any 218 bee lovers out there?

[jreedtn]

im building a single shot falling block rifle and have been thinking about chambering it in 218 bee, or even mashburn bee. I have a 21" hart blank in 14 twist that I will be using. I was going to chamber it in 222 rem, but I think the rimmed cartridge may work a little better. plus I would like to keep noise and recoil down. any feedback would bee appreciated!!!!
thanks,
john

 

[Bob3700]

Have owned two 218 Bee's in my day. One a custom Winchester Low Wall and the other a Winchester M43. The 43 was a really nice rifle (the deluxe edition) and shot par for the course.

I sold it as I had a Pre-64 Mod. 70 in Hornet.

Hornets and Bees have their place with very low report and recoil. The factory 46 gr open point bullets are just the ticket for varminting. Reloading for these two is a horse of a different color. I suspect that small case capacity, thin brass and older rifles make for an accuracy challenge. Never had a hand load that shot as good as factory ammo. Can't tell you why as I just don't know.

I do like both cartridges as I still have my Hornet.

Bob

 

[placek59]

I too, am building a falling block. I am actually planning on building a matched pair. One in .218 and one in .25-35 or something similar. What plans are you using to build yours? I am basing mine on Mueller's single shot plans. I have never had a .218, but fell in love with the idea years ago after handling a buddies ruger #1 .218. Finally getting around to it.

 

[bheadboy]

i have had in low wall Win, 2r lovell, 22 hornet and 221fb
in high wall, 22-3000, (basicly 2rlovell) 219 mash zipper, and 225 win

The idea of a rimmed case is better is not alway true, i had no problem with the 221fb. they are all great historical cartridges, and if that is our intent then the 218 bee, as a improved version would be my choice. quality brass is a problem and the 221 gets rid of that for what ever that is worth.

Bob

 

[MrMajestic]

Got a .17 Ackley Bee that shoots real nice in a T/C Encore. As they say in Japan, "Same only different"! ;D

 

[jonbearman]

I have 2 .218's and one is a marlin classic lever gun and the other a ruger #1 and they both shoot outstanding for a cartridge so small. First let me say Ken Waters showed me a load that has worked forever for me.I use the winchester brass with a winchester primer and 296 powder at 11.0 grains with a 45 grain remington plhp bullet.At 100 yds it will print about 5/8ths pretty regularly and better on calm days.Use almost zero headspace as the case stretches quite easily which is why the improved case is probably would last longer.Velocity is good with this load and I have taken groundhogs at 250 yds with it.Go for it.

 

[jonbearman]

Placek or anyone,if you ever get up towards rochester ny,you can shoot mine.Now I am on a roll,I simply love the cartridge and buy lots of brass and just have fun.With Ken Waters load it exceeds2600fps.It has mild report and you can almost hunt without tons of ear protection.That remmy bullet and the calhouns seem to fly as good as a match bullet.Like I read a short time back,the remmy power lokt hollow point was coined as match worthy by a writer that published a story on the bee and that bullet.You probably think I am mad but that particular bullet is first rate.

 

[Dvldawg]

I have owned a Marlin Classic, Ruger No.1, Winchester 43, & a Cooper 38 all chambered for the 218 Bee Still have the Win. 43 in the Bee, and rebarreled the Cooper into the 17 Ackley Bee.. The 218 Bee is a good cartridge, no recoil, low report, but is low on the performance end, still has a spot in my safe. My load is the 40 gr. V-Max and IMR4227.. Good luck with your build..
PS, I would lean towards the Mashburn, different is good..

 

[greg8012]

I built my 218 bee on a remington 788 action and love it g

 

[CatShooter]

My first .218 Bee was on an original Winchester 1885 High wall.

I now have a Ruger #1 with a minimum chamber, minimum (2 thou crush) headspace, and no turn (3 thou clearance) neck,

In a solid falling block, the .218 can be loaded to .221 Fireball levels.

I also have one of Browning's copy of the Winchester M-65 lever gun, and it's a hoot - (but I don't load it that hard).

It is a great cartridge. Those that think the neck is too thin to take pressure, just go measure the neck on your 6mmPPC or BR... the .218 Bee is thicker than the average PPC or BR.

 

[bheadboy]

Origin of the 218 bee?

there was a story in Atlanta, that in the mid 1930's a local machinest, gunsmith who worked at Ga Tech by the name of W. C. Slocum "papy" took a 25-20 case, necked it down to form the 218bee, and chambered a Win lever rifle. Win heard about it from a local rep and came to Atlanta, and bought the idea for some $.

i do not know if the story is true, however i personally know Pappy and heard the story when i was a youth.

He also built from scratch a perfect copy of an 03-a3 springfield in 22 hornet, i shot the rifle in the mid 1940's. quite an artist.
Bob

 

[bheadboy]

another bit of Slocum info

W. C. Slocum Obtains
Recognition From
Winchester Arms
Recently Tech was given a little indirect publicity in which the student body might be interested.

Mr. W. C. Slocum, the master crafts­man in charge of the shop in the Aeronautical Department, is the man to whom we are indebted in no small way. Mr. Slocum has been spending most of his leisure time during the past six months in making by hand a .22 rifle of the Hornet type for his son. Winchester Arms Company of America heard about Mr. Slocum's work, and sent a special representative to Atlanta to look into the matter. The result was that Mr. Slocum was offered a position with the Winchester Company, which he declined to accept; a very fortunate thing for Tech.
In the construction of the bolt of this rifle Mr. Slocum incorporated his inventive ability to such an extent that it is like no other bolt made to fit the Hornet .22 rifle, a fact which may in time simplify the manufacture of rifles to a great extent. The bolt is much simpler and much more compact than any of the well known makes. The representative praised Mr. Slocum's work highly, and complimented Tech on having such a resourceful man in its employ. However, Mr. Slocum, a'modest man, stated that his sole purpose in making the rifle was to provide a little entertainment for his son. Anyway we appreciate the publicity. Many thanks, Mr. Slocum, and keep up the good work.

_________________________
Bob

 

[cattlebuyer]

The gun that has killed everything from rattlesnakes to ton cancer eyed hereford bulls with everything in between, is a mod 43 Win in 218bee with a 2x7 leupold scope . Was a work gun on a large cattle operation in Tallahassee FL in the go-go 80's. Bought yellow box super X ammo buy the brick every year and saved each hull. Buff Cobb reworked the trigger. Great gun and cal. I want to build a nice one and reload the bee one day.

 

[firearmdoc1]

I built a custom Single Action Army revolver with two cylinders. One in 218 Bee and the other one in 218 Mashburn.Why? Because I could and other people told me I couldn't make it work.Well it works great! Smallest group with it was under 1inch with open sights at 50yds. The only thing is this thing is LOUD!!

 

[villagelights]

I've settled on the K-Hornet, HeBee, and Fireball. There is no bad choice among any of these 3 families if you accept their assets and limitations. If I want to go a little faster or farther, I'll break out the 3 deuces, the BR, the 223 Ackley, or the 6X47.

There are other guns in the safe including a 22-250 that never gets out any more, and the beginnings of a Swift that may never get finished. There's an ultra-light .338 WM that only gets out to punish braggarts, and if that doesn't get their respect, there's a <7lb. 12 bore 3-1/2 mag single with a short barrel, a nasty cheek-piece, and a thin, rock hard butt, that will. As Elmer Keith once said (with blood running from his eyebrow), "Anybody who says that thing kicks has lace on his pants!"

If I wanted to get my own ears ripped off and work on perfectly killer flinch, I'd be shooting some WSSM in a Savage Striker with a muzzle brake. As it stands, when that boy shows up at the range, I just head for the clubhouse and take a break. He will be gone soon, but I can shoot and load and B.S. all day with one of my little rifles and have a great time doing it.

The Bee? I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. All the best! J.

 

[Sky Dog]

Origin of the 218 bee?

there was a story in Atlanta, that in the mid 1930's a local machinest, gunsmith who worked at Ga Tech by the name of W. C. Slocum "papy" took a 25-20 case, necked it down to form the 218bee, and chambered a Win lever rifle. Win heard about it from a local rep and came to Atlanta, and bought the idea for some $.

i do not know if the story is true, however i personally know Pappy and heard the story when i was a youth.

He also built from scratch a perfect copy of an 03-a3 springfield in 22 hornet, i shot the rifle in the mid 1940's. quite an artist.
Bob

Hello Bheadboy,
Allow me to introduce myself........I am one of "Pappy" Slocum's Grandsons. And yes, everything you say is true about my grandfather

 

[jds holler]

I've had my Bee (model 43) for 40+ years now, and it may be my favorite rifle. It for damned sure is the most used one. Love the low noise/recoil, 12-13 grains of powder; that's 560 shots per pound. After I realized that my chamber is way longer than my sizing die, I adjusted accordingly, and got happy. Bee brass is way sturdier than hornet, and I bet I've got brass older than half the guys on this forum.

I cranked this one off the other day, in the wind no less. I used to think this rifle was pretty much a 1.5 MOA'er, but in the last few years I've been shooting more sub inch groups than ever; simply been trying more different bullets than before.

It's hard for my rifle to load bullets without big jump, cause the cartridge won't fit back out of the loading port if you want to eject. So I'm usually not as close to the lands as I'd like. Oh well, it's not doin to bad. jd

 

[snert]

Jd...
Nothing not to like about that!

 

[Hippy]

In the past 45 years I have owned MANY rifles chambered in the Hornet , K-Hornet ,Bee and Mashburn B My results are that the Mashburn is HEAD and shoulders above the standard B and Hornets for accuracy.

The BIGGEST issue is brass it is hard to find and really NOT that good==If U are looking for ultimate accuracy go with the Fireball MORE accurate and MUCH better brass

Good Luck
Jim

 

[Pappy42]

In the 1960s, I owned a Winchester hiwall with a heavy barrel in .218 Bee. On a bet with a fellow Marine; I went prone and fired 10 shots into a 50 cent coin at 100 yards. Wish I had that hiwall back.