Old school chucking...

[MrMajestic]

Martini Cadet chambered for .218 Mashburn Bee, Lyman 15X Super Target Spot. Blooded last evening with a pup at 105 yards. Made me reminisce when I listened to my father and uncle talking about the '50's and '60's chuck hunting. The dies that came with it had $12 written on the box.

 

[jds holler]

Dang, I love that rifle -- and that cartridge. I shoot standard Bee, and would love to build that cartridge into a Martini or ??? jd

 

[Bill K]

Just for drill, what is the average range and longest you shoot that rifle/caliber at ? Love the old rifles still being used out there.

 

[MrMajestic]

Just for drill, what is the average range and longest you shoot that rifle/caliber at ? Love the old rifles still being used out there.

I would consider it a 250 yard chuck rifle. They are tough vermin to say the least. I shoot standing and resting on a BogPog most of the time so head shots aren't always an option therefore terminal ballistics must be accounted for.

 

[MrMajestic]

I know it won't agg this and I picked two from three groups shot today, read "all day if I do my part" . I have shot a total of 5 100 yard groups with it so far and the other 3 were right at 1".

 

[rebel]

Too cool.

 

[K22]

Several years ago I use to run into an old timer**, a ghog hunter, in northern Berks, PA who used a 218 Bee. I had never seen one before and was most interested. It had a scope similar to the one posted, with external adjustment knobs. I was intrigued with the rifle and cartridge. It looked like a neat cartridge. He was a real personable guy and I love hearing his tales of hunting varmints in the "old days" in Berks Country before it was over developed as is it now. He said he and his dad hunted fox and varmints going back to the 40's.

We hunted together a while, taking turns shooting ghogs. I witnessed him take a few out to about 200 yards using an old wooded shooting cross stick as a shooting aid. I was impressed, more so when I looked up the ballistics of this little cartridge. Like some others, I'm interested in the history of older cartridges.

I hunt a few farms where this cartridge would be perfect since the max shots are around 200 yards. I normally use my 223 Rem Model 7, 20" barrel in these fields.

**PS: Now I'm an old timer.

 

[V509]

I was kind of feeling antiquated using a 222 on woodchucks this year

 

[snert]

Fully impressed. Sweet old school cool. Everything about that set up says innovation. Old rifle, hotrodded with a "modern" smokeless round, wildcatted no less, with custom wood, advanced machining and a death ray sight light on it...an external adjustment high powered spotter. Buck Rogers look out, here comes MrMajestic!

i am jealous.

 

[jds holler]

I've shot both 218 Bee and 222Rem for 40+ years now. Love them both.

There is definitely a place for the Bee or a similar cartridge in a varmint shooters line-up because it is simply a kinder, gentler shell to shoot. Noise is considerably less, and if your shots are around 200 and less, it's a great way to go. Mine has killed a bunch of coyotes, both called, and incidental. A truck load of western chucks have bit the dust with the Bee sting, and THOUSANDS of ground squirrels.

Mine generally isn't much better than a 1 MOA grouper, but it's a bone stock "off the rack" rifle from the 50's with none of the frills that a custom or even mo-modern rifle has.

The Bees, and Hornets for that matter use just about half the powder that the 222 does, but still get us near or over the 3000 fps mark especially with the newer 35 gr. bullets.

I'll always love the one I've got, but I'd still like to build something similar on a custom rifle. jd

 

[maxscm]

Huh, Did I hear someone say 218 Bee ??
How about a Taurus Revolver in 218 Bee?
Back in the Day >>>------>

 

[snert]

I must live under a rock. where does one find, much less have modified, a Martini?? Is it worth it..as in...are they CHEAP in the end?

 

[snert]

Several years ago I use to run into an old timer**, a ghog hunter, in northern Berks, PA who used a 218 Bee. I had never seen one before and was most interested. It had a scope similar to the one posted, with external adjustment knobs. I was intrigued with the rifle and cartridge. It looked like a neat cartridge. He was a real personable guy and I love hearing his tales of hunting varmints in the "old days" in Berks Country before it was over developed as is it now. He said he and his dad hunted fox and varmints going back to the 40's.

We hunted together a while, taking turns shooting ghogs. I witnessed him take a few out to about 200 yards using an old wooded shooting cross stick as a shooting aid. I was impressed, more so when I looked up the ballistics of this little cartridge. Like some others, I'm interested in the history of older cartridges.

I hunt a few farms where this cartridge would be perfect since the max shots are around 200 yards. I normally use my 223 Rem Model 7, 20" barrel in these fields.

**PS: Now I'm an old timer.

Run 4 or five grains of unique over a standard primer under a 40 grain hornet bullet outta that 223 and you have a near Bee. Or try Bluedot. See calhouns "to Bee or not to Bee" google.

I use unique and a neck sized case in 222 for tree squirrels. I intend to do the same with K-hornet.

 

[MrMajestic]

I must live under a rock. where does one find, much less have modified, a Martini?? Is it worth it..as in...are they CHEAP in the end?

I paid a little more than that for mine. The guy that has the most toys when he dies wins...

The miniature Martini story is a good one. I have five now, a stock BSA cadet cleaned up and rebored and chambered in .357 Mag. A 2" gun at 100 yards with open sights and these old eyes. A standard BSA model re-barreled(26" Octogon) chambered in .357 Mag reblued and re-stocked with original Parker Hale 7A receiver sight, beautiful accurate gun! A 12/15 in .22LR with the PH 7A and globe front sight, another very accurate and quiet gun with it's 29" barrel. An original W.W. Greener in the original .310 Cadet. Just when you think your life is tough try reloading the .310 Cadet! I guess I'm a Martini whore and the problem is when you meet another and want to buy his...

 

[MrMajestic]

There's the Kangaroo for you Snert!

 

[MrMajestic]

I miked them..although they shot pretty well in a .22 cal. bore. Proof readers are the first to go in hard times.

 

[MrMajestic]

At least they got the side correct...

 

[ShootDots]

Mr. Majestic, I am GREEN with envy of your ability to go out shooting woodchucks on a whim! That was my FAVORITE kind of hunting when I was a kid in Western New York. And you have the "old" rifles that makes me want to go out 'chuckin' all over again! Thank You Sir for your excellent postings!

 

[K22]

I was kind of feeling antiquated using a 222 on woodchucks this year

The 222 is a great ghog cartridge - I used one for many years until the barrel went south then I rebarrel the Rem 700 with 223 Rem Douglas Match barrel.

But truthfully, that old 222 with IMR 4198 and Sierra 50 bullets didn't give up much. Even in a sporter weight barrel I was getting 1/2 moa group well into 4000 rounds.

 

[ShootDots]

The 222 is a great ghog cartridge - I used one for many years until the barrel went south then I rebarrel the Rem 700 with 223 Rem Douglas Match barrel.

But truthfully, that old 222 with IMR 4198 and Sierra 50 bullets didn't give up much. Even in a sporter weight barrel I was getting 1/2 moa group well into 4000 rounds.

Barrel steels can be funny! I had a 22-250 for hunting prairie dogs, turkeys in Texas and a multitude of other "varmints". I had it for many years. Finally it had over 4000 rounds on it and the 55gr bullets were seated so far out from throat erosion that they were barely in the case neck. I used it at a 200 yard F-Open "Fun Shoot" for it's last voyage! It shot a 600 49Xs! I won and I thought that that was a fitting end to a great rifle!