QBee

[SBOOMER]

I appreciate the responses and suggestions. From the get-go, my intent was accuracy not speed. So far, only the 75gr VMax are showing tendencies to be very accurate. I’d like to try some 70grBK’s, but will have to wait for a while. I had a female Pileated Woodpecker decide that my cleared shooting lane in the woods was an ideal place to excavate a nesting cavity in a big old birch halfway downrange. She is sitting on eggs now with just her head hanging out the hole to keep a close eye on things. I hate to scare her away after all that hard work. I wish I had a telephoto lens to get some good pics.

 

[SBOOMER]

I finally found some time to do a little more shooting with the QBee today. I picked up a pound of IMR-4198 and shot several 100gr loads with mediocre accuracy. I received a box of 87gr Bergers in trade a while back, but had not tried them in anything yet. The attached pic show my first two tries with Berger’s. This was off a quick makeshift bench, so I know I can do better. They sure made an impression on me! A good percentage of my groups shot with this Stevens show a tendency to make two subgroups, which I attribute to poor technique.

 

[Ramblerman]

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. View attachment 1167034

Love to see your set up on the lathe to mill the flats on the barrel. Nice work!!

 

[SBOOMER]

Pics aren’t the best, but here is the setup.1928 South Bend 13. Size across Flats all came out within .003”. I then draw-filed and draw polished.

 

[Ramblerman]

Pics aren’t the best, but here is the setup.1928 South Bend 13. Size across Flats all came out within .003”. I then draw-filed and draw polished.View attachment 1175682View attachment 1175683

Now that sir is awesome!! In every way conceivable...you should be making videos and posting them. I bet we could all learn something from you!

 

[nhdon]

I ran across this post while hunting for MBee loads, I have a Ruger # 1 with a 1 in ten so far its best is with Hornady 2270 behind 11.2 lil gun avg 2398 fps .72 5 shot grp .My real surprise was seeing a 25 MBee round cause I tried to talk one of the pistolsmiths into doing a Super Blackhawk in it. What is the waterweight of the Qbee? I had a lot of why its just like a 256 win mag,but Sboomer has shown one advantage with FF from 25/20. I have had almost 0 failures FF from new Hornaday bee brass so I use it almost always in my 218 MBee. Have a nice day Don K.