218 mashburn bee

Bluedeacon

Bluedeacon

New member
Would anybody have any reloading information on the 218 mashburn bee? I found a couple of loads with imr 4227 and 4198. Does anyone have any other loads with other powders.
 
Below is the loading data taken from the Hodgdon website for the standard 218 Bee

You didn't say which rifle you are using? It makes a big difference.

Ther 218 Bee came out in several styles - the Winchester M-43 being one of the more popular early rifles. But it is a bolt gun with NO locking lugs - sort of a rimfire action on steroids. It was not very strong.

Also there was the Winchester M-65 (and Browning copy) lever action. Strong, but has a flexy action.

And there was the Savage O/U, a rifle/shotgun, which is not strong.

All of these guns have a fair amount of "flex" and cases will suffer head separations if pressures are pushed high.

Because of the plethera of weak rifles in this caliber, the factory ammo (and SAAMI specs) are light - max pressure is around 38kPsi.

But there were many very strong rifles around in .218 Bee (and Mashburn), like the falling blocks (Winchester HighWalls and LowWalls, Ruger #1s, and others), plus fine bolt guns like the Sako L-46, and these will easily take pressures up to 60kPsi, without straining, and the current Winchester brass will take that pressure without complaining, in a strong rifle.

I have had several Bees in my life, including the .218 Masburn, and it's a great little cartridge.

I am currently shooting a Ruger #1 in standard .218 Bee, and I'm getting nearly 3400 with 40gr BlitzKings (at full pressure loads).

If you are shooting an older rifle, the twist is probably 1:16", and you will need to limit the bullets to the 40 grain (BlitzKings and V-Maxs are OK), but if you have a rifle with a 1:14" twist, you can shoot 50gr bullets, including the BlitzKings and V-Maxs.

Below are the Maximum loads for the standard .218 Bee, use them for starting loads in the Mashburn.

Keep in mind that even maximum loads for the Bee are very light (pressure wise) because some of the early rifles (Win M-43) were weak actions... the following loads would develop around 35kPsi in a standard Bee, and that is nothing in a Falling block rifle, like the Ruger #1

If you are using a falling block, use these as a starting load, and work up looking for pressure signs like you were loading for a Rem 700. The case will take it.

In a Mashburn Bee, these loads will be VERY MILD!!!

35 GR. Hornady V-MAX
H4227 13.3 3035
H110 13.2 3066
LIL'GUN 14.0 3205

40 GR. SIE BK
H4227 12.8 2865
H110 13.3 2981
LIL'GUN 14.0 3130

46 GR. SPR JFP
H4198 15.0C 2708
H4227 10.7 2424
H110 9.0 2331
LIL'GUN 10.2 2586

50 GR. NOS BT
H4198 14.9C 2654
H4227 10.8 2421
H110 9.4 2332
LIL'GUN 10.2 2503
 
It is a Win 43, I had the 2400 loads and forgot to mention it, (sorry Jack) I didn't realize they were so many factors with this caliber. I'am actually trying to get this information for an older friend of mine that shoots but does not do internet. Sure seems like a neat little cartridge though.
 
If it is a Win M-43, then use the above loads and work up very carefully - 0.5gr at a time, and look for signs of difficult extraction. I would not exceed any of the above loads by more than 1 grain.

In an action with no lugs, increasing bolt life will show up long before primer signs.

Limit case reloads to four or five, or you will start experencing case head separations. They are not "dangerous", but they are a real pain in the tail, cuz getting the front part of the case out of the chamber can test one's patience.

Also, don't full length size the cases, as this will quicken the head separations.


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