Winny Fan
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Originally Posted By: pyscodogActually, the first Swift was produced for the Model 54, then is 1935 Winchester made it a production caliber for the Model 70 and it lasted until 1964 and was discontinued. Or at least that what it said on Wikipedia. Pretty good reading about the Swift.I still prefer the 22-250AI but thats just me.
It indeed was first chambered in the Model 54 which was just an early ~98% Model 70 derivative as far as the rifle action was concerned. The Model 54, for example, had a 2 stage trigger which was changed to a single stage trigger with the Model 70 designation. Also, the safety was changed from a Mauser style flip safety to the current side swing safety design. In essence, with a couple of changes such as a better trigger and a more scope friendly safety since telescopic sights were becoming popular, coupled with a couple of purely cosmetic changes to the barrel and the rifle stock, the Model 54 action was reintroduced as the Model 70 with a lot of marketing hype such as it being "The Rifleman's Rifle".
Winchester first envisioned the Swift as being derived from the 250 Savage case, but they were unable to safely get their intended 4K+ fps muzzle velocity so they later settled on the necked down Lee Navy 6MM cartridge which is the basis for today's 220 Swift. In essence the Model 54 was the rifle used to finalize the Swift cartridge design to be commercially introduced with the Model 70 rifle. As an aside, the 250 Savage case is the original parent of today's 22-250 Remington cartridge.
As stated above, Winchester officially legitimized today's 220 Swift cartridge design as a commercial offering with the introduction of the Model 70 rifle.
It indeed was first chambered in the Model 54 which was just an early ~98% Model 70 derivative as far as the rifle action was concerned. The Model 54, for example, had a 2 stage trigger which was changed to a single stage trigger with the Model 70 designation. Also, the safety was changed from a Mauser style flip safety to the current side swing safety design. In essence, with a couple of changes such as a better trigger and a more scope friendly safety since telescopic sights were becoming popular, coupled with a couple of purely cosmetic changes to the barrel and the rifle stock, the Model 54 action was reintroduced as the Model 70 with a lot of marketing hype such as it being "The Rifleman's Rifle".
Winchester first envisioned the Swift as being derived from the 250 Savage case, but they were unable to safely get their intended 4K+ fps muzzle velocity so they later settled on the necked down Lee Navy 6MM cartridge which is the basis for today's 220 Swift. In essence the Model 54 was the rifle used to finalize the Swift cartridge design to be commercially introduced with the Model 70 rifle. As an aside, the 250 Savage case is the original parent of today's 22-250 Remington cartridge.
As stated above, Winchester officially legitimized today's 220 Swift cartridge design as a commercial offering with the introduction of the Model 70 rifle.