.218 bee
- Thread starter Deadfall
- Start date
Deadfall, I've been loading and shooting 218 Bee for forty years now. My rifle is a Winchester Model 43. Over the years, I've done a little work on the rifle, and learned a few tricks with my reloading that have improved my groups from around 1.5 MOA to pretty consistent sub MOA. I might surprise myself if I ever had a batch of new brass to work with, but I've never tried any. I've got around a thousand old clunkers to work with, and every time I load for it a few more go in the trash.
first trick I'll tell ya about is to partial full length size the brass that has been fired in your rifle. This case head spaces on the rim, and if you have a chamber that is longer than your sizing die, you will greatly reduce your case life and start having case separations down at the web. I barely bump the shoulder back at all, leaving the case fire-formed to fit my chamber. Your chamber may have a different personality, but this technique generally works well for any rim headspacing cartridge.
The newer 30-35 gr. bullets really give this cartridge new life, wringing an actual 3000 fps out of the old girl. My best bullet yet has been the Hornady 35 gr. V-Max, but I haven't been able to find them lately. For powder, I've been using IMR 4227 for years, but I'm gonna have to break down and try a jug of Lil Gun one of these days. I've heard a lot of good about it.
With bullets that aren't the stubby Hornet types, I use an OAL that is actually longer than what will fit in my 3 round mag, so I generally use the rifle like a single shot.
I used to have a 45 gr. gas check Lyman Mold for shooting cast in my gun, and had great results with light charges of Green Dot powder. That mold took off somewhere, and I'll probably get another someday. If I recall, I was using around 4 gr. of powder, and accuracy was vedy vedy goot.
I love this little rifle, and won't part with it till they pry it from my -- well you know the rest. jd
first trick I'll tell ya about is to partial full length size the brass that has been fired in your rifle. This case head spaces on the rim, and if you have a chamber that is longer than your sizing die, you will greatly reduce your case life and start having case separations down at the web. I barely bump the shoulder back at all, leaving the case fire-formed to fit my chamber. Your chamber may have a different personality, but this technique generally works well for any rim headspacing cartridge.
The newer 30-35 gr. bullets really give this cartridge new life, wringing an actual 3000 fps out of the old girl. My best bullet yet has been the Hornady 35 gr. V-Max, but I haven't been able to find them lately. For powder, I've been using IMR 4227 for years, but I'm gonna have to break down and try a jug of Lil Gun one of these days. I've heard a lot of good about it.
With bullets that aren't the stubby Hornet types, I use an OAL that is actually longer than what will fit in my 3 round mag, so I generally use the rifle like a single shot.
I used to have a 45 gr. gas check Lyman Mold for shooting cast in my gun, and had great results with light charges of Green Dot powder. That mold took off somewhere, and I'll probably get another someday. If I recall, I was using around 4 gr. of powder, and accuracy was vedy vedy goot.
I love this little rifle, and won't part with it till they pry it from my -- well you know the rest. jd
Thank you very much JD for the info. That helps a lot. I also have a model 43. Just got it but had been looking for years. If you don't mind I'm going to keep in contact with you as I start this new endeavor. Again thanks a lot. Also if you have any hole in the wall store I can find the brass it would be awesome. And if I find any ill let you know.
I'm pretty sure that if a guy necked 32-20 down to .224, you would also want to turn neck thickness down. Might get away without that step with 25-20, depending on the rifle chamber neck dimension.
Deadfall, if you are totally without brass, I could scuttle a little batch out to ya. I couldn't stand the thought of a little sweet bee not being used. jd