218 Bee

[bigbear]

Anyone shoot cast bullets in a lever 218Bee?

[Bullshop]

I no longer have the mod 65 but when I did I shot lots of boolits through it.

[Old Goat Keeper]

I have a Marlin 1894 in 218 Bee but haven't loaded any cast yet. Now emptying brass so I can load. When I do it probably will be the RanchDog boolit.

Tom

[Bullshop]

I have been hunting for one of those. If you want to trade it let me know. I have lots if interesting stuff to trade.

[Old Goat Keeper]

Sorry Bullshop but I just got it and am just starting to play with it. I think it gonna live here for a long time. But if I change my mind I will contact you.

Tom

[Rick459]

Goat Keeper,
i have a winchester mod. 92 in .218 bee. right now i am shooting some 45 grain cast bullets from the ideal mold 225498 i belive cast up by Charlie Sometimes. i am using 5 grains of Unique and they are pretty accurate at 50 yds. they say that the powder for this caliber is 4227 which i will be trying soon. good luck with your .218 bee, it's a sweet shooting round.
Rick

[NHlever]

Well, I have lots of brass, but no rifle in that caliber yet. The 1894 CL's are hard to find around here, and I sure hope Marlin sees fit to make a few more sometime. I would like a good one in all three calibers it was offered in. I did have a 25-20 which I tried very hard to get shooting, but it had a bad barrel, and eventually I sold it to a gunsmith who wanted it for a custom rifle. Sure miss it at times, and wish now I had sent it back to Marlin.

[SwedeNelson]

I'm working on a collection of all three also.
Found a new in the box 32-20 at a local gun shop that had set on the shelf for 4 years
and got it for the old price.
Found a like new 218 Bee that needs a a new stock.
And looking for a 25-20.
Working on getting a load worked up for the 218 Bee.
So watching this thread too.

Swede Nelson

[leftiye]

Swede, I got mine on gumbroker.

[bigbear]

Gotta a Browning 218 Bee lined up. I want to put a windage adjustable tang sight on it. What's the best one to maximize accuracy potential. Don't want to have to have any extra holes drilled in tang. Anybody done this already?

[Old Goat Keeper]

Swede and NHLever I already HAVE my tri-fecta! A CL in 32-20, 25-20 and now the 218 Bee! got em all within 6 months on GunBroker. Now I need more time to play with all three. Adn the 2 that were NIB are NOT anymore! lol

Bigbear go on like to Montana Valley Arms. They manufacture all kinds/styles of tang sights and the bases. I'm sure they can fit your rifle up.

Tom

[6pt-sika]

I had all three up until about 18 months ago !

Matter of fact I had a pair in 32-20 one from the 80's and another that was of post 2000 manufacture !

Shot the Lyman 225415 in the Bee with SR7625 and used it to kill a squirrel or two . Kept the loads down to 1400-1500 and sighted in dead on at 25 yards .

Shot the Lyman 257420 in the 25-20 and pushed it with SR7625 also and again sighted in dead on at 25 yards for squirrels . Also used the Ranch Dog 258-80GC in this little rifle with 5 grains of Unique and used it to knock over Hunter Pistol Rams at 100 meters . Incidently the Lyman 257312 did the same thing at 100 meters on the rams as did the Ranch Dog bullet .

In the 32-20's I used the Lyman 311419 first with 5 grains of Unique . I killed a couple squirrels with this one and later used it on Hunter Pistol rams at 100 meters with good results . Then I tried the Lyman 311316 with 5 grains of Unique on the same rams with a little more easy knockdown . And of course I tried the Ranch Dog 313-115GC with 5 grains of Unique and they were every bit as good as the Lyman 311316 if not better !

It's my understanding that Ranch Dog is making a mold for a bullet that should work very well in a 218 Bee or 219 Zipper . Based on my experiences with his 25-20 and 32-20 bullets I see no reason to doubt this :wink:

[jtaylor1960]

I had a Marlin 218 which shot the RCBS 55gr bullet about as good as jacketed. I think IMR-4227 shot the best.

[451whitworth]

i have a Browning 65. someone was kind enough to send me a few samples of the Ranch Dog bullet. they shot well and i've never driven cast bullets as fast as those. 2600 fps and no leading.

[Old Goat Keeper]

That's good to hear 451whitworth! Thanks for sharing.

Tom

[NHlever]

One of the dealers I frequent has a beautiful Browning 32-20 in stock used. I sure wish I could see the sights, or it was drilled, and tapped for a receiver sight!

[358wcf]

NHLever-
I've owned and shot a Browning 53 in 32-20(32wcf) for quite a few years, bought it new in about 1990-- won a few VFW turkey shoots with the standard sights-
Wanting better accuracy, I had the local 'smith D&T the left side of the receiver and mounted a Williams FP receiver sight with target knobs. The longer sight radius and aperture sight really improved an already fine shooter. What fun!
Lyman 66 receiver sight will work, or even an old Redfield 75. All you have to do is Drill and Tap 2 holes and you are done!
Enjoy-

ALSO- #1 on the MVA sights-- pricey, but you get what you pay for!!! I will use them again on my target-grade rifles!!!

358wcf [smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

[bigbear]

NHLever-
I've owned and shot a Browning 53 in 32-20(32wcf) for quite a few years, bought it new in about 1990-- won a few VFW turkey shoots with the standard sights-
Wanting better accuracy, I had the local 'smith D&T the left side of the receiver and mounted a Williams FP receiver sight with target knobs. The longer sight radius and aperture sight really improved an already fine shooter. What fun!
Lyman 66 receiver sight will work, or even an old Redfield 75. All you have to do is Drill and Tap 2 holes and you are done!
Enjoy-

ALSO- #1 on the MVA sights-- pricey, but you get what you pay for!!! I will use them again on my target-grade rifles!!!

358wcf [smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

Would one of the MVA sights work on a Browning 65? Which one? They look abit bulky for such a trim rifle.

[Old Goat Keeper]

Bigbear call MVA. They are easy to talk with and very helpfull.

Tom

[johnly]

I have a Marlin 1894 in 218 Bee but haven't loaded any cast yet. Now emptying brass so I can load. When I do it probably will be the RanchDog boolit.

Tom

Tom,

I have a Marlin 1984 CL in 218 Bee and it's a fantastic shooting rifle, but only with light bullets. Lee Bator bullets shoot really well with 5.5 gr. of 2400, but the same load with 50 gr. FP bullets out of an Ohaus mold keyhole as do 40 gr. Ballistic tips.

John

[9.3X62AL]

Oh, JUST what I need--a 218 Bee to complete the Triumvirate of Masochism begun and sustained by lever action 25-20 and 32-20 examples.

[semtav]

I bought a Marlin 1894CL in 218 Bee back when they were about $300 used.
Bought the other two last year ( for about twice as much), and shot the 25-20 the most.
Hadn't shot the 218 bee with cast , but going to start for Bullshops postal match.
I've got a bunch of 225438 44 gr bullets cast up for my 219 zipper, so I'll probably start with them.
Also have a 225107 I might have to give a run with.

[Old Goat Keeper]

John I keep hearing about the "Lee Bator bullet" and I can't find the mold on Lee's web site. Where can I find it/ see a picture of it/ get a mold?

Tom



Tom,

I have a Marlin 1984 CL in 218 Bee and it's a fantastic shooting rifle, but only with light bullets. Lee Bator bullets shoot really well with 5.5 gr. of 2400, but the same load with 50 gr. FP bullets out of an Ohaus mold keyhole as do 40 gr. Ballistic tips.

John

[Fishman]

It is a special run and Midsouth carries it. They had some a couple weeks ago.

[jr545]

As a certified Marlin nut, I'd like to ad that this thread is worthless without pictures.:popcorn:

[bigbear]

Finally got it put together(tang sight mounted) took it too the range.:-otalk about fun. I could shoot it all day! Where can I find brass? Bulk cast bullets (I only cast for 348), all tips appreciated.

[herbert buckland]

In Australia you can buy bulk 22 magnum bullets,I have yoused these for years in my 92 Winchester with very good results