220 Swift /. 22-250

[7dawg9]

Anyone using these for LR varmint or antelope?

 

[HogginKing]

What do you consider long range for the 220 Swift?

Hogginking

 

[brushhunter]

Cant beat either one. Both awesome calibers. 22-250 is way more available for factory ammo. Swift is almost but all forgotten expect for a select few including myself. I have had both calibers and cant say enough about either one. Definitely take a goat no problem. Ive shot coyotes with both but nothing to far 550 being the longest. Drop him like a sack of rocks. Either way you'll be happy but if you want a hot round go with the swift and dont look back.

 

[WildRose]

Anyone using these for LR varmint or antelope?

Not enough energy for Antelope at long range but I have used the swift effectively at 600+ on coyotes for thirty years.

As long as you aren't dealng with much wind it's phenomenal.

Honestly though you need to think more in terms of one of of the 6.5's at least with goats in the mix.

The 7mm Rem mag is the most underrated varmint/predator hunting cartridge of all time. The 7mm STW is even better! gun)

 

[HogginKing]

What the two above said!!!

Hogginking

 

[jkupper]

Cant beat either one. Both awesome calibers. 22-250 is way more available for factory ammo. Swift is almost but all forgotten expect for a select few including myself. I have had both calibers and cant say enough about either one. Definitely take a goat no problem. Ive shot coyotes with both but nothing to far 550 being the longest. Drop him like a sack of rocks. Either way you'll be happy but if you want a hot round go with the swift and dont look back.

I have to agree with this. I have a 220, and my old man has a 22-250. I have shot antelope with my swift, and it did a fine job at 400 yards with 52 gr. Nosler CC's. I would shoot heavier bullets, but the twist rate on my factory barrel prohibits it, and I feel that 400 yards is the max distance with this combination on antelope, just a personal choice on that.

I have taken coyotes out to 600 yards with my 220 and the same load. I'm still waiting for a longer shot opportunity on a song dog with this gun.

Both are great calibers, but I am one of the people who are trying to keep the 220 Swift alive. I truly feel it is the better of the two cartridges, so long as you reload. If you are shooting factory ammunition then the 22-250 is probably the better choice simply because of the selection of factory ammo available.

When I burn the factory barrel out on my swift I plan to get a faster twist barrel so I can shoot the heavier bullets. Then I will be able to spread the wings on my Swift a bit

 

[calib]

I have a 22-250 ai pretty much a swift pushing the 75 amax at 3350 and it does real well for long range coyotes. This past winter i took one at 600 no wind hold dropped it first shot and many closer. I didnt get to stretch it a whole lot i had just got it built before winterlast year and have not shot it since spring. You cant go wrong with either cartridge, but you may look in to the ai bersion of the 22-250 for brass life, looks, somethibg different.

 

[brushhunter]

I have to agree with this. I have a 220, and my old man has a 22-250. I have shot antelope with my swift, and it did a fine job at 400 yards with 52 gr. Nosler CC's. I would shoot heavier bullets, but the twist rate on my factory barrel prohibits it, and I feel that 400 yards is the max distance with this combination on antelope, just a personal choice on that.

I have taken coyotes out to 600 yards with my 220 and the same load. I'm still waiting for a longer shot opportunity on a song dog with this gun.

Both are great calibers, but I am one of the people who are trying to keep the 220 Swift alive. I truly feel it is the better of the two cartridges, so long as you reload. If you are shooting factory ammunition then the 22-250 is probably the better choice simply because of the selection of factory ammo available.

When I burn the factory barrel out on my swift I plan to get a faster twist barrel so I can shoot the heavier bullets. Then I will be able to spread the wings on my Swift a bit


Both calibers are more than capable at 400 of dropping a goat. Seen it done ive done it not at 400 yards though. Ive killed mule deer and blacktails with both calibers. Its all about placement.

 

[jkupper]

I have to agree with this. I have a 220, and my old man has a 22-250. I have shot antelope with my swift, and it did a fine job at 400 yards with 52 gr. Nosler CC's. I would shoot heavier bullets, but the twist rate on my factory barrel prohibits it, and I feel that 400 yards is the max distance with this combination on antelope, just a personal choice on that.

I have taken coyotes out to 600 yards with my 220 and the same load. I'm still waiting for a longer shot opportunity on a song dog with this gun.

Both are great calibers, but I am one of the people who are trying to keep the 220 Swift alive. I truly feel it is the better of the two cartridges, so long as you reload. If you are shooting factory ammunition then the 22-250 is probably the better choice simply because of the selection of factory ammo available.

When I burn the factory barrel out on my swift I plan to get a faster twist barrel so I can shoot the heavier bullets. Then I will be able to spread the wings on my Swift a bit


Both calibers are more than capable at 400 of dropping a goat. Seen it done ive done it not at 400 yards though. Ive killed mule deer and blacktails with both calibers. Its all about placement.

Agreed. I just like to have a little more energy with those little 52 grainers than I get past 400 yards.

I have also killed deer out to 250 yards with my Swift, and I have witnessed several ranchers do the same with their 22-250's. Both are adequate.

 

[brushhunter]

I agree with you. I wouldnt recommend past 400 yards either. It can be done but i really draw the line there for anything bigger than a coyote.

I dont want to hi jack this thread but i just pick up some 52 gr nosler hpbt for a smoking deal. Was woundering if anyone had any good load data for these. I would like to push these around 4000 fps. Rifle is ruger m77 mark 2 target

 

[jkupper]

I agree with you. I wouldnt recommend past 400 yards either. It can be done but i really draw the line there for anything bigger than a coyote.

I dont want to hi jack this thread but i just pick up some 52 gr nosler hpbt for a smoking deal. Was woundering if anyone had any good load data for these. I would like to push these around 4000 fps. Rifle is ruger m77 mark 2 target

I think those are the Custom Competitions that I am shooting in my 220 Swift. I am not pushing them fast, because I loaded them to the drop data for my Leupold Vsrmint hunter reticle, but I can share the load that I am using for the same gun.

I am shooting these bullets over neck sized Winchester brass, Winchester WLR primers, and 39.0 grains of Win 760, for about 3515 fps. This load data was the minimum load in one of the older Nosler manuals. I've noticed that the newer data show 41 grains of 760 to be the minimum load.

I have not tried to push them out of my gun because of the scope. Good luck finding a load. I did not ever find a terrible load with these bullets! Happy shooting gun)

 

[brushhunter]

Thanks. Yes they are the custom competition shells. Never ran them before. This gun for some reason likes them hot. I hate to do it to it because i got the gun also for a smoking deal with less than 50 rds down it. Ive put 50 rds down it now and everything ive thrown at it, it shoots extremely well but tends to shoot a lil bit better with the hotter rds.

 

[joseph]

I've had 2 Swifts over the years and always reloaded for both. I also reloaded 22-250s for friends. The 220 was always much easer to get tiny groups with compared to the 22-250s. Just my experience. Both are great and shoot like lasers. For deer I used Speer (55 gr.?) Bear Claws.

joseph

 

[shotgunn77]

I have the 220 Swift in a Ruger M77 MKII. With 50gr Hornady Vmax bullets and 39.5grs IMR4064 powder, I've hit out to 800 meters consistently. Would like to try and stretch her out a little farther.

Like was said before, if you don't hand load consider the 22-250 the better choice, but if you do enjoy reloading and shooting the Swift will be a more satisfying caliber.

Cheers