Winchester introduced the .220 Swift in 1935, chambering it in the Model 54 just as that rifle was to be supplanted by the Model 70. A year later, the Swift became a charter chambering in the Model 70 and remained available in that rifle until company accountants emasculated it in 1964.

Based on the 6mm Lee Navy case, the Swift is a semi-rimmed cartridge with the .473-inch head of a .30-06. At 2.205 inches, the hull is .03 shorter than that of a 7x57. In other words, it falls right between the .308 and .30-06 families in length.

Unlike its rival, the .22-250, the Swift does not qualify as a short-action round. (Veteran shooters will recall that the .220 Swift was developed by Grosvenor Wotkyns after he'd necked down the .250 Savage to .22 to boost bullet speed.)

In my youth, the Swift held title as the world's fastest sporting cartridge, its 48-grain bullet clocking 4,110 fps. These days, 40-grain loads from Federal and Hornady beat that mark. There's a relatively wide selection of Swift ammunition at market now, given its limited chambering in Savage and Ruger rifles. Offshore, Norma loads it as well.

Suitable Application
While the .204 Ruger has challenged the Swift as the premier hyper-speed varmint round, the .204 can't handle 55- and 60-grain bullets. Driven at Swift velocities, these have proven lethal on deer (though they're not legal everywhere for big game). The .204 can't compete for downrange energy or wind-bucking ability either. A 32-grain .204 bullet loaded by Winchester exits at 4,050 fps, same as the firm's 40-grain Swift bullet. At 400 yards the Swift has an edge of 100 fps and a third more energy.

This cartridge will surprise suspicious coyotes and detonate prairie dogs at ranges you can measure in furlongs.

PERFORMANCE GUIDE
APPLICATIONS: Anything from predators to our largest deer
40-GR. NOSLER BALLISTIC TIP	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
VELOCITY (fps)	4,250	3,690	3,200	2,770	2,370
ENERGY (ft-lbs.)	1,605	1,210	910	680	500
ARC (inches)	--	+0,5	0	-3.9	-12.4
50-GR. REMINGTON SOFTPOINT	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
VELOCITY (fps)	3,780	3,158	2,617	2,135	1,710
ENERGY (ft.-lbs.)	1,585	1,107	760	506	325
ARC (inches)	--	+1.0	0	-6.2	-20.1
60-GR. HORNADY HOLLOWPOINT	Muzzle	100 yds.	200 yds.	300 yds.	400 yds.
VELOCITY (fps)	3,600	3,195	2,826	2,484	2,169
ENERGY (ft.-lbs.)	1,725	1,360	1,063	823	627
ARC (inches)	--	+1.0	0	-5,3	-16.3

Ballistics
The Swift was never meant for weekend plinking. It comes honestly by its reputation as a hotrod round and has been widely criticized for burning barrel throats. Still, it is really no worse an offender in that regard than many high-octane rounds. Keeping a barrel cool during long strings will extend its life. So will handloads throttled to reasonable speeds.

That said, there's no reason to muzzle a Swift. Most rifles so chambered have long barrels. If you want a lightweight, mid-range varmint rifle, the .223 is a better pick. The .22-250 nips at the Swift's heels; in fact, Hornady's 55-grain V-Max bullets are factory loaded to 3,680 fps in both cases. However, the greater hull capacity of the .220 Swift gives it an edge. Winchester's .223 WSSM can outpace it with heavy bullets, but the WSSM doesn't feed as well from magazines.