I just received this fine rifle from my father in law. It's a Winchester Model 70 in 220 Swift, with a Unertl scope. I can't wait to start researching this rifle. Can anyone offer me information or resources to help me determine its age and worth (I am really more interested in its age and history)? Thanks!

Neat... It looks like a Pre-'64 which means it has the original Mauser action.

220 Swift was (is) a premier high velocity .22 cal varminting cartridge.

I know nothing of Unertl scopes except they are the very definition of "classic cool" and while the rifle is worth a significant amount of money, especially if it is all original, that scope could have a lot of value also, particularly if the optics are still nice and clear.

Off the top of my head, I'm going to guess that you have about a $2,000 gift sitting there, and depending on model, condition, age, etc., conceivably much more.

Throat erosion with a 220 Swift can be significant, and a rifle chambered in it will require frequent cleaning to avoid copper build up in the throat. In addition, fast strings of fire resulting in barrel heating should be avoided. It is an "overbore" cartridge, and consequently dumps unburned powder into the throat of the barrel when the round goes off, resulting in a lot of heating.

There is a site out there that will give you a date based on serial number. If I find it, I will post it later.

Update: Here's the link to date your rifle: Winchester Date Link

ArtieS - thank you so much! I've been able to determine the rifle was manufactured in 1952.

Winchester 70s are my favorite. I only have 2 of them, but am always on the hunt for more. You have a beautiful rifle there. Enjoy it!

ArtieS was right about the throat erosion issue. A guy who sold me a Ruger M77 220S warned me about it. New rifles with improved metallurgy have less erosion. Any idea of round count for your rifle?
Yours is a beauty!

Coyotes, even those way out there, beware.

First varmint rifle I had was a Swift and it killed things Extra dead!

I'm not a Swift fan for my uses, but that's a valuable rifle you have there. The 220 Swift is a desirable caliber in the Pre 64 Model 70s. And while the Unertl scope is not up to day's scopes performance wise, they bring big bucks as well to collectors who people who like putting them on vintage rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by jdshank:
First varmint rifle I had was a Swift and it killed things Extra dead!

Is that as good as double dead?

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
ArtieS was right about the throat erosion issue. A guy who sold me a Ruger M77 220S warned me about it. New rifles with improved metallurgy have less erosion. Any idea of round count for your rifle?

I do not know for certain, but from talking with my father inlaw I do not think he put many rounds through it. I am taking it to my smith this week for an inspection. I do not notice anything amiss, but I am not an expert.

Really great rifle there. A Swift is on my bucket list for the future, probably in a Ruger though. Cool cartridge and a real burner.

Very nice rifle. Depending on where the FIL shot, can help with any round count estimates. If back East, likely paper & possibly groundhogs. If he ventured west, high count prairie dogging may of been the rage.

I bought a 1966 Sako from a guy years ago, 243. I could tell by the vintage ammo & that he lived in a ‘shotgun zone’ for deer hunting, it wasn’t shot much.

I ended up going the 22-250 route, but the 220 Swift is a classic.

220 Swift is faster than a phone call.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the 220 Swift uses a semi-rimmed case, doesn't it? If true, how well does the 220 round cycle in a bolt rifle using the standard box staggered magazine as found in Winchester M70, Remington 700 or Ruger M77? All the cartridges I've ever used in those bolt rifles were rimless (223, 22-250, 30-06, etc) or belted magnum (300 Win Mag, 375H&H, etc).

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
Very nice rifle. Depending on where the FIL shot, can help with any round count estimates. If back East, likely paper & possibly groundhogs. If he ventured west, high count prairie dogging may of been the rage.

All shooting in the east, woodchucks and targets. From talking with my father inlaw I am estimating 2000-2500 rounds through it in 50 years. It hasn't been shot in the last 20. Taking it to my gunsmith tomorrow after work.

google winchester mod 70 serial numbers and you will get a pile of sites to look up the manufacture date,

while the 220 will eat up a barrel, not that many folks shot them enough to do so, (pull the bolt, hold the rifle up to a light source and look thru the barrel, are the lands/grooves still good at the throat?)


would like to see some more pics of the Unertl,

power (ring on the back of the scope near the eye piece will be stamped )

and the type of mounts


overall Unertls are considered the cream of the crop on older scopes, but they are heavier than the Lyman/Fecker/Litschert equivalents,

quote:

Originally posted by chbibc:
From talking with my father inlaw I am estimating 2000-2500 rounds through it in 50 years. It hasn't been shot in the last 20. Taking it to my gunsmith tomorrow after work.

That many rounds on a 220 Swift will produce noticeable throat erosion. The barrel could be toast, or it may shoot just fine for you. A lot depends upon your accuracy demands. The best thing is to get out there and shoot it -- assuming you have ammo.

Yes, could peek inside, as able, or the gunsmith could give it a look.

I’d also go with the shooting it yourself anyway, which is what really counts.

I reload most every round for my 22-250’s, mostly for prairie dogging. Most of my loads are very reasonable, still offering a fair amount more than a 223. Just saying, even a modest 220 Swift load offers great performance while being easier on the brass & barrel.

Yes, Double dead was a nice way of putting it. The Swift was a pleasure to load for,I ran IMR 4350 and Sierra 69gr match bullets