M77 .220 Swift -- am I missing something?

Help Support Ruger Forum:

CoalCrackerAl

Single-Sixer
Joined
Aug 15, 2022
Messages
165
Location
Coal TWP Pa.
My neighbor has one. With a Unertl scope on it. It's sweet rifle. He bought it from a guy who was going to jail for 600.00. He also got the dies and powder and primers and bullets for it in the deal.
 
Joined
Mar 29, 2017
Messages
1,743
Location
Idaho
Maybe the barrel is not shot out. That's a little insider joke. When I was selling guns , I tried to sell 77s in .220 swift its a fine caliber. Gun writers wrote articles on how its a barrel burner. Aren't all firearms to some degree? So customers would say the same thing, I would say if it wears out have another barrel installed on it. Really most people who buy any firearm will not wear it out be it a .220 swift or 3006. Those that shoot a lot rebarrel or sell the gun. I did sell 1 in a standard barrel with a Leopold scope I put on it to a friend about 1977, as far as I know he still uses it.
 

T.A. WORKMAN

Hunter
Joined
Mar 24, 2006
Messages
4,266
Location
MANSFIELD, OHIO USA
I have owned several Swift's over the years and a few .22-250's, all in Ruger M77 rifles both are excellent calibers and accurate as well.
The old myth about Swift's burning barrels out is just that a myth! That will live forever!!:rolleyes:

What they will do over time is erode the chamber throat, running very excessively hot loads and improper reloading technique's. I know a man who ruined a barrel
doing just that. When he had it custom re-barreled the gunsmith advised him to go with a 28 1/2" barrel. The man ask him why the longer barrel ? The smith
replied when you burn the throat out on it all you will have to do is have the barrel cut and rechambered & you will still have a rifle with a 26" barrel!! Sage advise IMHO

Back to the OP's question, check out the bid history, that tells you a lot!! For what its worth I sold one just like that 3 years ago for $1,500.00 and it wore a 12 power Leupold.

JMHO
Terry
 
Last edited:

mjpchief

Single-Sixer
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Messages
388
Location
Southern Illinois
I have my dads M77 that he bought new in the early 1970's. This .220 swift was almost responsible for the extinction of the ground population in Southern Illinois. Still will group at close to 1" at 200 yds. It has a Weaver K10 scope on it. Almost changed the scope a few years ago but thought better of it. That is the way dad shot the rifle and that is the way it will stay.
 

DashRiprock

Bearcat
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
3
Thanks for the replies.

I've owned two of these. One was traded away in the 1990s. Missed it and bought another. I sold it to a close friend in need of a finely accurate varminter. He still has it and regularly visits the range with me. If he ever decides to sell, it comes back to me!

I documented my time with it closely. I never let it get too hot, I always cleaned it at proper intervals, and I never hotrodded loads in it. It adores the 55 gr. V-Max over 35.5 grs of Varget.

To date, it has over 4,000 rounds through it and will still group with all holes touching.

Maybe they should start making them again!
 

wildwilly

Bearcat
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
33
For whatever reason the laminated stainless 77 heavy barrel 220 Swifts bring more money than the other calibers even before this latest craziness but not that much more.
 

Garth69

Single-Sixer
Joined
Aug 21, 2017
Messages
371
I have the otherwise exact same gun, but in .223 . And it is an exquisite shooter.

I figured it had escalated in value, maybe approaching $900. Even for me, a person that is not always against paying too much, that .220 Swift is quite over the top, price-wise.

But I also understand, if a feller has his eyes on an item, and he really wants it, and there's no other way to get it, he surely could get caught up in a bidding war. It's only money.

I figured I'd never sell my .223 version, but if I could even get half of what the .220 Swift sold for, I just might think about it.:)
I have That same gun in 223 and 308. both are fine shooters. 1/2 MOA on both is I do my part. actually better with the 223.
 

RSIno1

Hunter
Joined
Sep 17, 2013
Messages
2,858
Location
Southern California
A friend has a Swift - so when he wanted a 1,000 yard squirrel killer if was only natural he bought a No1-V in 220 Swift.
I like the ballistics of the Swift but the barrel "rumors" did scare me off. I do have 2 No1V a 223 that will put 5 rounds under an inch at 100 yards and a K1V 22-250 with the gray laminate that I haven't started to play with yet.
 

Attachments

  • download.jpg
    download.jpg
    5.5 KB · Views: 56
  • 20151004_071801.jpg
    20151004_071801.jpg
    358.7 KB · Views: 58

KS25-06

Single-Sixer
Joined
Aug 19, 2007
Messages
131
Location
Moscow, Ks. Stevens Co.
Such outrageous prices generally result from two idiots getting in a peeing contest. Each of whom wants it for a collection. About 10-12 years ago when the sod poodles were thick I had several Swifts. Ruger Mark II Varmint like the one pictured. Ruger 77 tang safety varmint, Rem. 700 SS fluted varmint, Win. 70 SS Heavy Varmint, and a Savage SS Fluted Varmint. Both of the Rugers shot smaller groups than the others. The model 70 was next. The model 700 was last place. The Mark II Varmint is one really nice rifle. Only problem, you need to let them cool after 5 shots.
 
Top