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218 Bee

Gary LGary L Member Posts: 291 ✭✭✭
edited December 2013 in Ask the Experts
I have a 218 bee I got from my grandfather he got it in the late 40s it has the original scope mounts and scope it is in mint condition wiht a lease 99% blueing. I would like to be able to get a price on it any information would be helpfull
thanks

shane
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Comments

  • Gary LGary L Member Posts: 291 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Does anyone know if anyone still chambers this round besides Ruger in their No.1? I've looked on the internet and it seems like Kimber did years back at one time in their model 82 that they chambered the 22 hornet in. Has anyone seen one of these or know where to look for one?
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  • Gary LGary L Member Posts: 291 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello,
    I have a 218 bee in mint condition eriginal scoop mounts and scoop it was made in the mid to late forties and i eould like to no how much it is worth.
    thank you

    shane
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  • Gary LGary L Member Posts: 291 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Am rebarreling a 218 bee. Original barrel was off a winchester 75. 1 in 16 twist. owner says it never shot good groups. Have an uncle with a bee on a converted 92 winchester. It's got a 1 in 12 twist. What is the correct twist for thsi cartridge?
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  • Gary LGary L Member Posts: 291 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Since I am unable to find a reasonably price 218 Bee caliber rifle, what rifle calibers could be re chambered to accept this caliber and would this be a viable solution.

    I have a very nice Rem. 700 in .223 that I never shoot but I have lots of 218 B ammo I acquired for free.

    Gary L
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  • llamallama Member Posts: 2,637 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    What do you define reasonable as?

    There are several on the auction side, but of the ones there I think the "deal" is a Contender pistol w/ 218 bee, 30-30, and 7-08 barrels. Sell the other 2 barrels off for $150-200 each.

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=381524036

    Not my auction, no affiliation, etc.
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  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.218_Bee

    Perhaps a Raging Bee pistol.
    http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=77&category=Revolver

    I don't think modifying the 700 will be practical. Maybe a single shot Hornet.

    added Changing from rim fire to center fire can be a real issued in bolt guns. Pressures could also be an issue, would depend on the action.
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  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If the .218 Bee ammo is factory loaded commercial stuff? Sell it on the auction. Other than the Thomson contender previously mentioned. Didn't realize the Bee on the auction was a pistol. I don't see you obtaining a "resonable priced", .218 bee rifle. The .218 Bee was never a popular cartridge. Not that many rifles ever made for it. The .22 Hornet was way more popular, the Bee never could compete with it.


    EDIT #1,

    I can't see any legit gunsmith, in this day and age. Converting a .22 mag rimfire rifle, to .218 Bee. Legal liability problems have become a very serious bugaboo, to the gun business in recent years. If something went sideways with the converted rifle. The gunsmith would have to beat the blood sucking liability lawyers off, with a baseball bat.
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  • Gary LGary L Member Posts: 291 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    If the .218 Bee ammo is factory loaded commercial stuff? Sell it on the auction. Other than the Thomson contender previously mentioned. Didn't realize the Bee on the auction was a pistol. I don't see you obtaining a "resonable priced", .218 bee rifle. The .218 Bee was never a popular cartridge. Not that many rifles ever made for it. The .22 Hornet was way more popular, the Bee never could compete with it.


    Isn't that the point? Not that many rifles ever made for it???

    I am not interested in selling the factory ammo and the ballistics of a 218 Bee in a pistol are not much better than a .22 mag in a short barrel. I just thought there might be a caliber suitable for re chambering.
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  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Gary,

    Both the Winchester Model 65 (lever-action) and the Winchester Model 43 (bolt-action) were manufactured in the 218 Bee cartridge. The Model 43 is by far the more commonly found of the two, and it can be purchased at a reasonble price.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

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  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Gary L
    Since I am unable to find a reasonably price 218 Bee caliber rifle, what rifle calibers could be re chambered to accept this caliber and would this be a viable solution.

    I have a very nice Rem. 700 in .223 that I never shoot but I have lots of 218 B ammo I acquired for free.

    Gary L


    Gary,

    The dimensions of the 218 Bee cartridge does not lend itself very well to being rechambered from a different .22 caliber centerfire cartridge. The 223 Remington cartridge is much longer than the Bee, and it would require setting the barrel back a considerable distance when rechambering it to the 218 Bee.

    I recommend hunting down an original Model 43.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

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  • Gary LGary L Member Posts: 291 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by Gary L
    Since I am unable to find a reasonably price 218 Bee caliber rifle, what rifle calibers could be re chambered to accept this caliber and would this be a viable solution.

    I have a very nice Rem. 700 in .223 that I never shoot but I have lots of 218 B ammo I acquired for free.

    Gary L


    Gary,

    The dimensions of the 218 Bee cartridge does not lend itself very well to being rechambered from a different .22 caliber centerfire cartridge. The 223 Remington cartridge is much longer than the Bee, and it would require setting the barrel back a considerable distance when rechambering it to the 218 Bee.

    I recommend hunting down an original Model 43.


    OK, and I heard that!
    Next question would be, can a good .22 mag be drilled out to take the 218 B and handle the pressure and the bolt be reconfigured for center fire or is this completely off the charts?
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Gary L
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by Gary L
    Since I am unable to find a reasonably price 218 Bee caliber rifle, what rifle calibers could be re chambered to accept this caliber and would this be a viable solution.

    I have a very nice Rem. 700 in .223 that I never shoot but I have lots of 218 B ammo I acquired for free.

    Gary L


    Gary,

    The dimensions of the 218 Bee cartridge does not lend itself very well to being rechambered from a different .22 caliber centerfire cartridge. The 223 Remington cartridge is much longer than the Bee, and it would require setting the barrel back a considerable distance when rechambering it to the 218 Bee.

    I recommend hunting down an original Model 43.


    OK, and I heard that!
    Next question would be, can a good .22 mag be drilled out to take the 218 B and handle the pressure and the bolt be reconfigured for center fire or is this completely off the charts?




    No, a good 22 WMR, cannot be reasonably converted, althouth, there are several conversions of the Remington 581 done, for rounds like 221 Fireball, 17 Fireball, 17 Remington, 223, etc. The cost would be more prohibative than buying a good Winchester Model 43.

    However, Beert H, has hit the nail on the head, squarely. The closest round that would be conceivable to rechamber, would be the 22 Hornet. However the overall case length of the Hornet is 1.405", where the Bee is 1.345". Meaning it would leave a long neck, unless the barrel was set back.

    There are several options, and looking for a good shooter grade Model 43 is the best one, unless you want something that will appreciate in value more...then get a higher condition one.

    The next option, would be to get a used Thompson Center Contender Carbine. You can get barrels in any caliber from 22 LR, to 45-70 Gov't. with it.

    Best
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  • OakieOakie Member Posts: 40,565 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I also have a poop load of 218 bee ammo that I bought a long time ago for pennies. I have the raging bee and use that. I gave a lot of it to my father. He has a marlin in 218 be and shoots it quite often. He hunts squirrels with it. look at shows. I found some really good deals there on 218 bee's. My father bought his on GunBroker. He got a great deal and the gun was NIB. I think he paid 600 for her.
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  • cranky2cranky2 Member Posts: 3,236 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought a Martini Cadet that had been worked over to 218 Bee. The stock is crap but I'm only in it $150. So they can be found. Wish I could find a deal on Ammo. I bought it as a project as if I need another.
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Gary L
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by Gary L
    Since I am unable to find a reasonably price 218 Bee caliber rifle, what rifle calibers could be re chambered to accept this caliber and would this be a viable solution.

    I have a very nice Rem. 700 in .223 that I never shoot but I have lots of 218 B ammo I acquired for free.

    Gary L


    Gary,

    The dimensions of the 218 Bee cartridge does not lend itself very well to being rechambered from a different .22 caliber centerfire cartridge. The 223 Remington cartridge is much longer than the Bee, and it would require setting the barrel back a considerable distance when rechambering it to the 218 Bee.

    I recommend hunting down an original Model 43.


    OK, and I heard that!
    Next question would be, can a good .22 mag be drilled out to take the 218 B and handle the pressure and the bolt be reconfigured for center fire or is this completely off the charts?




    Check this out...better hurry!

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=381582058

    Good Luck!
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  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Check this out...better hurry!

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=381582058

    Good Luck!


    Good deal on a shooter. Its been drilled and tapped so the collector value is gone.
    RLTW

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