22 Hornet or 220 Swift

[BKhunter]

If you had to choose would you choose a 22 hornet or a 220 swift? Rifle would be used for small game and varmet.

[ny hunter]

If I were to choose I would go with the 22 Hornet..

[Hardcore]

The .220 swift is better than 3800fps....screaming!!! You will definitely get more range out of the swift than the hornet. I guess it all depends on the intended range you want to hunt. .22 hornet is a great very hot (fast ) cartridge but not near as hot as the swift. I think you get serious projectile drop after 200 yds in the hornet

[Cabin Fever]

I have both, but would hands down choose the .220 swift! Great range and hows no mercy on groundhogs! LOL  I use to hunt in Pa. and some youth and women would use the .220 for deer. Granted, there's better choices out there, but the .220 will do the job!

[BKhunter]

If you saw a rabbit at long range do you think the 220 swift would mange the meat?

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[Cabin Fever]

Oh hell no! Poof.... Gone!

[pistolp71]

Depends what you are shooting, and how far. There is over a 1000 fps difference in velocity. For varmints, the 220 swift blows the hornet away. You will burn a barrel out fairly quickly though.

[rotorooter23]

220 Swift.... I would check out a .22-250 though if your in the market.

[Cabin Fever]

You will burn a barrel out fairly quickly though.

Guess that depends on how much you shoot it. I'm 3rd generation to own my .220 Swift, so it's easily 50+ years old, and it still has it's original barrel. The thing is a tack driver too!

[pistolp71]

Guess that depends on how much you shoot it. I'm 3rd generation to own my .220 Swift, so it's easily 50+ years old, and it still has it's original barrel. The thing is a tack driver too!

 Yup, that's entirely what it depends on. If you don't shoot a lot, and especially if you don't shoot a bunch of fast shots, it wont be much of a issue. Somebody like myself, who shoots a lot, and shoots high volume prairie dog towns, it would be a problem

[Larry]

 If you you are going to hunt mostly small game I would use a rim fire a 220 will blow up a rabbit all you end up with are teeth and ___holes. If you are going to hunt mostly varmints then a 220 is fine. I would also look at a 22-250 or a 223 only because ammo is a little easier to fine.

[Pygmy]

You are talking apples and oranges here....The swift will vaporize any small game you shoot with it.  If you want edible meat , do NOT shoot it with the swift. It's forte' is killing varmints at long range.

 

Even the hornet is more cartridge than you may want for edible game, along with any other centerfire .22.

 

If you want to shoot edible small game, use a .22 LR or at the most, a .22 WRM.

 

Then if you want you shoot varmints or predators at long range, get a  .223, 22-250 , .220 swift or whatever..