark. I am just wondering if someone else has a 28 inch barrel and what they recommend. Thank you

When you say that you usually run it around the 3800 mark is that actual speed that you chrono'd?

What are you using for powder?

 

[Lovemyswift]

Just out of curiosity, why a 28" tube on a coyote rifle? I don't shoot a Swift but do shoot a 22-250, both of mine have 1-12 twist barrels too. My bullet of choice is a Sierra 55gr Gameking. I've never chronographed them but have killed groundhogs out to 470 yards with it in my Savage mdl 12 with a 26" factory barrel.

I finished my second 22-250 this summer, it's a Savage LH mdl 11 with a 24" Shilen SS Select Match varmint contour barrel, it's a shooter too.

I must be a wuss because I used a shorter barrel for a lighter (9lb 6oz) weight packing around rifle instead of the almost 12lb mdl 12. LOL

I paid 600 for the barrel and gunsmith around me said if I went with a 28inch barrel if the thoat gets shot out 2 inches could be cut off at the action end and rechambered for half that cost. That's the main reason but it did add weight for sure

 

[Lovemyswift]

You may not want to run them quite that fast and they may stabilize better for you . Try a different brand of bullet as well nosler bullets are good bullets it's just that with different barrels and barrel lengths some bullets just shoot better then others . Did you break your barrel in as recommended by the barrel manufacture ? So many variables to be explored . Play with powders , bullets , seating depth ect. you will find what it likes .

Yes followed instructions from McGowan and I hunt for the fur only so ballistic tip work very well for fur hunting ,v maxes get splash wounds too often so just picking people's brains

 

[Lovemyswift]

When you say that you usually run it around the 3800 mark is that actual speed that you chrono'd?

What are you using for powder?

Yes chrono I use 760 powder and mag primer . I started using 760 because it helps with copper fouling removal . 4831 works well but I like ball powders due to ease of handling.

 

[Calvin45]

Yes chrono I use 760 powder and mag primer . I started using 760 because it helps with copper fouling removal . 4831 works well but I like ball powders due to ease of handling.

I played with a swift for a season of life a while back. It was fun but finicky. I believe this one also had a 12 twist, it was an older savage single shot bolt gun, target type, thickest barrel I've ever seen personally, 26 inches if I recall (could have been 24).

Ended up that it did the very best with flat base 55 grain bullets (old school hornady 55 soft points, Nosler flat base 55 varmageddon tipped) over a full case of imr 4064 (38.5 grains I think, but again, going from memory so don't just go and load that obviously - consult a manual, but 4064 was THE powder of choice for the swift) standard primers.

Like yours my load chronoed pretty much right at 3800 fps.

 

[Lovemyswift]

I played with a swift for a season of life a while back. It was fun but finicky. I believe this one also had a 12 twist, it was an older savage single shot bolt gun, target type, thickest barrel I've ever seen personally, 26 inches if I recall (could have been 24).

Ended up that it did the very best with flat base 55 grain bullets (old school hornady 55 soft points, Nosler flat base 55 varmageddon tipped) over a full case of imr 4064 (38.5 grains I think, but again, going from memory so don't just go and load that obviously - consult a manual, but 4064 was THE powder of choice for the swift) standard primers.

Like yours my load chronoed pretty much right at 3800 fps.

OK will check it out thanks for the info . And yes the vt's were pretty standard 26 inch barrel with 1 in 14 twist . They did make a standard light barrel version in 22 or 24 inch I personally didn't like that one .

 

[WTOBob]

I have a Remington VSSF 28" and shoot 55gr V Maxs out of it. Heck I shoot the same load in all my Swifts. Running them at 3850 and devastating on coyotes. My main yote load. Longest shot 477 yards. Lots of doubles and a few triples killed. Same load will suck a PD out of a hole too.

 

[dogz]

Yes followed instructions from McGowan and I hunt for the fur only so ballistic tip work very well for fur hunting ,v maxes get splash wounds too often so just picking people's brains

If, I get this right you'd like to limit the splash wounds as much as possible. To what ranges are you consistently taking the yotes?

 

[dogz]

Also, I'd try Varget, H414 and R15 for decent metering if you have it or can find it

 

[dogz]

Bottom line on splash backs, try like heck to avoid big bones (shoulder, spine and then on a frontal the breast bone) and if I was really wanting the pelts intact I'd pass on the frontal and try to wait him out till he turns a bit.

Plus I'd go to a bit stouter bullet, the 55 Horn w/c, 63 Sierra and the 60 Horn HP come first to mind to me.

Now if the ranges were close (mainly sub 300) then I'd do some work with the 50 TNT and the 40 NBT and see how they shot and to what speed I could hold them together during their flight down range.

 

[Lovemyswift]

If, I get this right you'd like to limit the splash wounds as much as possible. To what ranges are you consistently taking the yotes?

I use my 223 for calling due to weight carrying calls rifle ect . So my swift is primary my long reach out and touch em and long range rock chuck and squirrel gun . My main purpose of this thread is curious if anyone else has delt with a 28 in barrel . It is accurate but it can be more . My longest shot on a yote so far ( will admit had to be luck) ranged with 2 range finders at 677 yards hit him in the left ear was aiming at ribs lol