How to Hunt Deer With a .220 Swift Rifle
The .220 Swift is one of the world's highest-velocity rifle cartridges. Exceeding 4000 feet per second with some loads, the flat-shooting, lightweight bullet has great inherent accuracy. It was originally developed as a varmint cartridge loaded with very lightweight bullets. However, handloaders can tailor their loads with heavier bullets of tough construction to increase the lethality on deer-sized game. Shot placement is key with a bullet this small; it does not have the size and mass to penetrate through dense muscle or bone, so a heart or lung shot is essential.
Things You'll Need
- .224-caliber diameter bullets
- .220 Swift cartridge cases
- Reloading manual
- Reloading press
- Reloading dies
- Small rifle primers
- Smokeless powder
- Rifle chambered in .220 Swift
Instructions
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Select the bullet you want to use. A bullet weighing 55 to 60 grains is a good choice for deer. It should be of tough construction that has controlled expansion characteristics upon impact. Because of its light weight, the bullet needs to stay together and penetrate deep in game.
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Prepare the cartridge case and load the cartridge according to your reloading manual's instructions. Follow the reloading recipe in a reputable manual. Start with the lightest load, then work up from there.
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Sight in your rifle with your custom load. Although the .220 Swift is a very flat-shooting, long-distance cartridge, sight in your rifle at 250 to 300 yards
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Stalk your game and get as close as possible. Although the .220 Swift can cleanly take small game such as groundhogs and even coyotes out beyond 400 or even 500 yards, shots on deer should be taken at no more than 300 yards.
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Place your shot as accurately as you can into the deer's heart and lung area. Aim just behind the front shoulder, low on the body. A proper hunting bullet should penetrate deep enough to reach the animal's vitals and produce a quick, ethical kill. Do not try to shoot through shoulders, heavy muscle or bone.
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Tips & Warnings
Typically, a rifle chambered for the .220 Swift has a 1:14 inch twist barrel rifling. This twist rate is adequate for shooting 55-grain and lighter bullets. To stabilize bullets of 60 grains and heavier, a faster twist rate may be required.
When developing hand loads, always begin with the starting load recommended in your reloading manual. Work up to increased powder charges and higher velocities carefully.
References
- Photo Credit 5.56 head- ammo bullet image by Yanir Taflev from Fotolia.com
