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I was thinking of a lever action .220 swift for lion this year. Anybody use one ? Or other good options

um? well thats not exactly my first pick. i guess if you could find a .220 swift lever action you'd have to be choosey about loads and bullet configuration in multiple areas and then you'd be able to knock one outta the tree with good shot placement. but besides all that i have to admit you have my interest can you go into detail about ALL that led up to this thought process?

S-Night,

You certainly have got me curious, as to the Swift lever gun. . But I do believe no matter what kind of platform it comes out of it will make them sick.

Take care, Willie

Well gentlemen I was doing a little coy dog hunting with a friend and he has a bolt action 220 and is deadly with it. I was impressed with the lack off pelt damage it had and I have always been a fan of lever guns. So I called a friend I know that sells guns and asked if he could find one he replied lastnight with a yes. So here I am before you guys that have taken a fair share of lion whether it would do the job ? This will be my first lion season so want it to be a good one.

with a flat nosed solid barnes X type bullet behind the ear at hound range it would indeed can you get pics and info on your buddies setup/ i'd sure like to see it. any ol gun can usually kill a lion i carry a wide selection but would like a nice small lever gun in 25 cal. with just enough umph to kill a coyote surely dead out at 200 yds. but its all high power noise makers anymore i'm thinking of getting that 25X5.56 setup put in a lever gun but its gonna have to wait a bit.

I like to pack a handgun, lion hunting terrain is not always the best or is the weather, so I like to have my hands free and not have to worry about a rifle snagging when going through trees and climbing through the rocks and ledges, most of the lions we've killed have been with a 22 or 22 mag handgun, but I would suggest that you feel comfortable about using one, I'm not saying that is the best cal. to use, I just prefer a handgun, maybe just something to consider. Good Luck on your hunt.

The answer is yes. It will kill them as dead as any gun will. My step son has killed many many whitetail deer with a 220 Swift. My father in lw and I have taken our share with one as well. We usually try shooting a minimum of 55gr out of them when targeting deer. My father in law just gad one built with a 1-8" twist. Out of this he's shooting a 70gr Berger VLD and its deadly. You'll have to reload or have someone who does. I believe Speer or Sierra builds a 46gr flat nose that would go good in your lever gun. That round should be very lethal on lions shot anywhere in the vitals.

Pegleg,
Have you thought about the 25-35? Winchester built a rerun of them (model 1894) not long ago. You can still find them New In Box at times. There's one on Gun Brokers right now in fact. The seller of this gun is out of Burns, Or.

220 swift is my favorite coyote rifle, But here in Colorado its illegal for Lion. I dont know of any in a lever action though. If your buying a rifle just for lion and you want a lever go with the good old 30-30 or my favorite for lion 32 winchester special

Wow guys thanks for all the great input. I will try to get pics of my buddy's soon. I don't mind loading rounds for it or any other for that fact just like something Alittle different I guess . I just want something that Will have enough knock for a lion but not blow a big hole out the other side and an be used for other animals as well. I do carry a 22 mag revolver with me but want a rifle too. I like the sound of the .32 special is it a lever gun ? Oh ya there is only one manufacturer that is still offering one in a lever action I didn't even ask who it was though

S – night,

Oh! It'll darn sure kill them. As a matter of fact, they're not very tough skined, and even with varmint loads such as Hornady V-max's and the like. At the range that you are talking about. I would be afraid of splatter If you hit any bone, and it may even get ugly on the exit hole if you don't hit bone. Pretty bad _ _ _ _ caliber, it's right there with the 22-250. Both are capable of extreme carnage.

Take care, Willie

Ya the 32 is a lever, I have a model 94 winchester I use the hornady leverevolution rounds and they do awesome.

Wow a swift with all that velocity didn't do much damage? Wouldn't be my choice. I have used a .22 on the 3 that I have killed. All lead bullet in the lungs and they usually bleed out before they hit the ground. Lil hole but that lil bullet sure does alot of enternal damage. I have seen guys use 22-250's and they work but really mess things up. Had a guy use a 44 on a med sized tom and had to hit him twice. So they are pretty thin skinned small lungs a person doesn't need alot to kill one. just my .02

iinvno1 wrote:Wow a swift with all that velocity didn't do much damage? Wouldn't be my choice. I have used a .22 on the 3 that I have killed. All lead bullet in the lungs and they usually bleed out before they hit the ground. Lil hole but that lil bullet sure does alot of enternal damage. I have seen guys use 22-250's and they work but really mess things up. Had a guy use a 44 on a med sized tom and had to hit him twice. So they are pretty thin skinned small lungs a person doesn't need alot to kill one. just my .02

Sometimes, I find this very amusing. Because these animals really are not what most try to paint them as. And what I would consider the most perfect round would probably be a 22 Magnum in the right hands. And I guess the key word there is right hands. As when things get really Western, if you have someone incompetent behind the trigger. Does it really matter what he or she shooting? So I guess I sort of agree with the above quote. I guess now there's another two cents. I added for a total of four cents.

Take care, Willie

The old timers here in Wyoming tell me that before the lion was classified as a trophy game animal that most of the lions harvested were taken with a .22. Check the rules and regs in the states you are hunting in. In Wyoming it is illegal to use any 22 caliber for big or trophy game. I am hearing that this will change next year but have not verified it yet. I use a lever 30-30 and am not saying that it is the best, it's just the one I have had and used since I was a kid. Like anything else its all a matter of opinion.

Shorty wrote:The answer is yes. It will kill them as dead as any gun will. My step son has killed many many whitetail deer with a 220 Swift. My father in lw and I have taken our share with one as well. We usually try shooting a minimum of 55gr out of them when targeting deer. My father in law just gad one built with a 1-8" twist. Out of this he's shooting a 70gr Berger VLD and its deadly. You'll have to reload or have someone who does. I believe Speer or Sierra builds a 46gr flat nose that would go good in your lever gun. That round should be very lethal on lions shot anywhere in the vitals.

Pegleg,
Have you thought about the 25-35? Winchester built a rerun of them (model 1894) not long ago. You can still find them New In Box at times. There's one on Gun Brokers right now in fact. The seller of this gun is out of Burns, Or.

yes i've been really wanting one for awhile and just haven't had the excuse to get it . I'd bet it'd work slick as calf snot for my use. I use the 22 mag on little cats and its nice. I dont shoot lions with one though its proven a thousand times over theres always the chance of a issue greater then with a slightly beefier caliber so i go that way . I've got a pet 222 i.ve used with a handload on one lion i believe but i dont like carrying it in a scabbard much. I've used a 35 rem and a 3030 to but think the 25 35 would sure be right on for me. Hounds tend to be more gun shy when your firing a howitzer over their heads then a mellow pop gun so i use light loads some .