6Bee

[SBOOMER]

Today was a good day. I finished the extractor cut on my new 6Bee and shot some targets. The 6Bee is my own creation as is its big brother the QBee. The “Q” in QBee signifies QuarterBore or 25cal. Both using the 218 Mashburn bee as their start. My designs have a .250” long neck and shorter body length than the original Mashburn Bee. Both were designed with low recoil and low report in mind and for accuracy not speed. Initial targets with the 6Bee today were very encouraging. The 10 twist BRC barrel was chambered with a tight neck and throated specifically for the Nosler 55gr BT with the base at the bottom of the neck. I chronographed a few loads today and the one showing the most promise is 14.5gr/4227 @ 2612fps. This is now the 4th barrel on my Stevens 44 1/2 action. Left to right in the pic are the standard 218 Mashburn Bee, 6Bee and QBee.

 

[snert]

PHOTO of that 44 1/2 !!!

Cool little cartridge

 

[357Mag]

Today was a good day. I finished the extractor cut on my new 6Bee and shot some targets. The 6Bee is my own creation as is its big brother the QBee. The “Q” in QBee signifies QuarterBore or 25cal. Both using the 218 Mashburn bee as their start. My designs have a .250” long neck and shorter body length than the original Mashburn Bee. Both were designed with low recoil and low report in mind and for accuracy not speed. Initial targets with the 6Bee today were very encouraging. The 10 twist BRC barrel was chambered with a tight neck and throated specifically for the Nosler 55gr BT with the base at the bottom of the neck. I chronographed a few loads today and the one showing the most promise is 14.5gr/4227 @ 2612fps. This is now the 4th barrel on my Stevens 44 1/2 action. Left to right in the pic are the standard 218 Mashburn Bee, 6Bee and QBee.

Sboomer -

Howdy !

Great work, that !

Just outta' curiousity.... what chamberings were theother 3 barrels ?

If you are using a scope, which one ?


With regards,
357Mag

 

[SBOOMER]

218 Mashburn Bee, QBee and 25/35AI. Ill try to get a pic of the rifle when the sun comes out. -18 right now.

 

[SBOOMER]

In the meantime, search for my thread called “QBee”.

 

[piute]

Both were designed with low recoil and low report in mind and for accuracy not speed, the one showing the most promise is 14.5gr/4227 @ 2612fps.

Nice!
I would have like to come across your 25 cal. cartridge earlier.
I'm having a standard 218 being currently built with a fast twist barrel for non-lead condor bullets.

 

[SBOOMER]

Piute,
keep us posted on the results of your fast twist 218Bee. I really wanted a 14 twist 6mm barrel but just couldn’t find one reasonably priced. Higher velocity with lower pressure was the desired result. 75gr was to be the biggest bullet shot. Oh well, thats a test for another time.

 

[SBOOMER]

Got a chance to shoot a couple dozen (5)shot strings today with the 6Bee doing load development. Heres a keeper. 15gr/4198 is compressed.

 

[pipe]

Cool!

 

[SBOOMER]

I was able to chrono several 6Bee loads today looking for baselines and max. To date the most potential for accuracy has been with IMR4198 in the 2350fps range using the 55gr Nosler BT #39565. I am down to less than a pound of 4198 so started looking at alternates that I have. I’ll have to say Lil’Gun was a pleasant surprise. Here are a few results with the 55gr. Nosler BT #39565.

13.5/IMR4198/ 2156fps
14.5c/IMR4198/ 2365fps

12.0/Re7/ 1992fps
15.0/Re7/ 2547 fps

14.5/IMR4227/ 2612fps

10.0/Lil’Gun/ 2425fps
11.7/Lil’Gun/ 2703fps with no pressure signs and easy extraction!

And with the 75gr VMax:

13.0grC/IMR4227/ 2269fps
14.0C/IMR4227/ 2426fps

 

[SBOOMER]

I’m excited to continue working up loads with the Lil’Gun. I shot (4) 100yd (5) shot groups today with 11.0Lil’Gun/55 Nosler BT that were all 1/2”-3/4” even with bad mirage from heat escaping my shooting room into the cold air. The 8# jug should last my lifetime.

 

[maxscm]

Awesome looking Rifle there.
Like the front Rest set up.
Those 55 Gr Noslers are my favorite go to Bullet in the 6BR ,6x6.8, 6CM, 243 AI, etc.,

 

[Tparrish]

Interesting write up, thanks for sharing.