22-250 vs. 220 swift

[mr.ktm95]

What are the differences between a 220 swift and a 22-250 I would like to buy one of the two but I'm not sure which one to get. If anyone has any info it would be appreciated. I would be shooting coyotes and ground hogs and possibly competitive. thanks.

[huntnphool]

 If you are looking at that type of round I would consider the .204 as well. I have a Swift, fast flat round but its a hot load. I can shoot my .204 a lot more with slightly better down range results.

[TwoSixFourWins]

22-250 is cheaper and easier to find. If you are a little more adventurous and reload you can have a 22-250reamed out to 22-250 Ackley Improved and get better performance than the 220 swift but stil be able to shoot factory 22-250 ammo.

[boneaddict]

This is like debating a 30-30 versus a 32 or 25-35.    Its going to come down to what you like I suppose.   I like the 220 Swift.  Dad owns a Swift, brother would argue 22-250 is better.   One of the biggest Indian poachers I know used a 22-250 exclusively for elk.  (prior to Colvilles having a season).  Pop em behind the ear like they do the gators on that show in the sweet spot.   Done deal, no meat wastage     

[high country]

Swift brass is tougher to get and more expensive. Down range results are exactly the same. Both offer about the same accuracy. If one was to go the ai route.....I would suggest 223ai. Not quite as fast, but close and more in the mag and cheap with a capital c to shoot.

[elkslayer069]

i love my swift and brass isn't that hard to find the biggest secret to reload accurately is shoot a bullet made for the 1-14 twist rate

[KopperBuck]

Half a dozen, 6 of another... I like the .220, but I also like the uniqueness (I shoot a .225). It will be cheaper to run the .22-250.

[bearpaw]

The 220 or the 22/250 result in dead varmints at long range. I hand load so the cost is not that different from a .223, the powder does cost a little more for either than for a .223. You can buy all the brass you want for either, loaded shells are a little easier to find for the 22/250 but the 220 has slightly better ballistics, so it's a tossup.

When I just want to pull the trigger to see how fast I can pull it, I use a .22 rimfire.

[mr.ktm95]

thanks for all the replies, I don't have a reloader so I think that the 22-250 will work great!

[bobcat]

You might also look at the 243.   

[boneaddict]

or the 25-06

[deleted BGS]

I had a .220 swift and sold it cause it was too expensive to shoot

[bobcat]

or the 25-06

Another great choice for a long range predator gun.

[BullMagnet76]

If you are looking at that type of round I would consider the .204 as well. I have a Swift, fast flat round but its a hot load. I can shoot my .204 a lot more with slightly better down range results.

 

I love my .204, great caliber, great accuracy plus the ammo is a little cheaper so you can afford to do alot of shooting

[JimmyHoffa]

Both are really great.  The .220 gives a little speed/range advantage over the .22-250.  The .22-250, though, the gun could be easily rebarreled to .250 Savage. 

[carpsniperg2]

22-250 is going to be a better choice for most people. The brass is easy to find and a little cheaper to shoot most times.
Both are great guns and a lot a like.

[TheSkyBuster]

What are the differences between a 220 swift and a 22-250 I would like to buy one of the two but I'm not sure which one to get. If anyone has any info it would be appreciated. I would be shooting coyotes and ground hogs and possibly competitive. thanks.

I love this debate, It's never going to die. 

Here is what this what I think I know, and this is purely my opinion:

the 2 are kinda, sorta, somewhat, fairly, similar balistically.  the 220 swift has the reputation as a barrel burner and it is definitely faster (hotter) but you can still wear out a 22-250 barrel in a few thousand rounds (with the proper load)  I know this from experience.
the 22-250 rem is hard on brass, cases stretch due to the body taper and trimming every round is a PITA.
22-250 rem factory ammunition is inexpensive and usually readily available. 220 swift ammo is neither.
same story on brass, I can often pick 22-250 brass up off the ground at the local shooting pit. 220 swift brass is pricey. $$$
a coyote won't be able to tell the difference between the 2. and on the range or in the field you and I probably wouldn't either.
Remington (in all their wisdom) has built their 22-250 model 700 rifles with a 1-14" twist rate witch pretty much limits you to a maximum of 55 grain bullets.  (not the best for compitition)  My model 700 22-250 rem will not stabilize a 53 gr barnes or a 55 grain blitzking but it will stabilize a 55 gr gameking.   
The 220 swift is the more impressive balistically and that is good for braggin rights, unfortunatly the .223 WSSM has them both spanked in that department. 

[demontang]

I loved the 22-250 I had it flat knocked the varmits around. With reloads it can be a monster but finding one with the twist for heavier bullets is a hard thing unless you rebarrel it. The 220 is a great round too with a little more speed and the 223wssm will blow them both out of the water and have longer barrel life since they chrome lined a lot of them. The 204 Ive never liked and havent seen the speed they claim out of them either. Factory 223 40gr vmax was only 100fps slower then 204 40gr vmax

[huntnphool]

204 Ruger, 40grn V-Max, 4100fps-Energy at 500 yards-454 pounds
22-250,40grn V-Max, 4400fps-Energy at 500 yards-323 pounds

 The 204, using the 40grn V-max will out shoot and shoot flatter than the 22-250 using either the 40grn, 50 or 55grn .22 cal bullets. The 204. 20 cal 40grn bullets have a BC of .275 and the 22-250 .22 cal 40grn bullet has a BC of .200, similar differences when increasing weight up to 55gr.

 Here are the MOA adjustments in Elevation and Windage at 500 yards for the 204 Ruger and the 22-250 using the 40grn V-Max at 4100fps;

204 Ruger at 500 yards: Elevation Adjustment-5.25
Windage Adjustment-4.25

22-250 at 500 yards: Elevation Adjustment-6.75
Windage Adjustment-6.75

 The .204 .20 caliber bullets have a better BC and shoot flatter than the .22 caliber rounds out of the 22-250 when both are shooting the same factory loads.

 If you are going to shoot heavier rounds than 55gr. then you will likely not be using a factory twist rate barrel, numbers change dramatically if you are talking about custom barrels and loads.

[demontang]

Have you ever ran the 204 through a chronograph? My factory hornady load said 3900 for the hornady 40gr vmax custom loads and the 223 40gr was 3800 factory hornady load. My reloading book doesn't list any load over 3900fps as well 

[257 Wby Mag]

Chronographs can be a real eye opener.....

[high country]

Chronographs can be a real eye opener.....

and a heart breaker.