Author Topic: 220 swift (Read 829 times)

badbear · « **on:** August 23, 2010, 05:50:23 AM »

I have seen many posts on the 220 Swift and several other high velocity rifles, claiming they suffered a problem of ,"Burning the Barrels Out". My question is how many people have actually "Burned Out a Barrel" ?
I don't want to know about someone that you heard about having had this problem, or haveing read this or that. I don't care if a 22-250, a .223 or .243 will do this or that. I want to know cold hard information from a personal experience of having shot out a modern made rifle barrel and how many rounds it took to do this.
I don't mean to sound like a "smart a**" , but every time a post of this sort is posted someone starts answering by doing the above. I have not been able to get a cold hard factual answer. I am in process of purchasing a Ruger 77 MKII .220 Swift wit a heavy stainless barrel and heavy wood stock. I do not know the history of the gun, but have checked the bore and found it to be in very good condition with no signs of wear or throat erossion. It does not appear to have had a lot of use, based on wood condition, bolt , etc. Just concerned about stories of gun being burned out after a few rounds.
I would like to hear from anyone who knows for sure, from self experience.
Thanks

Rangr44 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2010, 06:36:35 AM »

IMO, two things contributed to the Swift's barrel-trashing rep - The relatively softer barrel steels of the introduction era (why Winchester quickly changed the barrle steel, IIRC); and the SOP of varminters to keep shooting to gun until not only was the barrel too hot to touch, but the heat had also expanded throughout the action too (they had a LOT of target availability in those Prairie Dog towns) - which overheating softened the throats and first few inches of rifling, causing a burnt/crackled-looking surface atop the lands that hadn't been washed out.

We don't hear so much about it today, despite comparible speeds from the .22-250, most likely due to better steels, the abated Swift popularity/use, an less-heated shooting to lower target availability - plus, some dogtown shooters actually take along water tanks, to flush/cool the barrels as they shoot (hard to do, when on foot.

.

Huffmanite · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2010, 08:24:48 AM »

While not 220 Swift owner, I recently thought about buying a tang safety Ruger 77 varmiteer 220Swift I found in a local pawn shop. Read up on the 220 Swift and etc. Unfortunately Pawnshop was way over priced on the rifle and not willing to lower its price. Dang it!!!! Agree with Rangr44's comments. I might add, todays choice of gun powders are much much better to powders of years ago, which contributed to 220 Swift's reputation as a barrel burner.

Silvertp · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2010, 09:47:16 AM »

Badbear...

Never burned out a Swift Barrel here. Ive owned two .220 Swifts. Both Rugers and tang safety, one a sporter bbl and the other a bull. I shot a lot of jackrabbits, rock chucks, starlings, pigeons and ground squirrels with the heavy bbl using 52 and 53 grain hollow points at 3900 fps. None of the shooting was at a rate that would overheat a bbl too badly. I would estimate I put 3000 rounds down its tube. It was a 3-shot 5/8 inch kind of gun and was still shooting tight groups when I traded it in on a Ruger #1 7x57.

The sporter bbl swift has been my primary coyote gun. Many less shots fired. It never ceased to amaze me how far out that round would anchor a coyote. Unfortunately too many of the hits resulted in damaged pelts so now it sits scope-less in my safe, as Ive switched over to a 17 Remington anticipating less exit hole problems. At this rate the bbl should be good for two or more hunter lifetimes.

Buying used guns is always a "crap shoot" unless you know the previous owner. The one you found appears to be in pretty good shape and if you can get it for the right price your worst case scenario is screwing on another bbl.

Silvertp

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2010, 01:42:37 PM »

I have shot out several .22-250's...they went in the neighborhood of 4500 rds...but in those days I was shooting lots of prairie dogs...as for the swift..I have probably owned 4 or 5...my present on is a 700 with a Douglas air ga. barrel it is 26 or 27 inches long..I have mainly used it for shooting coyotes...I suppose right now it is about 1200 rounds old...the accuracy is excellent...I just sighted it in this afternoon for shooting coyotes this late summer and fall...it is one of the deadliest rifles I have had my hands on for shooting coyotes, chucks, crows, etc...I have shot a couple deer with it , but it is a varmiter supreme....Had I known in the late 70's I could put a swift on a std. 700 action...I would have never messed with the .22-250's as much as I have...I like them...Currently have 2 and an Improved...but I would pick the swift over any of them..I use the others because I have so much brass for them and do like switching around and shoot different rifles....I cannot say how the Ruger will shoot...I had several Rugers in Swift, but that was in the 80's...they did not come close to the accuracy of this rifle, but they did not have a custom barrel job either...As for the caliber..I would buy it and see if it shoots...I personally love the Swift...except for shooting ground squirrels and p. dogs, where I would use a 223 or 222, the Swift is my pick of the .22 varmiters....

Bigeasy · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2010, 02:03:09 PM »

My only experience with a Swift was an older Winchester HB bolt rifle. It shot about 1 3/4 to 2 inches, at best with factory ammo. Never did try to reload for it, as the accuracy was so far and away worse then my .223's and 22/250's. This rifle did, however, have a lot of round thru it before I purchased it, and you could feel a little roughness in the throat area when you ran a patch thru it. With modern, slightly cooler powders, and better modern steel, I don't see why you would not get barrel life equal to any other over bore .22 centerfire. Another key, as in any high intensity cartridge, is not to let the barrel get over heated. The round has proven its accuracy potential in good barrels.

Larry

badbear · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2010, 07:41:59 AM »

Thanks to each and every responder on this question. It gave me the information I needed, to make my decision. I work part time at a gun shop and work out a gun when I spot one I like the looks of. Tuesday I will be bringing home a 220 Swift. If it will last several thousand rounds then I believe with my other guns will last me my lifetime and maybe someone else's too.
Again thanks to all.

Silvertp · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2010, 05:05:41 PM »

Congrats on your Swift there Badbear.

Its a great round and expect you will enjoy shooting it. Kinda makes me want to scope mine up and put a few rounds through it.

Silvertp

D Garfield · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2010, 05:19:02 AM »

I had a Ruger 77 varmiter, (200 annivesary 1976)for 30 yrs. and shot it with some pretty hot 50grn, vmax and it and it will still out shoot me. They got a bad name when first came out because people always pushed them for all they could. And the barrels are better today. Buy it and enjoy it.

Catfish · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2010, 02:05:57 PM »

I don`t know how you checked for throught erossion by checking measureing it, you can`t see it. The biggest problem comes from shooting them with a hot barrel. I shot out the throught of a .22-6mm in abt. 1,000 rounds. It is alot hotter tnan the Swift though. I had the barrel set back and rechanbered and it`s shooting again. Cost $ 125.