Designed in 1935, the 220 Swift round (aka 22 Swift) still holds the title today as the fastest commercial cartridge in the world at a whopping 4,665 fps (feet per second) using a 29-grain bullet. With a 48-grain bullet it's still pushing over 4,100 fps, and that's exactly why Winchester created and named this .22 caliber centerfire the very apt "Swift". It's a flat-shooting, hard-hitting round in its class. This round is perfect for a wide variety of shooting activities, including hunting, target shooting, and pest control.
220 Swift ammo boasts an MPBR (Maximum Point Blank Range) of 264 yards. It can easily attain sub-MOA groups at 400 yards, and many dedicated varmint hunters report impressive results out to 500 yards. All of this depends on the load, the rifle, the barrel twist rate, elevation, and weather conditions. With hand-loaded cartridges and a perfect setup you can even be accurate out to 1,000 yards.
A 220 Swift bullet has a diameter of 0.224 inches (5.7 mm), the same as those used in a .223 Remington. The parent case is a 6mm Lee Navy, a semi-rimmed bottleneck. The case length is 2.205 inches (56.0 mm) and has a capacity of 47 grains H2O (3 cubic centimeters). The overall 22 Swift cartridge length is roughly 2.68 inches, depending on the bullet it's loaded with. It's a centerfire round, using a large rifle primer.
This is a hotly debated topic, and the different sides are pretty polarized. The first thing to take note of is the legality of hunting deer and other large game with the .220 Swift. Some states don't allow any .22 caliber firearm for deer hunting. Other states will allow any centerfire, like the .220, but no rimfire like a .22 Long Rifle or .22 Magnum. Since there can be so much variation you should research the most up-to-date hunting regulations.
After legal considerations, it comes down to ethics. Some very skilled big-game hunters, like the famous P.O. Ackley, were impressed with the performance of the .220 Swift in one-shot dropping power. Others have reported wounded animals that were not immediately dispatched by the caliber and led to the questionable ethics of hunting big game with it.
Yes, the 220 Swift is undoubtedly a good round. With its speed, ballistic performance, and long-running track record, some shooters have made the claim that it's the best round. Although that claim would come down to personal experience and opinion, there are very few people who could reliably claim that it's not a good round. Varmint hunters are particularly ecstatic about the caliber, and have been singing its praises almost immediately after it came out over 80 years ago.
Shop at OpticsPlanet for all of your ammo needs, including Rifle Ammo like 220 Swift. We carry top brands including Hornady, Winchester, and Federal. Want to see what's on hand and ready to ship today? Head on over to our In-Stock Ammo Page where we regularly update inventory as soon as it comes in.
Eligible models will have a savings offer and the coupon code to use below. Add the item to your cart and enter the coupon for savings on that select model! Limited time only. Cannot be combined with other promotions or offers. See promotion details.
Get a 20% rebate when this product is purchased by November 30th, 2025 and the rebate form is postmarked by December 31st, 2025. Download the rebate form or see details
Your Browser is Outdated