Comments on: The .220 Swift — History of a Great Varmint Cartridge

By: KarlIvarson

KarlIvarson — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 19:07:59 +0000

Great article, and true to the word! I got my first Swift 42 years ago, Ruger M77V, used, from a gunshop owners son. Didn’t know how many rounds shot through it but estimated 500-700. Said it was well taken care of. What a gun and cartridge!! With 52gr McCracken Match bullets(a name familiar to western Canadian BR shooters in the 70’s)and IMR 3031 it shot <.25" groups at 100 yrds. Sold it to my brother in law for an engine job, just got it back after 30 yrs and gave it to my oldest son. Groups .35" to .45" now. I have my own Rem. VSSF in 220AI. Love the Swift!

By: Viper65

Viper65 — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 13:10:15 +0000

A fantastic round. Watch out for the tendency of necks to thicken with high pressure loads. So don’t hesitate to slightly turn your necks every other reloading session if you load full throttle. It makes the overrated Valkyrie gasp for air when you chamber it in a 7.5″ twist barrel of no less than 28″ with 80 grainers. Thor’s hammer up to 1,200 yds with no recoil.

By: Alton Nitschke

Alton Nitschke — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:03:32 +0000

I have owned two swift’s and I loved them both very very accurate, easy to reload for and extremely flat shooting with any bullets you want to use. It is a great cartridge.

By: RAD57

RAD57 — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:40:48 +0000

I love my 220 Swift. When SAAMI went to PSI standards from CUP I feel that the 220 Swift was really watered down. Powder and bullet manufacturer’s reloading data hasn’t been really updated with all the new and even some of the older powders (H4350, N540, RL16, IMR4451, etc.), especially with all the new wonder 6.5’s being introduced. It is a great and grand old cartridge and I think is greatly ignored being and cast aside by manufacturers and the media.

By: Laurie Holland

Laurie Holland — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 01:28:13 +0000

Ken Waters in his ‘Pet Loads’ series reckoned one cause of the bad reputation for sudden appearance of over-high pressures allied to loss of accuracy was shooters’ failure to measure case length and trim them back in the 30s-50s. The Swift case grows pretty fast and so will see the case-mouth jammed into the throat in not too many loadings and firings.

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 20:31:10 +0000

Very much cartridge before its time. Misunderstood, misreported and definitely mishandled by most owners.

Using 50 to 52 grain bullets that can handle the velocities and revolutions is key in the hunting space.

And being prepared to look after your barrel in the target space with faster twists and heavier bullets will reward you.

By: BoydAllen

BoydAllen — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 18:05:23 +0000

I have owned a Swift and agree that it is a great cartridge, but I did not load mine to the max because it did everything that I asked of it loaded to a more moderate pressure and velocity. It was accurate and fun to shoot, with great terminal ballistics on California ground squirrels.