marlin 218 bee

[jezza243]

hi iam new to this forram, iam from australia.  i recently brought a second hand 1894cl classic in 218 bee and have instently fallen in love with it. it shoots great and handles like a dream. so far i have only used the win factory loads with 46gr hp. but they are very expencive hope to start to load soon. just wondering if anyone else is useing one of these and also any info on this great little rifle would be handy     
                                       thanks jezza

[RemingtonMagnum]

OKAY I will be the one to ask. Do they even make a 218 Bee in the US market. Sounds like a very nice round to work with and shoot.

Don

[Dave H20 Fowl]

I believe Marlin produced the 218 bee 1894 in the mid 90's, they don't currently produce the 1894 in 218 bee.  Ruger's No 1 and T/C Contender are the only current production rifles/pistol I could find online.  Winchester/Olin produce the only load I could find.  Lots of info on the caliber around, if your looking for reload info, I would post in the reloading forum.  Looks like it would be great rifle. 

[jezza243]

THANKS FOR THE REPLYS GUYS. WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYWAY OF TRACEING THE AGE OF THIS RIFLE BY THE SERIAL NUMBER?

[jezza243]

OKAY I will be the one to ask. Do they even make a 218 Bee in the US market. Sounds like a very nice round to work with and shoot.

Don

YES SO FAR IT HAS BEEN A FUN ROUND TO PLAY WITH HAVE ONLY TAKEN IT HUNTING CUPPLE OF TIMES BUT BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE LITTLE ROUND TOOK 3 FOXES AND A FEW ROO'S WITH IT SO FAR. I FEEL IT DESURVES A BETTER SCOPE THEN I HAVE ON IT AT MOMENT (ONLY A 4X32 TASCO THAT I HAD LAYING AROUND ) PLAN ON MOUNTING A 2-7 LEO ON IT NOW THAT IT HAS PROUVED TO BE ACCERATE

[hdj2520]

I haven't lucked across an affordable .218 yet. An unfired one will run about $600.00, and a used one is next to impossible.
I do have a 94cl in 25-20 and like it a lot. I put a brockman post and a williams 5-d reciever sight on it,great for knocking around the woods.

[Dave H20 Fowl]

Since I think your rifle was made in the 1990's, Marlin should be able to tell you.  You might try and call or e-mail them.

MFC
100 KENNA DRIVE
NORTH HAVEN, CT 06473
PHONE: 800-544-8892

[william iorg]

I am a Big Francis Sell fan so I had to buy  a Bee as soon as they hit the street. Mine is a good shooter and I really enjoy loading for it. ENGLANDER (who lives in Scotland) contributes on the Beartooth forum and he also has a Marlin Bee.
You will find the Bee just a little better killer on medium size varmints (40 to 80 lbs) than the Hornet or K-Hornet.

A good all-around starter load that is fun to shoot and acurate is the Winchester or Remington 45 grain JRN Hornet bullet - the Sierra semi-spitzer (round nose Hornet) works just as well - and 12.5 grains of IMR 4227. This load gives us around 2625 fps depending on the temps. This is a good load that kills well and does not blow the bullet up on well musceled critters.

A faster load uses Hodgdon Lil' Gun. 10.2 grains using the Hornet bul;lets above or the 45 grain Speer flat nose gets about 2800 fps and is accurate in our rifle. Bullet selection also includes the Win and Rem JHP Hornet bullets.

For cast bullets start with the Lyman 225415 and 8.1 grains of IMR 4227. This load gives about 1560 fps. I shoot them as cast with Lman or Hornady gas checks and Alox lube.

10.8 grains of Hodgdon 4198 will do about the same thing but is not quite as accurate in my rifle as 4227.

The Marlin is a good walk-around varminter.