How and where to do a .218 BEE ????

[fanner50]

I have a 43 Winchester that my Father in Law left me that is in .218 Bee and I already load for it. I was wondering if anyone had converted to this cal  in a H&R / NEF and how it was done? Also who would folks recommend to do any chamber work such as this? Was there ever a factory offering? I was thinking of starting with a Superlight in 22 Hornet and rechambering from there but I haven't taken a close look at the dimensions. Need advise.

[LaOtto222]

Stimpy made one out of a 22 magnum rim fire barrel. You could also use a 22 Hornet. The case on a Hornet shorter and smaller so should work fine. Any good gunsmith should be able to cut a new chamber for you. There is a difference in the twist rate for the Hornet is 1 - 12" and uses 4140 alloy steel, the 22 mag rim fire is a 1 - 16" twist and uses slightly softer material. There will be others along shortly with more information. Good Luck to you.

[quickdtoo]

Where's Stimpy when ya need him!! He had a 218 Bee made from a 22mag barrel, Wayne York of Oregunsmithing did the work for him as he has done for me and many others here.

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eoregunsmithing/index.html

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,116536.msg1098376020.html#msg1098376020

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,116613.msg1098376535.html#msg1098376535

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,117428.msg1098382119.html#msg1098382119

[LaOtto222]

Thanks Tim for showing all of the links. I knew you would come through.   

The links show pretty much every thing i said  plus a lot more and the Gunsmith mentioned is top notch. 

[eskimo36]

You need to go with a 22 mag like Stimpy did...the hornet is longer than a 218 Bee.

[quickdtoo]

I think what you'd end up with is the chamber neck just being longer by .058", how that would affect it I don't know.

Tim

[fanner50]

Just spoke with Wayne and placed my order for Superlight 22 Hornet. Had to settle for youth model as no others were available from any of my distributors. Doesn't matter as I am going to use the buffalo classic stock and full Mannlicher forend from Gunstocks that I got on e-bay. While Wayne is doing chamber I will fit butt stock and do trigger work. I'm thinking I'll do a Dura-coat SS finish also just for grins. No Gophers till next Spring but I do have a Mountain Lion hunt to go on this winter might be a good trip to take this little rifle. Thanks to everyone for the help.
 
P.S. - Extra neck length isn't a problem cartridge head spaces off the rim. It actually allows you to set bullets out and use some of the larger bullets available. My Win 43 is limited to magazine unless you single shot it. I might ask Wayne if he has .218 Bee AI reamer though!!!!! God bless Marlin for keeping H&R / NEF alive and well. I'll go to all this work and they will offer the Bee as a factory chambering this year.

[quickdtoo]

Sounds like you're good to go, the only issue I see is the mannlicher forend will need to be shortened for the 20" superlight barrel. An alternative on the improved version would be to rent a 218 Mashburn Bee reamer from GBO sponsor 4D if Wayne doesn't have one.

Tim

http://www.4-dproducts.com/

[fanner50]

Hey Tim -  thanks for the good info. In looking at the cartridge descriptions ie: 35 Brown Whelen there may be something to the post that asked if H&R might have used a Brown Whelen chamber reamer accidentally. My fire formed cases have a sharp shoulder closer to the 34 deg of the Brown than the 17 deg of the std cases. We may never know the "rest of the story" on that deal. Any way the .218 BEE project is in full swing. I think I'll just go with standard chambering as Wayne has the reamer and I'm set up to reload that way also. Need to try and keep the expense down.

[d_hiker]

   That project went quicker than some of the classifieds.  Fanner50 must have been thinking that one out for a while.  I would still be thinking about where to get the barrel for the project.

He'll have his project done before some of us get our barrels back from NEF.

[stimpylu32]

I get away from the comp. for awhile and see what happens , fanner50 your going to love the Handi in the Bee , i went with the Mag barrel for 2 reasons , one was the fact that i planned to shoot the lighter 35 & 40 grain V-max bullets and the 1 in 16 twist would work great for them ( It Does ) , and two I already had 3 of the Mags so a doner barrel was easy to get . 

Waynes reamer cuts a nice tight chamber and you will be very pleased . I took mine to Ok. for a P-dog shoot and was making good hits out to 250 + yards .

stimpy

[LaOtto222]

I was wondering when you (Stimpylu32) were going to chip in and bail me out

Stimpy is right about the twist rate. I firmly believe that your twist rate should match the bullets you are going to use. If you have a 1 - 9" twist then you should use 60 - 65 grain or even a little heavier bullets for a .224 caliber. If your twist is 1 - 16 then short 45 grain bullets are your upper limit. I think a gun does best when the twist matches your planned bullet weight and not faster. You will get slightly higher velocities and less barrel/throat wear. I have a 1 - 14" twist 223 that shoots 50 grain bullets great. My 1 - 9" twist does not do as well with 50 grain bullets, but it will shoot 60 grain V-Max bullets decently and the 1 - 14" will not shoot them at all.

[fanner50]

What bullets would you recommend for the 1-12" twist that I will have? I was thinking 55 gr. or heavier maybe?  - F50