Casting for a 220 Swift

[retread]

Thinking about casting for a 220 Swift. Yes, I realize that this cartridge is engineered for high velocity but I would like to play a little more with it. J-words are expensive! I looked on the Cast Pics site and they had loads listed for it but before I gear up I thought I would see if any of you guys had experience with such a program. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jay

[JeffinNZ]

I highly recommend Al's moulds at NOE. This link (http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=24&osCsid=3q6mftssjngt6blgbav74nogc1) is to his .22 selection. I suggest a flat nose for hunting. For target the profile is not so critical.

[Larry Gibson]

If you can find an older Lyman (no longer in production) Loverin design 225462 you'll find it does very well in the 22 CFs, especially those with 14" twist where you might want to push to 2500 - 2600 fps.

Larry Gibson

[9.3X62AL]

In a similar vein, I'll soon be venturing into 22-250 Country with the RCBS 22-55-SP. Early work with scaled examples of this boolit in a 1-9" 223 barrel have given promise of good things, and SIGNIFICANT decreases in flyer frequency and dispersion. Pretty darn encouraging, at least at 1800-2000 FPS. Carnauba Red lube by the Larsen Family may play a role here as well. The re-barrelled Rem 788 will have a 1-12" twist to help cater to castings (hopefully), because the OP is quite correct--the red-coated posers are getting very darn pricey--when found at all. I'll stay off of THAT subject, too--I tend toward stridency in that venue, dagnabit.

[JeffinNZ]

Larry has a good point. I have a 225462 and it shoots well. Had one cavity HPed.

[Wally]

I shoot the RCBS 22-55-SP in my Rem 700 .22-250 with 8.0 grains of Unique an a Std Lg Pistol primer. Very accurate. be sure to load long so that the bullet just engages the Leade... I shoot it single shot.... Lots of enjoyment shooting it and is better than a 22 Mag RF....

[retread]

Thanks for the replies. Guess I'll be gearing up for another caliber! What fun is ahead. Getting antsy already! Any thoughts on boolit hardness? I have lino and pure lead (and wheel weights, of course) plus some babbit so I can work up the alloy I need.

[9.3X62AL]

I've poured the RCBS 22-55-SP in Linotype, and these boolits did the good work mentioned. One thing I noted with both the RCBS castings and some Lyman #225438 also poured in Lino--the boolits came out AMAZINGLY weight-consistent. The 4% tin content likely accounts for that, and scrap rate after weight-sorting is quite small. I have some Lyman #2 alloy on hand, and I might try a weight-sort of these 22s cast in #2 to verify the belief that tin content (5% in #2) makes things so consistent. It might also help get those little bitty drive bands on #225438 to fill out so nicely and evenly.

[waco]

Retread......Where in Oregon???

[Wally]

I used straight WW and then quench right from the mold...by dropping in a bucket of water.




Thanks for the replies. Guess I'll be gearing up for another caliber! What fun is ahead. Getting antsy already! Any thoughts on boolit hardness? I have lino and pure lead (and wheel weights, of course) plus some babbit so I can work up the alloy I need.

[MarkP]

I tried the 22 Bator ($18 at Midsouth Shooter's Supply) SAECO 221 (60 RN), and 55 fr RCBS all cast from WW or re-claimed shot in my 22-6mm (larger capacity than a Swift) & in a few 22-250's; I use a full case of Trailboss. Decent groups in all rifles. One 22-250 was a 1950's style bench rifle (1917 action) with a J.W. Fecker target scope. Neat looking rifle but would not shoot well at all, jacketed loads were key-holing at 80 yds. (50 to 55 gr Jacketed) The cast loads shot respectable groups at that range.
I have the NOE 225-34 HP planning to try some pure lino at higher velocities, Night and day difference casting lino in this mold compared to other alloys.

[retread]

Waco, I am in Seal Rock, just south of Newport.

From the replies regarding bullet alloy I get the feeling high tin for fill out will be a big factor.

[220]

Keep us posted on how you go.
I have a swift I have been thinking about trying cast as a small game load, have a lyman 44gr mould and was thinking a load around 1900fps would do nicely.
Have a similar load for my 222 and it works well.

[JeffinNZ]

I am pushing COWW 225462 HP's out of my .223 Rem at 2300fps over 13gr of H4227 with very good accuracy. Certainly minute of rabbit at 150 yards. Those HP's in COWW are grenades.

[9.3X62AL]

Waco, I am in Seal Rock, just south of Newport.

From the replies regarding bullet alloy I get the feeling high tin for fill out will be a big factor.

I don't mean to over-state the utility or necessity of tin-richness, but with the Loverin-type drive bands I can see a noticeable improvement in fill-out and weight-consistency in that little bitty #225438 compared to results with 92/6/2. With the RCBS 6mm-95-SP and the NEI #19 (100 grain bore rider, resembles an RG-4) the 92/6/2 fills out quite well and scales pretty consistently. There was a notable improvement in weight-consistency using Lino in the RCBS 22-55-SP. Things get a little bit more critical as the bullet diameter narrows, it seems.

[retread]

Thanks to all for the input. You have given me lots of great info and even more to think about.

Jay