220 swift for big game?

[JPmbogo]

As a counter point to this thread, I wonder if my 600 NE is too big for rabbits?

 

[Hogpatrol]

As a counter point to this thread, I wonder if my 600 NE is too big for rabbits?

Only if you want to eat it

 

[gbflyer]

Yes. 7 twist barrel and put a 95gr SMK in it and keep the range 200 yards plus. Make good shots and it’s an adequate cartridge for deer sized game.

Alaska and Canadian Natives used 22 magnums and .222 for everything up to Polar Bear.

 

[Rocco490]

@TucsonFX4 it was forgot the name but from a Ron Spomer article/video on 22 centerfires for deer saying that a meat hunter in the 40s or 50s(maybe even earlier) used many many different cartridges(7x57, 303, 30-06, ect) in that era an deer and found the 220 swift to be the fastest killing of them all. just saying what I've heard.

I’m a simple man and since I have an ‘06 I use on deer and plans game and so forth, I haven’t messed with any 22 calibers on such game.

That said, people are more or less in the same weight class as whitetail. If 5.56 NATO isn’t adequate on deer, something is dramatically wrong somewhere.

Big game covers a large number of game species many that are far larger and built differently than the typical whitetail deer that so many are referring to specifically. Even the whitetail itself varies greatly from the southern doe under 150 pounds to the large midwest or north country trophy bucks over 250, some well over that. But lets focus on that species since it is so popular. Is a 22 centerfire (assuming it is even legal) really what someone should select over a 7x57 or 30-06 or other available cartridges? Yes with careful shot placement and a decent bullet the 22 can do the job. What happens when that carefully aimed behind the shoulder shot becomes a shoulder shot as the moment your pulling the trigger that 250 pound Trophy Buck happens to take a step? The writers from way back advocating using the very smallest of calibers on all sorts of game couldn't have been more wrong. If they were right we would all be using what they were pushing 70-80 years ago by now especially with the far superior bullets we have today. Guides outfitters and professional hunters are a far better source of reliable information just ask them what they recommend for big game. I bet you will not get a single recommendation for a 220 swift for your big game rifle from any of them. This thread really is kind of ridiculous. A much more reasonable conversation would be if using one of the fast 22s such as the 220 swift for the smaller deer species or hogs what are the best bullets to use and generally best points of aim and range limitations to maximize the chances for a clean humane kill

 

[meigsbucks]

I used a 55gr Sierra out of a .22/250 on an exotic goat back around 1980. Only about 60 yds. I put three shots into it before it went down. The lungs were shredded but even at that, I think bigger rounds are a better choice.

 

[Rocco490]

Yes. 7 twist barrel and put a 95gr SMK in it and keep the range 200 yards plus. Make good shots and it’s an adequate cartridge for deer sized game.

Alaska and Canadian Natives used 22 magnums and .222 for everything up to Polar Bear.

add SOME to that statement "Alaska and Canadian Natives used 22 magnums and .222 for everything up to Polar Bear."
still doesn't make it a good idea or recommended practice

 

[Rocco490]

Selecting a weapon with the best potential for a clean humane kill is a responsibility of the hunter which should not be taken lightly. Hunters can not kill game too dead or too fast but sure can fail to kill or give their query a slow cruel death.

 

[gajie270]

the 220 on deer is a fine choice its just when you get to caribou and up(at least in america similar sized game for Africa) that its starts to get sketchy. personally even on caribou you run a controlled expansion bullet and avoid the shoulder you will be more than fine so long as you keep it inside of 200~ yards. as will all hunting it come down to shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.

 

[Wheels]

As a counter point to this thread, I wonder if my 600 NE is too big for rabbits?

It would probably make great practice.

In all likelihood, a 600NE using softs, will cause less damage to a rabbit than a 220 Swift.

 

[Bonk]

No, it's not an adequate caliber for anything much larger than a coyote. Neither is .223/5.56. Any of the three can and have killed deer sized game but I'll wager a heck of a lot of deer sized game have been wounded and lost using those calibers too.

 

[TucsonFX4]

the 220 on deer is a fine choice its just when you get to caribou and up(at least in america similar sized game for Africa) that its starts to get sketchy. personally even on caribou you run a controlled expansion bullet and avoid the shoulder you will be more than fine so long as you keep it inside of 200~ yards. as will all hunting it come down to shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.

I disagree, it is not a fine choice. An ethical hunter with a good understanding of the limitations can make it work. Of course, most (nearly all?) ethical hunters will say minimum 243 for deer+, even 270 minimum.

If a deer+ hunter has a choice between 220 and 243+ and they choose the 220, I would question their hunting ethics. It may not be black and white, but I would say it’s awful close.

As you mentioned, it doesn’t matter what caliber is used, shot placement matters.

 

[Wheels]

Articles on ammunition are like statistics. You can find one that will support whatever position you take. This one I found interesting.

The Fall of the .220 Swift

The .220 Swift is still the fastest commercial rifle cartridge in the world. So why didn’t it catch on with North America hunters?

www.outdoorlife.com

 

[CoElkHunter]

As a counter point to this thread, I wonder if my 600 NE is too big for rabbits?

No. And neither is @crs .45-90. Use a good soft point and report back here on your rabbit hunting success. Better yet, if you could harvest a couple of jackalopes that would be great. I'm sure somebody here could "score" the antlers? We want a video or at least a few photos from the hunts. Thanks!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Articles on ammunition are like statistics. You can find one that will support whatever position you take. This one I found interesting.

The Fall of the .220 Swift

The .220 Swift is still the fastest commercial rifle cartridge in the world. So why didn’t it catch on with North America hunters?

www.outdoorlife.com

VERY interesting article! A 26" barrel with a 1:7" twist to stabilize 90gr bullets? Enticing!

 

[Ultimat]

I think the question should be why would you decide to hunt big game with 220 Swift. No good reason!

​

 

[Rocco490]

The bullets do the work and .224" bullets are not heavy lifters. I dont care what case they are propelled from they will never be a big game caliber. Lets discuss the bullet for a second. The frontal area of a .224" diameter bullet sucks. It also has very poor sectional density which matches their track record as a poor penetrating round, you need a very well constructed bullet to avoid these tiny light bullets from breaking up or deflecting after hitting heavy bone. Typically they also have poor ballistic coefficients so they get blown off target much more easily and their velocity falls off faster(this velocity is crucial for them to produce good wounding) than many of the other bigger caliber hunting bullets available. Nothing magical happening here.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Some different opinions about it. Lots of different choices for lots of different people.

 

[Hillbilly Marine]

As a counter point to this thread, I wonder if my 600 NE is too big for rabbits?

I always think it is better to overgun than undergun. I have shot squirrel with my .416 Rigby as well as .270 Winchester and they were more than adequate!

 

[JimP]

As a counter point to this thread, I wonder if my 600 NE is too big for rabbits?

A number of years ago while out elk hunting we were not seeing anything. On the way back to the truck I spied a cottontail rabbit and decided that it would be better than nothing. And while it isn't a 600NE I shot it with my .340 Weatherby. When we got back to the truck my hunting partners asked what I shot at and I told them. One mentioned that they must not be much left of it and I said just all the good stuff. He looked at me and I showed him my headless rabbit.

I told him that if you are over gunned that you need to pick your shot and bullet placement and all will be fine. I did have to wonder when the cost of that round that I used on that rabbit cost more than a hamburger down at the local hamburger joint but it tasted a lot better.

 

[John the Electrician]

I’m going to agree with BeeMa on this. No vote.

we all know in our practical hearts that for big game. A .224 anything isn’t a wise choice. I’ve been around a .220 swift and it just isn’t in any way qualified for big game. We can define shot placement and bullet type and even what big game is and is not.

At the end of the day this was a rouse to get commentary, nothing more; I probably shouldn’t comment myself.

Big game should be hunted and shot with an appropriate big game caliber/cartridge , we all know that.

John