Reloading for the 218 Bee

[Mckie Hollow]

Looking to load for a Winchester model 43 bolt in a 218 Bee. Any advise? Powder, Bullets, Primers, Tricks, etc.

[stimpylu32]

Looking to load for a Winchester model 43 bolt in a 218 Bee. Any advise? Powder, Bullets, Primers, Tricks, etc.

The little 218 is a fav. of mine , it does well with both 35 and 40 grain hornady V-max bullets along with the 34 g varmint Nightmare from midsouth . As for powder , the only one that I could get to be real consistent was IMR 4227 . 2400 and Ltl-gun were just to spike-ee for my taste .
 
The case's work better for me than say the 22 Hornet , as their not as thin in the neck and lend themselves to neck-sizing very well , as for primers , all I have used were the CCI small rifle so not much help there .
 
stimpy

[cwlongshot]

The BEE is a dandy little caliber!!! Pop and I have 43s too! Pops is a BEE and mine a Hornet. 

I haven't loaded a BEE in some time. ( I stupidly sold my 1894 CL in bee and the contender barrel is also long gone) but IMR 4227 does ring a bell. There was a then new Speer bullet. The 46g FP and the Speer 40g spritzer. Both shoot very well from these rifles. Watch your OAL as the box mag is not too large.

CW

[Larry L]

My Model 43 likes a max load of 1680 under the Remington 45gr HP.

[mbopp]

That's a 14" Bee barrel on the Contender in my avatar. The load is I4198 and a Sierra 45gr bullet. Have to check my notes for the charge, IIRR it's 14.5 or 15 grs. On a good day I can get 5 shots into 3/4" at 100 yards.

I used 4198 because I had it, other powders may work better but this works for me.

[martineta]

+1 for the 4198,  works good my sako .222 also.