ASK THE GUN EDITOR
Letters containing questions for answering by Nick Harvey must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Mail your letters to: The Technical Editor, 3 Reef Street, Hill End, NSW 2850.
Speeding Up The .220 Swift
Q I own a Remington 700 in .220 Swift with a 650mm barrel and topped with an old Leupold 6.5-20x scope that' been gathering dust in my gun safe for a number of years. Now that the rabbit population in my area has grown, I want to ask you if you can suggest a load with a light bullet that will clock 4,000 fps in my rifle. I've heard the argument that heavy bullets buck the wind better, shed their velocity more slowly and hit harder at long range. This offers an advantage where big game is concerned, but what about varmints?
– Jesse Wilkins
A What matters most for varmint hunting is that the faster a bullet is, the quicker it gets there. It is critical that it gets there as fast as possible to minimise bullet drop and wind drift. A faster bullet shoots flatter so range estimation isn't so critical, delivers more energy and is more likely to expand at long range. There’s no doubt that a high-velocity bullet offers several advantages for varmint shooting. Your Swift has what it takes
