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The Range
Ammo & Reloading
reloading .220 swift
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<blockquote data-quote="bfoster" data-source="post: 970446" data-attributes="member: 85"><p>I'm an old hand with the Swift. </p><p></p><p>I won't offer specific load data because in my youth I wanted the highest possible velocity; I invariably used pressure test equipment to cull unsuitable lots of primers and powder. At the time I reckoned that about 1 in 5 lots of (DuPont and later IMR) 4064 was suitable for my purposes- later I found VihtaVouri N135 and N140 to be considerably more consistent batch to batch. I cannot speak to the properties of the 4064 produced by "IMR" under the ægis of Hogdon.</p><p></p><p>I like "ball" powders, but not when I'm pushing the upper pressure limit in a small bore cartridge like the Swift. Given the shape (which controls the burning characteristics) and small grain size of these powders the deterrent must either be more effective (chemically) or there must be more of it. This makes the loads more sensitive to variations in ignition, be it from the primer and/or other causes.</p><p></p><p>I'll note that the maximum average velocity I was able to achieve in a commodity grade rifle with a 26" barrel using a 55 grain bullet was over 3800 fps <em>staying strictly within SAAMI specs. I doubt that you'll be able to achieve this with each and every lot of any particular powder.</em> I'll also note that at 3800 fps when using Hornady's V-Max I experienced some bullet failures in flight- jacket disintegration followed by the core vaporizing. The 50 grain V-Max bullet (at speeds well in excess of 4000 fps) was even more problematic for me. I've proven to my satisfaction that the competitive Nosler product will hold together to speeds in excess of 4500 fps (224/244 H&H wildcat, quadriplex load) and still kill adequately- though at any given speed perhaps not as explosively as the A-Max. The base of the jacket on the Nosler is a considerably thicker than that of the V-Max, the jacket walls in the area where the rifling is impressed are a bit thicker.</p><p></p><p>For what it's worth I eventually came to the conclusion that wringing the highest possible velocity out of the Swift is more trouble than its worth. Any number of powders will drive a 55 grain bullet to 3650 fps out of a 26" barrel using readily available data, V-Max bullets will only rarely fail at this velocity (given a good barrel). Not only the powders noted above will do well for you here, you might also consider "ball" powders like H380 as you no longer <em>need</em> to worry about relatively small pressure variations- not every difference in peak pressure correlates to muzzle velocity- the area under the time-pressure curve shows a closer relationship to initial bullet speed. Unless you're hunting in situations where you really <em>need</em> the flattest trajectory there are few "negatives" to backing off a bit from maximum velocity and many "positives" (like longer barrel life).</p><p></p><p>Most 1 in 14" twist barrels will stabilize a 55 grain bullet traveling at 3650 adequately, at this speed many of the commercially available bullets kill vermin well.</p><p></p><p>Bob</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="bfoster, post: 970446, member: 85"] I'm an old hand with the Swift. I won't offer specific load data because in my youth I wanted the highest possible velocity; I invariably used pressure test equipment to cull unsuitable lots of primers and powder. At the time I reckoned that about 1 in 5 lots of (DuPont and later IMR) 4064 was suitable for my purposes- later I found VihtaVouri N135 and N140 to be considerably more consistent batch to batch. I cannot speak to the properties of the 4064 produced by "IMR" under the ægis of Hogdon. I like "ball" powders, but not when I'm pushing the upper pressure limit in a small bore cartridge like the Swift. Given the shape (which controls the burning characteristics) and small grain size of these powders the deterrent must either be more effective (chemically) or there must be more of it. This makes the loads more sensitive to variations in ignition, be it from the primer and/or other causes. I'll note that the maximum average velocity I was able to achieve in a commodity grade rifle with a 26" barrel using a 55 grain bullet was over 3800 fps [i]staying strictly within SAAMI specs. I doubt that you'll be able to achieve this with each and every lot of any particular powder.[/i] I'll also note that at 3800 fps when using Hornady's V-Max I experienced some bullet failures in flight- jacket disintegration followed by the core vaporizing. The 50 grain V-Max bullet (at speeds well in excess of 4000 fps) was even more problematic for me. I've proven to my satisfaction that the competitive Nosler product will hold together to speeds in excess of 4500 fps (224/244 H&H wildcat, quadriplex load) and still kill adequately- though at any given speed perhaps not as explosively as the A-Max. The base of the jacket on the Nosler is a considerably thicker than that of the V-Max, the jacket walls in the area where the rifling is impressed are a bit thicker. For what it's worth I eventually came to the conclusion that wringing the highest possible velocity out of the Swift is more trouble than its worth. Any number of powders will drive a 55 grain bullet to 3650 fps out of a 26" barrel using readily available data, V-Max bullets will only rarely fail at this velocity (given a good barrel). Not only the powders noted above will do well for you here, you might also consider "ball" powders like H380 as you no longer [i]need[/i] to worry about relatively small pressure variations- not every difference in peak pressure correlates to muzzle velocity- the area under the time-pressure curve shows a closer relationship to initial bullet speed. Unless you're hunting in situations where you really [i]need[/i] the flattest trajectory there are few "negatives" to backing off a bit from maximum velocity and many "positives" (like longer barrel life). Most 1 in 14" twist barrels will stabilize a 55 grain bullet traveling at 3650 adequately, at this speed many of the commercially available bullets kill vermin well. Bob [/QUOTE]
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