Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SMALL-BORE CENTERFIRE
.220 Swift
A high-velocity .22-caliber centerfire cartridge with a distinctive semi-rimmed case. It is a separate chambering from .22-250 Remington.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.650–2.680 in
67.310–68.072 mm - Case length · max
- 2.205 in
56.007 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2245 in
5.702 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.473 in
12.014 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Small-bore centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.2245 in / 5.702 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 1 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 55 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.220 Swift is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 220 Swift. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
Published factory velocity is load- and barrel-specific. A faster catalog figure alone does not establish better accuracy or suitability.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Winchester introduced the .220 Swift in 1935 in the Model 54 bolt-action rifle. It was designed for long-range varmint shooting and became an early symbol of what exceptionally high velocity could achieve with a small .22-caliber bullet. Its performance attracted both enthusiastic supporters and equally vocal critics.
The debate was partly about expectations. Some early writers extended the Swift’s reputation to game for which a small varmint bullet was a poor match, while other discussion focused on barrel wear and the demands of its large-capacity, small-bore combination. Its more defensible historical role was the one for which it was conceived: a very fast varmint cartridge. Later .22-caliber cartridges challenged it commercially, but the Swift retained a specialist following. It remains closely associated with the 1930s high-velocity movement and with the argument that impressive speed alone does not define every aspect of a cartridge’s usefulness.
Historical sources: Sierra: .220 Swift cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited .220 Swift examples, bullet weights are 55 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
55 grains
3,680 fps
V-MAX®
Compare all 1 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady8324 | 55 gr 3.56 g | V-MAX® | 3,680 fps 1,122 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.220 Swift: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gr Hornady V-MAX® | Hornady | 0: 3680; 100: 3253; 200: 2868; 300: 2514; 400: 2186; 500: 1884 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .220 Swift?
A high-velocity .22-caliber centerfire cartridge with a distinctive semi-rimmed case. It is a separate chambering from .22-250 Remington.
What diameter does .220 Swift use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2245 inches (5.702 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
Published factory velocity is load- and barrel-specific. A faster catalog figure alone does not establish better accuracy or suitability.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 80 ↗
- Sierra: .220 Swift cartridge background ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 183 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.