218 Mashburn Bee

[SBOOMER]

I just finished up a 26”/14 twist Shilen Match Select in .218 Mashburn Bee. I hung it on a Stevens 44 1/2. My goal with this rig is 100 yard accuracy not speed. With that said I am curious if some of you have favorite loads that you might share. I have a lot of: Lil’Gun, IMR4227, 2400, Re7, AA9, 5744......mostly what I would call old school powders. Any and all suggestions regarding the M-Bee are appreciated. I fireformed 50 Hornady cases with 50gr. Privi’s seated long as I broke in the barrel. Prior to FF, I necked up to 6mm and then a few thou long with the MB die. I didn’t lose a single case.

 

[SSL]

I had a cute little Martini action with a 22" bull barrel in 218 Masburn Bee about 40 years ago. More darned fun than should be legal. Like a fool, I traded it. At that time, I had best luck with 2400 and 50-grain bullets, but I'm sorry I can't remember the charge weight. Good luck and have fun!

 

[SBOOMER]

Great! I have a couple variations of 50’s loaded with 2400 and am waiting for the whiteout to pass. Heavy snows forecast for today and tomorrow so hopefully I can get back to testing this weekend.

 

[rockhound78]

I have tried lil gun in my standard bee with excellent results

 

[dellet]

You mean something like this?

Ten shots at 100, 40 grain Vmax. Regular Bee, 1/16 twist. 1680 has been very reliable. This load is 15.8 grains and just under 3000 fps.

 

[dedogs]

Lil’Gun, IMR4227, 2400, Re7, AA9, 5744

Of the powders you have listed I would go IMR 4227 or Reloader 7. If you don't have to go "Old School" try H4198. dedogs

 

[martini]

I shoot a Martini cadet built in Art Mashburn's shop in OKC in the early 60's in 218 M Bee. Best accuracy I've had is with the 40g Vmax and AA2200 or H116.

thanks,

Randy

 

[SBOOMER]

I very much appreciate the responses. So far, Re7 and 4759 with 40gr VMax have turned in the best groups. Hovering at 1/2”/100 yds. 4227 will shoot a cloverleaf with a wild flyer almost every time.

 

[SBOOMER]

She gonna be a keeper......

 

[martini]

She gonna be a keeper......

Inquiring minds want to know if the fly survived. They crawl on my targets, they get shot at.

ready for varmint season,

Randy

 

[Aero]

Several years ago, I bought a nicely made Highwall chambered in Mashburn Bee. Mainly bought it for the action, it came with custom RCBS dies that had been converted to bushing dies(JLC) along with some loaded ammo and a nice supply of brass.

I always figured this is a non-"standard" Mashburn Bee. So, in the attached pic on the left is what I have, the middle a once fired regular Bee, and what I assume on the right is a "standard" Mashburn Bee. Neck length on mine is about .120" and the neck length on what I think is the standard MB is .270"ish. I'm hoping a couple of you guys could check your brass and tell me the approximate neck length or any other comments for that matter.

Thanks

 

[dedogs]

right is a "standard" Mashburn Bee.

I don't think so. I have a Mashburn Bee that I use "standard" RCBS dies to re-size with. The cases look just like yours on the left.
Don't know what your case on the extreme right is... .218 Bee Ackley Improved??? dedogs

 

[Aero]

Dedogs-

What is the length of your necks? I've found 2 references that show neck length at .193" for the MB. So you are probably right that the case on the right in the pic I posted is something else.

 

[SBOOMER]

Left is a Mashburn Bee
Right is an Ackley Bee

 

[SBOOMER]

Randy,
No....I waited too long for a clear headshot. I didn't want to mess up the wingspread for scoring purposes

 

[nhdon]

I just finished up a 26”/14 twist Shilen Match Select in .218 Mashburn Bee. I hung it on a Stevens 44 1/2. My goal with this rig is 100 yard accuracy not speed. With that said I am curious if some of you have favorite loads that you might share. I have a lot of: Lil’Gun, IMR4227, 2400, Re7, AA9, 5744......mostly what I would call old school powders. Any and all suggestions regarding the M-Bee are appreciated. I fireformed 50 Hornady cases with 50gr. Privi’s seated long as I broke in the barrel. Prior to FF, I necked up to 6mm and then a few thou long with the MB die. I didn’t lose a single case.

I have a Ruger #1 with a 1 in10 still searching for round it really likes one which show some promise by accident is hornaday 2270 (I ran out of 62 gn FMJBT so I used them)
Loaded behind 11.2 gn lil gun Sat. mail showed up with some heavier stuff to try Have a nict Day Don K

 

[SBOOMER]

Back in the last round of hoarding, I bought an 8# jug of Lil’Gun. I have yet to find anything I own that it shoots well out of.

 

[20VarTarg]

SBOOMER....I picked up a factory chambered 218 MB in a Cooper Model 38 last year. I struggled to get it to shoot well. Spent countless hours on trying to find a load for it and realized in the end that I just wasn't giving it enough powder. The miraculous thing about it was in the end I found 2 different powders and 2 different bullets that it really really liked, or should I say LOVED. I shoot the 35 grain Nosler Varmegeddon and the 40 grain Blitzking with both RL7 and CFE BLK. If you want speed and accuracy CFE BLK will give it to you. I get roughly 300 FPS more with the CFE BLK and pressures stay low. I love RL7 and use it in darn near everything I load for. My Cooper now will shoot both loads into .2's all day at 100 yards and I'm able to shoot 10 shot groups at 200 that measure under an inch. I love the 218 Mashburn Bee!!!!

 

[martini]

Randy,
No....I waited too long for a clear headshot. I didn't want to mess up the wingspread for scoring purposes

My experience with flies and 22 LR is that they just leave dark spots around the POI.

 

[SBOOMER]

20VarTarg,
Yes, this MBee is rapidly becoming my favorite rifle. I need to pick up more Re7 as I am down to just a couple ounces. This rifle has shot lights out since the first 20 fireform shots. Its just keeps getting better.