Swing Rifles - History for Wikipedia

[Watcher]

I remember when I first fired a Bren. RSM had been very clear 'single shot only' and he was not to be disregarded..... Pulled the trigger and I could hear the working parts battering backward and forward inside the receiver and was convinced I fired a burst. Lay there in horror waiting for his stick to crack down on my helmet. As it was it was just a single shot but there a lot of metal work in there rattling about.

[GazMorris]

Is the Swing action a delightful piece of history or is it still regarded as a desireable action?

I used one to come 263rd in the World Champs two months back. My place had nothing to do with the gun and everyting to do with my (lack of) wind reading skills. I believe David Calvert (if Carlsberg made riflemen they would make Calverts) finished 14th using a Swing Mk 4.

If I remember correctly, 8 of the rifles used by the 16 shooters for the GB Team in the Palma Match were using Swings of one vintage or another (with the remainder being made up of 5 RPAs, 2 Barnards and 1 Paramount.) Furthermore, Nigel Ball made the highest score in the Palma Match using a Swing. They are clearly capable of performing at the highest level in TR.

My two main rifles are Swing Mk IIIs, but I am moving to a Barnard later this year as I'm increasingly worried about something going *ping* (in a bad way) at an inopportune time and not being able to fix it or having to swap rifles. So, capable of performing at the very highest level? Most definitely. Desireable? I'm not so sure any longer; although I will always have a very soft spot for the Swing rifle.

Gaz

[Dougan]

Hi Gaz - welcome to the forum

You say you have 2 Swings ( )....pictures are always well recieved here :P

[cheeky]

If I remember correctly, 8 of the rifles used by the 16 shooters for the GB Team in the Palma Match were using Swings of one vintage or another (with the remainder being made up of 5 RPAs, 2 Barnards and 1 Paramount.)

So 14 out of 16 were Swings or Swing derivatives! I hadn't realised.

[ovenpaa]

RGC (Robert) Has tried to post the following to this thread without sucess so here goes (fingers crossed it works for me!)

.....they always consider the Swing was a genuine product and they forget it came as a 'derivate' from the Danish Schultz and Larsen M(atch)62 and J(agd)54, with even the same lugs geometry and dimensions.... For the Paramount , it comes to a different breeding concept and the RPA is a completely new generation....

Thought finally it was not to correct.

It is no doubt that, whatever the rifle the shooters used, it is the british coaches and the superior team discplie and operations who won the Palma match.

There was a superior shooting skill in the US team and RSA with the INCH (no personnal glory here, but no one action to day is inherently more Long Range accurate than this one). RSA equalled GB on Vee Bulls and USA beat GB on Vees. Watching the scoring boards, it was possible to see the groups wider but smaller in elevation for US and RSA, and in general the contrary for the Brits .

Even in the individuals final, (and this by no means minimise his win, more to the contrary), Jeens scored 49 Vees while DuToit scored 68 Vees...On Vees count, he would have finished 10th...

This interested me given my recent positive experiences with the Vikings S&L

[Holds Tight]

Does anyone have any contact info for the current makers of Swings in SA?

[R.G.C]

Does anyone have any contact info for the current makers of Swings in SA?

Holds tight,

To the best of my knowledge, the Swing is no longer made since the disparition of Swing Target Rifles in 1989. There has been other attempts since and until around 1995, but they were more assemblies from remaining parts than anything else.

If you mention the rifles used by South Africans in the 2011 Palma; here is the link for the manufactirer in Australia:
http://www.actionclear.com.au/
They also have a thread here in 'Vendors ad innovators'.

R.G.C

[Multihornedsheep]

I have a Swing Mk5 7.62mm 30" Border 1 in 13 twist barrel I am looking to sell if anyone's interested. Sadly, I don't have time to use it as often as I'd hoped.

Pics and further details on request.

[shugie]

I have a Swing Mk5 7.62mm 30" Border 1 in 13 twist barrel I am looking to sell if anyone's interested. Sadly, I don't have time to use it as often as I'd hoped.

Pics and further details on request.

Now in my rifle cabinet awaiting a scope rail, bipod and trip to Bisley.

Serial number M5 1484, not sure if that means it was the 1484th Swing or the 1484th mk. 5?

The barrel is marked .308 Win (non standard) GI. 309 F. 300 Z. 3070. Anyone care to hazard a guess why it's non standard? I guess GI means groove.

I'll report what happens when I make it go bang.

[Dougan]

I have a Swing Mk5 7.62mm 30" Border 1 in 13 twist barrel I am looking to sell if anyone's interested. Sadly, I don't have time to use it as often as I'd hoped.

Pics and further details on request.

Now in my rifle cabinet awaiting a scope rail, bipod and trip to Bisley.

Serial number M5 1484, not sure if that means it was the 1484th Swing or the 1484th mk. 5?

The barrel is marked .308 Win (non standard) GI. 309 F. 300 Z. 3070. Anyone care to hazard a guess why it's non standard? I guess GI means groove.

I'll report what happens when I make it go bang.

Nice one Shugie tongueout

I've seen a few Swings set up for F/TR...don't forget a picture....