Does the (.218) Bee really sting?

T

The Famous Grouse

New member
Ok, I don't know why, but for the longest time I've been thinking a .218 Bee would be great fun. Especially in a barrel for my contender, if I could find one.

Does anyone out there own a gun chambered for the .218? What do you have? How's the performance, pros/cons, etc.

Especially interested in hearing from anyone out there who has a Contender in .218.

Thanks.

Grouse
 
The 218 Bee is a nice, mild mannered, you can shoot at PD's most of the day (low heat) round that is a slight step above a 22 Hornet in velocity. It is a solid 200 yard performer. Beyond that there are other better cartridges for PD shooting, IMO... The Bee thrives on 40-45 grain bullets. PD acrobatics with the 218 Bee cartridge are decent but not spectacular inside the range mentioned above..

As for it being a coyote round, without a doubt it will kill a coyote. However, I would never leave the ranch house with a 218 Bee if I though a coyote might be seen and shot. I have other much better cartridge choices available for that purpose.

I like the case for the larger rim and the brass seems to hold up better than the Hornet brass. I have both a standard 218 Bee and also a 218 Mashburn Bee which I suppose is, in today's internet jargon, an "AI'd" Bee. It's actually quite a bit more....

Standard Bee on the left, Mashburn Bee on the right....

218MashburnBee011.jpg


To hopefully avoid getting drug into into a Bee Vs Hornet discussion, I also own two Hornets. So, hopefully I'm not unintentionally knocking someone else's pet toy when I say I like the Bee better than the Hornet......

Sorry.....No Contenders.... My Bee is a Ruger #1 and the Mashburn Bee is a Cooper Varminter.... And both are very accurate rifles.

-BCB
 
I have had a couple 218 Bee's over the years. Including an older Contender. The 218 Bee is a perfect contender round. It is very similar to the 22 Hornet. However IMO it is preferable over the Hornet because the 218 Bee has a stronger cartridge case(through the neck). The neck is the biggest problem with the Hornet. Also the Bee headspace on the rim which I prefer for the TC rifles(both Contender and Encore). I am thinking about having MGM build an Encore barrel right now for the 17 Ackley Bee. Which is a direct descendant of the 218 Bee. Get one and the short range varmints are in big trouble with substantially less noise, no recoil, and lots of shells per pound of powder.

Currently I am shopping for a Browning Model 65 in 218 Bee. Tom.
 
Thanks to both of you for the replies.

I think it would be really enjoyable to have the Bee for p-dogs mainly.

BCB, when you say the accuracy is pretty good out to 200, what kind of groups are you experiencing with your Ruger #1 at 100 and/or 200? I'm going to take a wild guess and say that a man who owns multiple Bees and Hornets also probably has a .223, so would you say the Bee is comparable in terms of accuracy at least out to 200?

For comparison, I'd be holding the Bee up against my current Contender in the ubiquitous .223 14 inch with a 12 power Burris.

Running a 55 grain Nosler b-tip with Varget, I can do golf ball sized groups or better all day long and with a 52 gr Sie BTHP Match King I can do most shots touching, but for obvious reasons that's strictly a range load for comparison sake.

Grouse


 
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I wasn't necessarily just talking "inherent" accuracy to 200 yards. I was thinking more of trajectory and windage issues beyond 200 yards.

As for your question, both of my rifles are extremely accurate at the distances I shoot them. I normally think of accuracy as being a function of the rifle and not the cartridge. With that said, what I can hit with a 223 Rem at 200 yards I will also easily hit with the Bee.

Both of my Bee rifles are better than MOA at the ranges I shoot them, but the mild velocities of the cartridges make guessing for both elevation and windage a part of the equation in a PD patch at say 300 yards. Faster cartridges do better in both elevation and in windage time downrange.

Much beyond 200 yards, I'm probably going to be shooting something else at PD's. But it's probably not going to be a 223 Rem... And it won't be because of pure accuracy issues alone with the Bee cartridge. It's just not a good 300 yard+ PD cartridge for me.

-BCB
 
It would be hard to beat a good ole bolt action in 218 bee for varminting, take a couple hundred feet off a .223, far less pelt damage but a heavy enough bullet to get into the vital area.. I was hoping Savage would make them in the M-40 or do they, no..just the ole hornet..BUT it would still be better than a 17hmr or 22 mag....
 
That Mashburn Bee looks like it would be a Fun little round! and in a Cooper to boot, What kind of Powder/Grs is working best for it? I'm going to keep a eye on this, Got me really interested in one.
 
Originally Posted By: reddog964That Mashburn Bee looks like it would be a Fun little round! and in a Cooper to boot, What kind of Powder/Grs is working best for it? I'm going to keep a eye on this, Got me really interested in one.

So far I've gotten excellent accuracy and good velocity with both IMR4227 and IMR4198 and Nosler 40 Grain BT bullets.

Accuracy has been best with the IMR4227 even when fire forming 218 Bee brass in the MBee chamber.

The 218 MBee is an interesting cartridge, and it adds significantly more life to the standard Bee.

Below is a couple of pics of the rifle. It has a Nikon Monarch scope on it in the photos, but I have replaced it with a Leupy VX-3 4.5X14. Just my preference in a scope for the Coopers.

007.jpg


005.jpg


-BCB
 
Thanks BCB, I dont want to HiJack Grouse thread, But it might answer some of his ? also. Sweet Cooper even with the Nikon! All my cooper wear Nikons, But im Cheap... and they are good Glass.
 
Originally Posted By: reddog964Thanks BCB, I dont want to HiJack Grouse thread, But it might answer some of his ? also. Sweet Cooper even with the Nikon! All my cooper wear Nikons, But im Cheap... and they are good Glass.

I agree on the Nikon Monarchs. I have several and they are good glass... I just like the Leupys on my Coopers...

-BCB
 
Originally Posted By: fair_chaseFor those that own the 218 Bee and are not using Lil Gun, you are missing out on a great powder for the Bee.

I've tried it, but I still get better performance from other powders in both the Hornet and the Bee cases...

YMMV....

-BCB
 
Originally Posted By: reddog964Well I just found one! Cooper to boot..

IIRC, First Stop Guns currently has a couple in stock...if you're talking MBees.

-BCB
 
I've tried Lil-Gun in my Bee (1894 Marlin) and using the same bullet I use in the Hornet I have to use .5 gr LESS in the Bee than the Hornet.

AWS
 
Originally Posted By: Bayou City BoyOriginally Posted By: reddog964That Mashburn Bee looks like it would be a Fun little round! and in a Cooper to boot, What kind of Powder/Grs is working best for it? I'm going to keep a eye on this, Got me really interested in one.

So far I've gotten excellent accuracy and good velocity with both IMR4227 and IMR4198 and Nosler 40 Grain BT bullets.

Accuracy has been best with the IMR4227 even when fire forming 218 Bee brass in the MBee chamber.

The 218 MBee is an interesting cartridge, and it adds significantly more life to the standard Bee.

Below is a couple of pics of the rifle. It has a Nikon Monarch scope on it in the photos, but I have replaced it with a Leupy VX-3 4.5X14. Just my preference in a scope for the Coopers.

007.jpg


005.jpg


-BCB

That is a BEAUTIFUL rifle!!! Great Walnut!!!
thumbup1.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Rifleman2My 22-250 is like a yellow jacket and the 218 Bee is like a sweat bee in comparison.

I guess it's kinda' the same with my four 22-250's and my MBee and regular 218 Bee. So.....the MBee is a honey Bee to you, right..?

You need to branch out more in life and broaden your experiences......

-BCB
 


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