OK, tell me about the .218 Bee

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

In this thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=412291

I mentioned that I ended up getting a 10" Contender barrel in .218 bee, along with some dies. No frame yet.

A google search turns this up:

http://www.google.com/search?q=.218...ls=com.google:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Whaddya think - was this a good choice for this pistol/use, under my reasoning that anything bigger (such as .223) will have a huge flash, not giving any significant gains over the Bee or a K-Hornet, for example? Anyone have a Bee? Quite concidentally, an ol boy at the gun show yesterday had a minty Marlin 1894 C chambered in .218 Bee for $625 - I almost bit, but passed. Had not seen one of those before.

My understanding is that you might get 10 or 15 reloads out of a Bee case, as compared with 5 or 6 from a Hornet's thin case - sound about right? Should also gain 100-200 fps with a 40 gr bullet over the Hornet.

 

[gvnwst]

Pretty much the wikipedia link covers the details, but hornet brass is about $10 cheaper per 100. Basically you got a hornet-k equiv, with slightly more expensive brass. Sems like a intresting cartridge though.


To awnser the question in your other thread, yes, the bee is a necked down 25-20, and can be formed from such.

 

[rcmodel]

I have a Browning 65 .218 Bee lever-action.

As for case life over/beyond the Hornet?

I doubt it.

The .218 Bee is just a necked down 25-20 WCF, which is just a necked down 32-20 WCF.

And none of the WCF cases are exactly known for thick brass or long case life!

Of course, most of that is because they are normally found in lever-action rifles. Which are also notoriously springy and hard on brass.

I would think in a single-shot Contender, any case would last practically forever, if you don't overwork it in the sizing die.

As for the .218 Bee cartridge?
It is a most excellent small varmint round in populated areas.
Not nearly as loud as the bigger centerfire varmint rounds, and hits with pretty good authority out to 150 - 200 yards.

rcmodel

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Cool. If the 46 gr Win HP factory gets about 2760 from a 24" test bbl, what kind of muzzle vel range should I expect from a 10" bbl with same bullet? 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, what?

 

[gvnwst]

Probably around 2200-2300. (i can't find velocitys for anything under 20" online)

 

[ken22250]

ive got an old win. M54 in the .218Bee, its an exelent round, i also have one in a ruger no.1, which is a great squrell/rabbit gun.
ken