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Common uses: Varmint
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 55gr Norma Oryx |
| Muzzle velocity | 3773 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 1739 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.185 |
| Case length | 56 mm |
| Overall length | 69.9 mm |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3773 | 1738 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 3174 | 1230 | 0 |
| 200 | 2651 | 858 | -2 |
| 300 | 2185 | 583 | -9 |
| 400 | 1769 | 382 | -23.4 |
| 500 | 1417 | 245 | -49.1 |
At 1,000 yards, .220 Swift (55gr at 3773 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 58.0 MOA / 16.9 MIL, retaining 776 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2185 | Supersonic | -9.0 | 2.9 | 0.83 |
| 400 | 1769 | Supersonic | -23.4 | 5.6 | 1.63 |
| 500 | 1417 | Supersonic | -49.1 | 9.4 | 2.73 |
| 600 | 1155 | Transonic | -92.5 | 14.7 | 4.28 |
| 700 | 1002 | Subsonic | -161.7 | 22.1 | 6.42 |
| 800 | 907 | Subsonic | -265.5 | 31.7 | 9.22 |
| 900 | 836 | Subsonic | -411.8 | 43.7 | 12.71 |
| 1000 | 776 | Subsonic | -607.6 | 58.0 | 16.88 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
Small-game/varmint context — the deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't applicable to the cartridge's listed uses. When a downrange table is available, its retained-energy column can provide context; verify the exact load and follow local game regulations for legal methods.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .220 Swift is best known as a blistering-fast, flat-shooting varmint round, prized for explosive terminal effect on prairie dogs, groundhogs, coyotes, and other small predators and pests at long range. Its light bullets leave the muzzle at exceptional speeds, delivering a trajectory so flat that holdover becomes almost an afterthought inside typical varmint distances. That performance comes at a cost: the intense velocities generate significant heat and can accelerate throat erosion, giving the Swift a longstanding reputation for shortened barrel life, especially with sustained rapid fire. It is a specialized cartridge rather than a general-purpose one, favoring light-for-caliber bullets, and it is not well suited to larger big game where such fragile, high-velocity projectiles are inappropriate. For dedicated varmint hunters who value reach and speed over barrel longevity, it remains a benchmark against which other fast .22 centerfires are measured.
Introduced by Winchester in 1935, the .220 Swift was the first commercial rifle cartridge to break the 4,000 feet-per-second barrier, earning it a lasting reputation as the speed king of factory .22 centerfires. It was created by necking the semi-rimmed 6mm Lee Navy case down to .22 caliber, and was aimed squarely at varmint and small-game shooters who wanted extreme velocity and a very flat trajectory. Though its popularity later faded as cartridges like the .22-250 Remington offered similar performance with easier handling, the Swift retained a devoted following and remains chambered by several rifle makers today.
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