does anyone make a 218 bee?

[labradigger1]

My google foo isnt working all that well. I have had a couple good weekends of digging ginseng and i am looking for a 218 bee. I would like a lever rifle for my first choice, bolt for the second and falling block style for my third choice. Break open rifles do not excite me but i may have to settle for one. I may also have to settle for a 22 hornet in a savage or cz. I am not looking for anything with optics but want a dedicated small .224 boolit gun with iron sights. I have had a 225438 mould for a number of years that drops great boolits, plenty of primers and powder and some brass for bees and hornets.
Anyone know of any being currently being made? Used ones go for crazy stupid money and i dont know the bore conditions.
Thanks for any replies.
Lab

[castalott]

Look at the Cz 527 Lux. I think it can be had in 223,222, and 22 Hornet. I have been lusting after one as I love those stocks. They fit me to a T. My 550 has pretty good sights and I think they are similar to the 527. Quite a bit of money BUT it will make you smile....

How well do your cast loads shoot? I'd like to try that in 22.....

Dale

[Bullshop]

I wanted a small 22 cal rifle at about the performance level of the bee but because of the abstacles you will encounter finding one I went with a 221 Fire Ball. I simply re barreled a Stevens Mod 200 with a cheap ER Shaw barrel. This was maybe 4 years ago now and I grow to like it more with each passing year. I would guess I have fired at minimum a couple thousand rounds of boolits in it and it just keeps getting better. Wonderfully accurate boolit shooter with the 1/14" twist I went with.
I make brass from 223 so cases are basically free. I have maybe $350.00 total in the gun including the new barrel and the old 223 barrel. Its a much simpler way to get a rifle of that performance level and avoid the hard to find and expensive brass issue.
I went with the Shaw heavy barrel but cut it to 17". This makes a most handy accurate and portable little rifle.
My rifle with 1/14" twist shoots well with boolits ranging in weight from 38gn to 63gn so lacks little in versatility.
It shoots boolits to very nearly red line loads very well. The highest velocity load I have fired in it was with the 38gn 225107 right at 3650 fps. Accuracy was at bets with that load 3moa but the speed was impressive. Dropping the velocity down to about 3000 fps with that boolit had accuracy back to normal at about the magic minute.
Now 4 years later after making the decision to go with the 221 I am glad I made that choice. Anyone that has handled this little rifle has had the same thing to say,"I LIKE IT"

[OptimusPanda]

I had thought that there wasnt any repeating rifles still made in 218 bee. The brass and ammo is hard to find too. I had quite the time finding some for my grandpas old winchester 92 in 218. Even when I found it it was horribly expensive. Think I paid $75 for a box of 50 rounds.

[MT Chambers]

AFAIK the Cooper and CPA chamber for the Bee or even better, the .218 Mashburn Bee. I have the CPA in the Mashburn Bee and it is very accurate, and a better choice then the std. Bee.

[labradigger1]

I wanted a small 22 cal rifle at about the performance level of the bee but because of the abstacles you will encounter finding one I went with a 221 Fire Ball. I simply re barreled a Stevens Mod 200 with a cheap ER Shaw barrel. This was maybe 4 years ago now and I grow to like it more with each passing year. I would guess I have fired at minimum a couple thousand rounds of boolits in it and it just keeps getting better. Wonderfully accurate boolit shooter with the 1/14" twist I went with.
I make brass from 223 so cases are basically free. I have maybe $350.00 total in the gun including the new barrel and the old 223 barrel. Its a much simpler way to get a rifle of that performance level and avoid the hard to find and expensive brass issue.
I went with the Shaw heavy barrel but cut it to 17". This makes a most handy accurate and portable little rifle.
My rifle with 1/14" twist shoots well with boolits ranging in weight from 38gn to 63gn so lacks little in versatility.
It shoots boolits to very nearly red line loads very well. The highest velocity load I have fired in it was with the 38gn 225107 right at 3650 fps. Accuracy was at bets with that load 3moa but the speed was impressive. Dropping the velocity down to about 3000 fps with that boolit had accuracy back to normal at about the magic minute.
Now 4 years later after making the decision to go with the 221 I am glad I made that choice. Anyone that has handled this little rifle has had the same thing to say,"I LIKE IT"

Great idea! I hadnt thought about a 221 furball. Er shaw is only a couple hours away from me so there may be a road trip soon.

[oldsagerat]

Ruger chambered the No.1 in 218 Bee awhile ago. You could get a TC Contender or Encore and get whatever
218 Bee barrel you want. I prefer it to the Hornet.

[Dryball]

My LGS has a Baby Sharps in 218 Bee with a Malcom (style) scope. It still may come home with me but I have other projects on the burner now.

[labradigger1]

I kind of gave up on the 218 bee search, almost. I bought a h&r garand instead and am loving it. For some reason it likes to use a lot of 4895 35.5 grains at a time.
Lab

[pietro]

does anyone make a 218 bee?



Browning M-65

http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/461595000/461595676/pix090251421.jpg

Marlin M-1894CL

http://www.westernshootingsupplies.com/userimages/bee218e.jpg


Winchester Model 1892

http://cdn2.armslist.com/sites/armslist/uploads/posts/2013/12/16/2456057_01_winchester_model_1892_218_bee__640.jpg


.

[country gent]

I thinck C Sharps also offers it in either the high wall or low wall not sure which. A low wall with fancy wood and tapered octagon barrel. malcomn stule or unertal scope would be a head turner. Taurus made some Raging bee revolvers chambered in 218 bee also.

[Nobade]

Those Brownings get my vote. Neat little rifles!

A Cooper M38 would be slick if you wanted a bolt gun.

Those Raging Bee revolvers are a hoot! I shot one the other day. Almost too heavy to hold up offhand, absolutely no recoil, and tremendously loud. Pretty funny to play with.

-Nobade

[richhodg66]

There's a Savage 219 on gunbroker I've been watching for a while in .219 Mashburn Bee. If it could be had for about $100 less than the asking price and dies weren't so spendy, I'd probably get it. I love my 219 in .22 Hornet and agree with you, the Bee always seemed the superior cartridge.

Several nicely done BSA Martinis in the Bee as well. Again, kinda pricy for what they are.

[TCFAN]

The easiest way to get in a 218 Bee is with a TC Encore. You can have a barrel made by MGM probably for less money than trying to find a rifle chambered in one.My MGM barrel in stainless steel 21 inch standard taper.It is my favorite caliber in the Encore..........Terry

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/TCintheOzarks/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8592.jpg (http://s755.photobucket.com/user/TCintheOzarks/media/Cast%20Boolits/DSCN8592.jpg.html)