.220 Swift build

Hawkshaw

July 06, 2011 09:47

Is there any reason to NOT use a LA 700 with new Bbl. here? SA's seem to be harder to find. THX HAWKSHAW

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  MIKE WISKEY

  July 06, 2011 11:54

  NO, BUT FEEDING MAY BE PROBLEMATIC

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  nononsense

  July 06, 2011 15:30

  Hawkshaw,
  
  I haven't had a problem finding them ever. I even order them sometimes.
  
  Brownells has both the SA and LA on sale right now:
  
  http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=32498/Product/REMINGTON_700_RECEIVERS
  
  Drawbacks to the long action is the magazine and feeding from a long magazine. The simple method of fixing the problem is to add a small block to the back of the magazine box as I've shown before and then using a short action follower. The box lips will need to be massaged for the Swift cartridges which are semi-rimmed.
  
  Best.

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  5mmgunguy

  July 06, 2011 16:51

  I would put a single shot follower in the magazine. Solves modifying the magazine issue and I think they make them for the LA.

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  sandwarrior

  July 06, 2011 20:10

  quote:Originally posted by 5mmgunguy
  I would put a single shot follower in the magazine. Solves modifying the magazine issue and I think they make them for the LA.
  
  
  I'm certainly in agreement with that for a benchrest type gun.
  
  However, to put into detail why the feeding would be an issue is:
  
  a). Case geometry is smaller than anything the LA700's are built for. A. 30-06 is .449" at the shoulder 1.9484" from the base. The .220 Swift shoulder is .402" @1.723" from the base. Those dimensions carry back all the way through the body. With that difference, the bullet will want to hit the side of the barrel chamber instead of the center. "Massaging" the feed rails, as nn puts it, is the only way to aim the cartridge at the center of the chamber.
  
  b). The web area (bottom of case body) is .447" while the case head was expanded from the 6mm Lee Navy to .473" so it fit in the standard Mauser bolt face (.473"). That .026" is a catch waiting to happen. Unless of course you can find someone who can build a mag that loads the top cartridge forward of the next lower cartridge like the British .303.
  
  Anyhow, those are the difficulties surrounding the .220 Swift. It's a great cartridge, though. It give tremendous velocities and very good accuracy. Do watch that you don't burn barrels out quickly, as that is also a Swift trait.
  
  Another option to ease the feeding is to go with the Mauser case or the .308 case necked to .224". Both give better velocity than the .22-250. One other option is to go with any of the above in a 1-8" or 1-9" twist so you can use "heavier for caliber" bullets and shoot long range.[:D]
  
  Anyhow, some ideas to mull on. -good luck![;)]

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  Ambrose

  July 07, 2011 06:58

  I have four bolt rifles chambered for the Swift. The Ruger 77 and the Win. 54 have a slope fore and aft in the magazine box and feed fine. The 98 Mauser with the standard magazine will feed w/o hangups only occassionly with more than one cartridge in the magazine. I have a 700 classic made the one year and it feeds w/o a hitch. It has no slope and I have noticed nothing unusual about the magazine box. I guess I'll have to pull the box out of one of the other short actions and compare them. Or swap a box into the Swift and see if it still feeds.

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