QBee

[SBOOMER]

If there is any positive to being holed up for this virus, it is lot’s of shop time on my own pet projects.
I recently did a heavy barrelled .218 Mashburn Bee on a Stevens 44 1/2. I’m having WAY too much fun with that rifle. It turned out to be the most accurate rifle I own. Since I love Quarter-bores and had a BRC 10tw barrel blank, I thought, why not a 25 Mashburn Bee. I mocked one up and just couldn’t get past that short neck. Creating my own version, I ran the Mashburn Bee reamer in to a point that it would create a .250” long neck, neck reamed a .277” neck and then throated so 75gr. and 85gr. bullet bases were even with the neck junction. I nicknamed it the QBee, signifying Quarter Bee. I fireformed a factory 25/20wcf this morning and couldn’t be any more pleased with the final case. A new bullet has the slightest drag when inserted into the fired case. I can hardly wait to start shooting and hope it proves accurate.
L to R in the pic:
Std .218 Bee
.218 Mashburn Bee
Std 25/20wcf
25 Bee (218Bee necked up to 25cal.)
25 Mashburn Bee
QBee

 

[Zero333]

Your QBee looks pretty nice.

 

[Toolbreaker]

That looks good, and a catchy name to boot. Any pics of the 44 1/2?

 

[SBOOMER]

Not the best light but here are a couple pics. The T-36 is mounted for load development and then the 20x STS goes back on for a period look.

 

[SBOOMER]

Another pic. Barrel is a Shilen Match Select 14tw. This is the .218 Mashburn Bee barrel.

 

[SBOOMER]

Never one to sit still, I’m already plotting a 6B. View attachment 1166979View attachment 1166979

 

[357Mag]

SBOOMER -

Howdy !

A great project ! Well done on the brass !

Cool beans !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Marksman]

Do you order the barrel from Shilen as half round/half octagon or do you have to do the final contouring yourself? How easy is it to time the flats to the action when chambering?

 

[SBOOMER]

I do all my own barrel work. Both the 218 Mashburn Bee and the QBee started as 1 1/4” straight blanks. I mill the flats on my 1928 South Bend lathe then turn the round section taper. The Stevens is 16tpi so .0625/8= .0078” per flat. I set the barrel shoulder up tight to the action and then estimate the amt needed to index. Extractor cut at 6 o’clock is the last thing I do. I just finished the QBee barrel this morning. Juggling time between the rifle build and maple syrup production.

 

[Beruisis]

I'd like to see some of your targets. I'm covered up with 25 cals & have the 25-20 wcf in both a CPA 44.5 & a Winchester Low Wall. Both fun to shoot. I really like the looks of your new round.
Mike

 

[SBOOMER]

Mike,
Attached are a couple targets. The orange dots are 3/8”. I am not in the same league as most of those on this forum and I am amazed at some of the targets I see posted. I shoot for fun and the personal reward of constant improvement. I doubt that I have 200 shots thru the Mashburn Bee to date. Absolutely a hoot to shoot. After shooting all this “small” stuff, I am rapidly losing interest in anything bigger. Cheers. MikeC

 

[SBOOMER]

 

[SBOOMER]

 

[Beruisis]

I was referring to your new QBee.
Mike

 

[SBOOMER]

I had a little time this morning before running the maple syrup line so I cut/crowned the QBee muzzle and fireformed a box of factory WW 86gr soft points. The attached photo is 33 shots at 100 yds. Clean bore foulers and sighters were on an adjacent target. BRC 30” 10-twist barrel. adjacent target. I’m happy!

 

[Beruisis]

That is sweet also!!!
Neat little round. Now if we can get CPA to chamber barrels for it!
Mike

 

[SBOOMER]

If you want one chambered, PM me and we can talk. It a slow time for me right now.

 

[Zero333]

QBee or not QBee.

And it shoots !

Thanks for the pics.

 

[SBOOMER]

For those following this thread, I did some QBee chrono work this morning.

IMR-4227 with Rem 6 1/2 primers. Bullets seated to neck junction. 30”bbl.
The QBee is proving to be an interesting little cartridge. If you are wondering why the Rem 100grPSP, because I have a couple thousand of them. I might try some sub-sonic loads in the 100gr. In the lower velocity loadings below, it is amazingly quiet. In all loadings, it’s a pure joy to shoot. No pressure signs whatsoever in MY rifle with any of the lightly compressed loads shown.

60gr. HP
14.0 2435

75gr. VMax
11.0 1708fps
12.0 1930
13.0 2146
14.0 2306
14.5C 2380

Hornady 87gr Spire #2350
11.0 1803fps
12.0 1867
13.0 2035
14.0 2202
14.5C 2282

Remington 100gr PSP
11.0 1724fps
12.0 1871
13.0 2024
14.0C 2143

Sierra 75gr. HP #1600
10.0/IMR 4759 1881
11.0 “ “ 2085
11.5 “ “ 2166

 

[sandwarrior]

I got a big fat boost running 15 gr. of 8208 behind 60's in my 25-20 WCF.

I would think that slowing down your powder to 4198 or 1680 would give you a bit more push without the pressure getting too high.

FWIW, I love the idea of instead of just following suit, you adjusted the cartridge to where it should be. What you did all makes sense.