I have had a couple over the last 30 years. Like mine a lot. No problems with barrel life, but then again, I don't load mine real hot. Have used mine for prairie dogs, coyotes, deer and antelope.

Pete, good to see you can hunt some things there, idk much about France

I had a 1930's model 70 in a Swift and it worked well for "coyote sized targets".

I got lucky and got a steal on a swift a few months back. Its a ruger 77 and it shoots awesome. Havent taken it hunting or shot anything with it yet, but from shooting paper, it shoots great.

Sportsmans guide that had hornady ammo for it for like $20 a box of 20 a few weeks back. I ordered a few boxes

In one of his reloading books, P. O. Ackley has some great writing about shooting the 220 Swift. They were using it on wild burros! He had a theory (I believe "reverse hydrology"?) that the shock of that high speed of a bullet caused the animals heart to pump backwards. It's good reading if you can find it!

Osky, I have a Ruger No.1. and it is awesome. Its lights out on Coyotes at any range. My go to load that I have used for years is a Hornady 55 gr Vmax over 44.0 of H414. This chronographs at 3950 out of my gun. Warning don't hit bone with this bullet unless you don't care about the fur.. I take frontal or broadside shots only and they rarely exit. Drops them on the spot. Massive internal damage. You only have to worry about burning out a barrel if you continually shoot with a hot barrel.

I had one out west and it was NOT a 500 yd gun with any wind.
It would do 400 pretty well though.
re-Barreled to .225 Win once the throat burned up.

I went to a .25 Gibbs for my long range yote buster...the heavier 25 cal bucked wind better.

Tactical.20....

Thanks, but we have plenty to hunt here. I get to hunt roe deer from June first until the end of February, plus wild boar and red fox all year. No duck hunting or turkeys, but a guy can't complain. I can trap 15,000 acres without asking permission, so things are OK.


Pete

Guy...get the Hornady 55 gr VMax loads...they shoot very well.
If you guys get a chance read the Book Frank Glazier...Alaskas Wolf Man...its an excellent book about his adventures hunting and trapping wolves in Ak. The service issued him a .220 Swift...and if I remember right they only had 48 gr bullets back then as they were new. He killed Grizzlies with his more than once..

I had a special run 220 swift barrel for my TC Encore. I had a pile of rounds through it both factory and hand loads. HSM has several 220 swift factory loads. I really like their 52 gn Calhoun Double Hollow point load, but I did not see it on their website. It was devastating on game you didn’t plan on eating.

Excellent read!

WS

The 220 swift is a serious varmint gun-its a fast flat out killer on coyotes.The speed of the swift puts it a small step above the likes of a 22-250.I shoot a lot of different calibers-and even though the swift is not my favourite-it is a very close second.If you reload-its a dream to shoot.There is no perfect .22 centerfire-but he 220 swift was named king for a reason-cause it is.Unless you start building crazy wildcats-then the sky is the limit of course.

Thanks Swift... I have been digging and I believe this one has the 1-12 twist. I am going to max out the grain weight at 55 and see what happens. Lighter side 39 or 40 grains. Try them all in between. The original owner I bought it from was a very nice old guy selling out his gun collection. He said he shot less than a box, just to try it, and handed me what was left in it. Looking hard at the gun zero wear or markings I believe him so I don't think wearing out a barrel is a concern as I never intend to heat it up much if at all. I may get 2-3 rounds off max where I intend to use it on fur.

Osky

been shooting one for years
don't buy into the barrel burner rap, keep it clean and don't get it hot. barrel will last just fine

I've always wanted a Swift. Just a cool caliber. It's likely just getting more rare as time passes though, just like the 6mm and 280. But in reality, if you don't reload a 22-250 or 243 makes far more sense. Some cartridges are just interesting though.

Got 2, a Ruger that I bought in 77, it is a 77 V, I'd hate to guess how many dogs have fallen to it, and some have been over the 500 range, it will shoot it if you can do your part, the other is a model 70 pre 64, that one is pretty special to me, so it doesn't get as much action as the 77, just don't go sit in a prairie dog town and smoke it up, that's when you burn the throats out, I shoot 55 grain Sierra blitz kings, they work awesome!

love mine. Remington 700 blued fluted heavy barrel, it was a non catalogue rifle I bought in '96 or '97, its a tack driver. 40 grains of IMR 4064 under a 55 grain berger bullet.

I agree with what others have said, the whole barrel burner stuff is a bunch of outdated hocus pocus

The Swift will do just a " bit" better than a 22-250 but with a whole more cost.
I'd hold on and not sell it if possible.
Keep it mint and sell for good $ iffn you need it..
You're too dam old too hunt anyway!