218 Bee-

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  • Last Post 12 June 2012
Michael K posted this 10 June 2012

Finally found a decent load using the RCBS 22-55-FN bullet. They are cast from WW/Lino approx 7:1, with Horn GCs and LBT Blue. The winning recipe is 13.6grs of AA-2015BR in Win cases sparked by Fed 200s with a COL of 1.805". When chambering there is slight resistance in the last half inch of lever travel as the bullet contacts the lands. Due to the longer COL the rounds need to be single loaded. The rounds are placed on the follower and pushed into the chamber by the bolt. I am still seeking a respectable load that will cycle through the magazine, but aleast one half of this quest appears to be completed.

5 shot group at 100yds measured 1.1", and was .95” wide x 1” high. Ave vel: 2265fps, high: 2299, low; 2215. ES: 74fps.

13.8grs produced a 1.5” group that was 1.2” wide x 1” high. Ave vel: 2293, high: 2357, low: 2246, ES: 111fps.

13.2 and 13.4grs grouped about 2.1” Ave vels: 2145 and 2166fps. High: 2156 and 2243. Low: 2134 and 2106. ES: 32 and 137fps. Maybe trying different primers might reduce the ES with 13.2 - 13.8gr loads.

I was looking for something with lower vels, but I am not going to complain if I get 1” to 1.5” groups with cast from a lever gun. My jacketed loads with the Horn 45gr Bee bullet are not any better.

The rounds that I tested that will cycle through the magazine were all crimped in cases trimmed to 1.345". Bullets were seated and crimped in two seperate steps. Crimp was set by running the case into the die and then turning the die down until it stopped using hand preasure only. COL was 1.635". Using the same charge wieghts as the single load rounds did not produce any improvement over earlier tests.

Jacketed bullet loads did not like to be crimped, so based the results thus far it would appear that CBs will not be any different.

Many thanks, Michael

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hunterspistol posted this 10 June 2012

Most of the Lyman manuals show a 55 grain bullet pushed only to 1300-1500 fps.

I draw an absolute blank on your choice of powders.

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Michael K posted this 10 June 2012

When I first started this quest I was seeking a load in the 1500-1800 fps range. It became apparent early on that this was too slow for this RCBS bullet. 16.0grs of AA2015BR is what I shoot behind the Horn 45gr XTP Bee bullet in this rifle. So why not give it a try, start low and work up. Yes AA2015BR is on the slow side for the Bee, in Speer #13 it mentions better results were achieved with slower powders than with the traditional ones such as 2400, 4227, etc. Lyman 4th Ed shows Bee loads using a 55gr 225415 running 2000fps plus. 55gr jacketed bullets in the Bee reaching 2200-2300 can easily and safely be reached. This velocity was not what I had planned on, but it looks like that 13.6 to 13.8gr will shoot fine. Set the powder measure for 13.7grs and call it good.

Most of my rifle CB loads tend to be on the faster side 1800-2400 fps and depending upon the ctg, using 4227 or slower. My 30 Herrett has burned as couple of kegs of H335 and H4895 behind the 311291. Many folks lean toward slower CB loads with fast powders and that is perfectly fine, I find heavier loads equally enjoyable, in addition to printing only a few inches below many of my jacketed loads at 100yds. I can practice with cast without any sight adustment issues. Maybe somewhere back in recesses of my mind, CBs are just jacketed bullets without the jacket and faster powders are for shotguns and handguns. At least that is what the voices in my head keep telling me.

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hunterspistol posted this 10 June 2012

:coffee    I've always thought the 55 grain bullets were for .223 or just a larger case.  I shoot 22 hornet, it's a 45 grain bullet.  I have good luck using IMR 4227 in them.  It's not fast just accurate.

     I've noticed my loads are a little faster than some. 

 

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6pt-sika posted this 11 June 2012

hunterspistol wrote: :coffee    I've always thought the 55 grain bullets were for .223 or just a larger case.  I shoot 22 hornet, it's a 45 grain bullet.  I have good luck using IMR 4227 in them.  It's not fast just accurate.

     I've noticed my loads are a little faster than some. 

 

Hmmmm I never thought of the 55 grain weight for ANYTHING !

I was more of the 50 grain for the Swift and 250 .

For a 222 , 223 I was more of a 40 grain person .

And for the Bee/Hornet I was also a 40 grain BT or V Max now .

 

Now of course all of these are jacketed and for bolt guns/single shots . And of course I was wanting them to scream .

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Michael K posted this 11 June 2012

Not to go off topic, but if you want screaming look into the .17 and .20 cals. 4K plus, little to no recoil, sub moa, min fouling, all in 221/223/222mag/PPC size cases. A lbs of powder goes a long way in a 17 Fireball, but we shouldn't talk about that here.

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hunterspistol posted this 11 June 2012

:coffee    Well, you said you were working on a load for a 218 bee with a 22-55-FN RCBS mold. 

       Lyman 225438 gaschecked

        7.5 grains of IMR 4227

       Winchester cases and primers.

        I get close to 1800 fps from the Contender

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Michael K posted this 12 June 2012

Excellent. Sounds about right. In the 2nd round of this quest H4227 was used with 10grs giving 2100ish. I have not tried for lower vels after the poor initial results with 5744 giving vels in the 17-1800 fps range. The 1:16 twist and this particular bullet did not want to cooperate in the least. Although, it may be worth a try working down from 10grs at some point in time.

I have working on these CB Bee loads going on 2 months, thinking a change in sceenery might be a nice diversion for a little while. 338-06 Imp sounds appealing for some odd reason.

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6pt-sika posted this 12 June 2012

Black and Blue wrote: Not to go off topic, but if you want screaming look into the .17 and .20 cals. 4K plus, little to no recoil, sub moa, min fouling, all in 221/223/222mag/PPC size cases. A lbs of powder goes a long way in a 17 Fireball, but we shouldn't talk about that here.

Already have a 204 Ruger . Actually I've had a couple of them . Mostly 30-32 grains in that application .

 

The 17's however have never held my intrest that well .

 

I believe the first rifle I ever shot that was over 4000 FPS was a old Winchester Pre 64 Model 70 Varmint in 243 WIn with a factory stainless barrel . At the time Nosler had just brought out the 6mm 55 grain BT bullet . If my memory holds I had that across the Chrony running about 4100 FPS . Which in reality kinda pissed me off as I had a rifle just like it but in 220 Swift and had been trying to get that one to 4000 using the Nosler 50 BT and RL-12 and never could get past 3950 FPS but the first time out with the 243 and the 55 grain Nosler shot right by the 4000 mark and then some .

 

Sorry to say when I did most of my testing with the then new 204 RUger it was in their 77 MKII Varmint gun and my old Chrony was toast and I didn;t have the one I have now . I think I shot about 1,200 rounds in load development in that rifle . The initial shots I fired with it were factory Hornady 40 grain loads that I shot several 5 shot groups at 100 yards in a ragged hole of about .4-.5” . My reloads shot a smideg better but for overall accuracy it really wasn't that great atleast with that particular Ruger 77 MKII . Now I've got a Ruger #1B in 204 Ruger and it does okay for groundhogs out to 200 yards or so with the Hornady , Sierra or Nosler 30-32 grain offerings . Now with all that being said I need to get that one out and run it over the Chrony now that I again have one thats functional !

 

I wish I'd had the Chrony working also when I had the little Marlin 1894CL 218 BEE as I had made my loads at what I thought were about 1500 FPS or a little less with the Lyman 225415 .But then I'd wanted essentially a centerfire 22 LR outta the one I had .

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Michael K posted this 12 June 2012

A friend mine has a 204 in a savage, I am just the other way, didn't excite me much. For many years I have thought the 17 MK IV was an interesting little ctg. Then last spring I got nice deal on a new 700 in 17FB. In this case having is as much fun as wanting.

I agree, the 55gr Nosler BT in the 243 is amazing. In my wife's rifle I run it about about 3900 out it's sporter weight 22” barrel with H414. It will go 4K plus but no noticable gain in accuracy. PDs and coyotes can't tell the difference.

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6pt-sika posted this 12 June 2012

Black and Blue wrote: A friend mine has a 204 in a savage, I am just the other way, didn't excite me much. For many years I have thought the 17 MK IV was an interesting little ctg. Then last spring I got nice deal on a new 700 in 17FB. In this case having is as much fun as wanting.

I agree, the 55gr Nosler BT in the 243 is amazing. In my wife's rifle I run it about about 3900 out it's sporter weight 22” barrel with H414. It will go 4K plus but no noticable gain in accuracy. PDs and coyotes can't tell the difference. Actually when I ran the 243 up with the 55 Nosler the best 5 shot groups I got at 100 were about 3/4” . In the same rifle with the Nosler 70 grain BT at about 3800 FPS I could keep 5 inside 1/2” or less .

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