224 Swift?

Jaeger · January 28, 2001, 07:14 AM

A friend of mine just bought a pre 64 Model 70. It has the original target stock and an extremely heavy barrel. The barrel is marked 224 Swift. I've looked around and can't find any mention of a cartridge by this name. The barrel looks almost as old as the rifle so I was thinking that perhaps the 224 stands for the bullet diameter (in order to differentiate between the .223" bullets that were available then) and that it is actually just a 220 Swift.

Anyone ever hear of this or have any thoughts? (he'll be doing a cast of the barrel later just to be sure)

Harley Nolden · January 28, 2001, 08:21 AM

Hunter:
I was looking in my ammo stuff and this is all I could find on the 224 Swift.

The Weatherby line of proprietary cartridges was somewhat incomplete for lack of an ultra-velocity 22. The 220 Weatherby Rocket was actually an improved wildcat based on
the 220 Swift case and Weatherby never manufactured ammunition of this caliber. The 224 Varmint master was introduced in 1963, however according to the late Roy Weatherby the development work went back 10 years or so prior to this. Introduction of the cartridge was delayed due to lack of an entirely suitable action.

HJN

Art Eatman · January 28, 2001, 12:20 PM

I'm having to dredge from memory, from back in late 1950. I remember some chit-chat at a gunsmith's (I won't mention his name; he's dead, now; but his nickname was "Butcher".

) about loading for a .220 Swift. Instead of .224 bullets, the guy had gotten some .228s. Needless to say, primers were flatter than flitters, with some falling out during extraction.

I'd purely have to guess, but I'd say the barrel was stamped .224 in order to preclude using the .228 bullets available at that time.

I don't know who made the .228s, nor why. And I'm too lazy to hunt through Sharpe's book, right now.

Hope this helps,

Art

Dave Finfrock · January 28, 2001, 01:27 PM

.228s were for the .22 Savage Hi-Power. This was supposed to be a .22 hunting caliber. It was an attempt at a very small bore big game caliber. I don't recall the years of it's introduction, but it was early 20th century.

Southla1 · January 28, 2001, 02:41 PM

Thats correct Dave and I think its Sierra that still makes .228 bullets for that .22 Savage HP, but I am like Art ...... too lazy right now to look and see which bullet manufacturer makes them

.

Jaeger · January 29, 2001, 04:59 AM

Thank you gentlemen.

Rusty S · January 30, 2001, 02:20 PM

There were some .230 marked rifles decades ago, but IIRC they were really 22 cal ( 22-250 and 220 Swift ) marked 230 to get around state game laws prohibiting 22 centerfires being used on deer.

January 28, 2001, 07:14 AM	#1
Jaeger Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 1999 Location: PA Posts: 365	A friend of mine just bought a pre 64 Model 70. It has the original target stock and an extremely heavy barrel. The barrel is marked 224 Swift. I've looked around and can't find any mention of a cartridge by this name. The barrel looks almost as old as the rifle so I was thinking that perhaps the 224 stands for the bullet diameter (in order to differentiate between the .223" bullets that were available then) and that it is actually just a 220 Swift. Anyone ever hear of this or have any thoughts? (he'll be doing a cast of the barrel later just to be sure)

January 28, 2001, 08:21 AM	#2
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	Hunter: I was looking in my ammo stuff and this is all I could find on the 224 Swift. The Weatherby line of proprietary cartridges was somewhat incomplete for lack of an ultra-velocity 22. The 220 Weatherby Rocket was actually an improved wildcat based on the 220 Swift case and Weatherby never manufactured ammunition of this caliber. The 224 Varmint master was introduced in 1963, however according to the late Roy Weatherby the development work went back 10 years or so prior to this. Introduction of the cartridge was delayed due to lack of an entirely suitable action. HJN

January 28, 2001, 12:20 PM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I'm having to dredge from memory, from back in late 1950. I remember some chit-chat at a gunsmith's (I won't mention his name; he's dead, now; but his nickname was "Butcher". ) about loading for a .220 Swift. Instead of .224 bullets, the guy had gotten some .228s. Needless to say, primers were flatter than flitters, with some falling out during extraction. I'd purely have to guess, but I'd say the barrel was stamped .224 in order to preclude using the .228 bullets available at that time. I don't know who made the .228s, nor why. And I'm too lazy to hunt through Sharpe's book, right now. Hope this helps, Art

January 28, 2001, 01:27 PM	#4
Dave Finfrock Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 1999 Posts: 210	.228s were for the .22 Savage Hi-Power. This was supposed to be a .22 hunting caliber. It was an attempt at a very small bore big game caliber. I don't recall the years of it's introduction, but it was early 20th century.

January 28, 2001, 02:41 PM	#5
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	Thats correct Dave and I think its Sierra that still makes .228 bullets for that .22 Savage HP, but I am like Art ...... too lazy right now to look and see which bullet manufacturer makes them .

January 29, 2001, 04:59 AM	#6
Jaeger Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 1999 Location: PA Posts: 365	Thank you gentlemen.

January 30, 2001, 02:20 PM	#7
Rusty S Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 1999 Location: Walker Lake, NV: Flyway of the Loons Posts: 611	There were some .230 marked rifles decades ago, but IIRC they were really 22 cal ( 22-250 and 220 Swift ) marked 230 to get around state game laws prohibiting 22 centerfires being used on deer.