New ammunition from Swift

[Jwg223]

That's right, they are now selling LOADED ammunition.
http://www.swiftbullets.com/high-grade-ammunition-s/1828.htm

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

http://www.africahunting.com/threads/swift-cartridge-company.29973/

I like the bullets but the prices are a bit high on the new ammo.

 

[Jwg223]

http://www.africahunting.com/threads/swift-cartridge-company.29973/

I like the bullets but the prices are a bit high on the new ammo.

I'm not so sure, honestly. I equate this stuff to TBBC loadings, and it's right in line with them, even though SWIFT is a much smaller company than FEDERAL/ATK. Take also into account their claims about how meticulous they are about loading them, QA/QC, and their claim that they are "Waterproof"...does this mean lucas or some other neck sealant? Or do they just mean primers like everyone else, which does not waterproof a cartridge make. I will call them in the morning when they open and find out more, but for now, their .223 Scirroco II is of great interest to me, and I am sure many others who do not handload might well be interested in other offerings, given this forum, as well!

I get the impression that most hunters do not burn the thousands of rounds I do per year, and the price may literally mean nothing to someone who buys 2 boxes...one to zero, and one to hunt with for 2-3 years.

 

[CAustin]

Pricy yes but they will be loading some of the bigger bores!

 

[CAustin]

Can anyone more knowledgable than myself explain what a breakaway solid does. ( yes I know it kills) What I want to know is really how is that different from a solid?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Can anyone more knowledgable than myself explain what a breakaway solid does. ( yes I know it kills) What I want to know is really how is that different from a solid?

The term breakaway has to do with the plastic tip which breaks away from the bullet on impact. It really has nothing to do with bullet performance. The tip of the solid is designed supposedly to aid in feeding with the rounded plastic tip aiding feeding. I was reading a bit about the bullet yesterday on other sites and it was being suggested that it was superior to "other" flat point solids in regards to feeding. It was also claimed that this new solid provided better straight line penetration than the "other" flat point solids.

I believe the "other" flat point solids is in reference to those offered by Cutting Edge Bullets and North Fork. While I have only tried CEB's flat point solids in one rifle, I had no issue with them feeding. But I've not heard or read of anyone else having issues with feeding of these or North Forks version. That is not to say that it has never happened, I've just not heard about it.

As for superior straight line penetration, I don't believe claims near as much as I believe data. As yet I've not seen the data to support the claim. Again no conclusion is being made by me, the data may exist. If it does and it's shown, I'm much more inclined to believe.

 

[Jwg223]

It may also improve bc and increase velocity at impact and reduce drop.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I'm not so sure, honestly. I equate this stuff to TBBC loadings, and it's right in line with them, even though SWIFT is a much smaller company than FEDERAL/ATK. Take also into account their claims about how meticulous they are about loading them, QA/QC, and their claim that they are "Waterproof"...does this mean lucas or some other neck sealant? Or do they just mean primers like everyone else, which does not waterproof a cartridge make. I will call them in the morning when they open and find out more, but for now, their .223 Scirroco II is of great interest to me, and I am sure many others who do not handload might well be interested in other offerings, given this forum, as well!

I get the impression that most hunters do not burn the thousands of rounds I do per year, and the price may literally mean nothing to someone who buys 2 boxes...one to zero, and one to hunt with for 2-3 years.

I stand corrected. Previously I had seen Midway USA's price for Swift ammo in 404 Jeffery and it was quite a bit more expensive than custom ammo from my go-to source, Hendershots (https://hendershots.net/custom-ammo/). Looking at the prices now on the Swift website, their prices compare favorably to Hendershots for the same bullet.

 

[ActionBob]

Can anyone more knowledgable than myself explain what a breakaway solid does. ( yes I know it kills) What I want to know is really how is that different from a solid?

Phil is correct in that they are referring to the break away polymer tip. And yes the claim is that it provides "flawless magazine feeding and breaks away at impact". I would compare it more to the Woodliegh Hydro solid except that the Hydro has a much fatter tip and does not always feed as well in some of my rifles as I would like. However I do love it's performance on animals. In both brands, underneath the tip is a concave or cavitated tip that is claimed to traverse bone and hard muscle in a straight line vs. getting deflected off it's path as these manufacturers claim a round nose bullet will.

From my perspective, I'm excited about these new bullets. They do appear as through they should feed and shoot well. I'm hoping the factory ammo regulates well between these new solids and old trusted A Frames as this would be a great combination for most all DG hunting in the many suitable calibers Swift plans to load them in.

The Swift catalog also claims these new solids are easier on barrels, and looking at their reasoning, I believe it makes sense.

Charlie I think you would be well served to either start hand loading or find find someone to do it for you and get a box of these new solids and a box of A Frames loaded up for your 416 Ruger.

 

[CAustin]

Phil is correct in that they are referring to the break away polymer tip. And yes the claim is that it provides "flawless magazine feeding and breaks away at impact". I would compare it more to the Woodliegh Hydro solid except that the Hydro has a much fatter tip and does not always feed as well in some of my rifles as I would like. However I do love it's performance on animals. In both brands, underneath the tip is a concave or cavitated tip that is claimed to traverse bone and hard muscle in a straight line vs. getting deflected off it's path as these manufacturers claim a round nose bullet will.

From my perspective, I'm excited about these new bullets. They do appear as through they should feed and shoot well. I'm hoping the factory ammo regulates well between these new solids and old trusted A Frames as this would be a great combination for most all DG hunting in the many suitable calibers Swift plans to load them in.

The Swift catalog also claims these new solids are easier on barrels, and looking at their reasoning, I believe it makes sense.

Charlie I think you would be well served to either start hand loading or find find someone to do it for you and get a box of these new solids and a box of A Frames loaded up for your 416 Ruger.

Would like to do just that!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The Swift catalog also claims these new solids are easier on barrels, and looking at their reasoning, I believe it makes sense.

That's one part I'm not so sure about that part Bob. It may be designed adequately to compress, but at what detriment to the bullet.

The bore riding design particularly of the CEB's puts very little bullet in contact with the lans of the barrel. Again I've only used them in my .458B&M and some credit has to go the cartridge design, but I've yet to not fill and strongly compress enough powder to get any pressure signs at all. This is also confirmed by very little case stretch. When I resize my brass I've measured before and after and am typically only a couple thousandths longer than before.

The direction Swift took with this bullet may be more to do with the cost to manufacture. The bonding process isn't cheap I'm sure, but it's different than CEB for sure. The CEB's are machined, cut from brass bar stock on either a lathe or CNC. It gives fantastic precision and repeatability, but making one bullet at a time has to be costly.

So Swift's decision may have had more to do with cost than performance. Nothing wrong with that but making a suggestion that others bullets are not safe to use in doubles may be misleading.

 

[sierraone]

The .375 HH is a little on the high side for the better HH ammo. But not by much. We'll get a good comparison in December when the .416 Rigby comes out. Even though I can still get Hornady at around $85 a box most of the time. The good stuff is around $225 to $304 a box at the high end for Winchester Safari. For the high end stuff, I watch for it on sell and buy it when I see it, Nosler, Federal or Winchester. We'll know in a couple of months where this new Swift ammo falls into the mix for the Rigby.

 

[Jwg223]

I asked SWIFT and they told me that the case-necks and primers were sealed, if this matters to anyone.

 

[CAustin]

I hope this works out for them and they expand the line as time hoes on!

 

[CTDolan]

http://echolsrifles.blogspot.com/2015/02/sci-2015-high-lights-swift-bullet.html?m=1

 

[CTDolan]

I hope this works out for them and they expand the line as time hoes on!

I hope so, too!

 

[CTDolan]

"The bullet (breakaway solid) is made from a proprietary jacket material that houses a traditional lead core. This design allows the overall length of the bullet to be shorter than an identical weight mono-metal bullet of the same caliber and does not overly limit powder capacity."

If you're shooting a 416 Rigby, perhaps it's not so important but if you're shooting a 416 Ruger (like me), it's a welcome consideration.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

If you're shooting a 416 Rigby, perhaps it's not so important but if you're shooting a 416 Ruger (like me), it's a welcome consideration.

I'd agree that is a valid point. However I still want to see the data. The flat point mono metal solids from CEB and North Fork have lots of data behind them. If Swift is truly matching that, then more power to them, they're providing another great option for hunters.

 

[CAustin]

"The bullet (breakaway solid) is made from a proprietary jacket material that houses a traditional lead core. This design allows the overall length of the bullet to be shorter than an identical weight mono-metal bullet of the same caliber and does not overly limit powder capacity."

If you're shooting a 416 Rigby, perhaps it's not so important but if you're shooting a 416 Ruger (like me), it's a welcome consideration.

They are loading the 375 Ruger so I hope they will consider the 416 Ruger as well.

 

[CTDolan]

I'd agree that is a valid point. However I still want to see the data. The flat point mono metal solids from CEB and North Fork have lots of data behind them. If Swift is truly matching that, then more power to them, they're providing another great option for hunters.

I'm sure it's a solid option (pun intended!).