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SBoomer
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44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Mar 5th, 2020 at 7:14am
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I just finished up the metalwork on that partial octagon 14 twist Shilen barrel that I milled in the lathe a year ago. I chambered it in .218 Mashburn Bee because I like the “little stuff”. Without final finishing, I hung it on the Stevens to see what it might do. Here is my second set of (8) barrel break-in fireforming shots. I think she’s gonna shoot! Anyone here have any favorite Mashburn Bee loads they care to share? I am more interested in accuracy than speed. I have already gleaned what little loading info is on the web for the Mashburn Bee.
  
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rkba2nd
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Re: 44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Reply #1 - Mar 5th, 2020 at 10:11pm
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SBoomer  - I had a highwall with a Buhmiller barrel in 218 Mashburn Bee back in the early 70's. It shot extremely well. I will check my notes in the morning and get back to you. We have better bullets available to us now, so possibly even better groups. 
 
  

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gewehrfreund
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Re: 44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Reply #2 - Mar 6th, 2020 at 7:36am
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Just wondering why, if you're more interested in accuracy than speed, you didn't just go with the factory 218 Bee?

My two Ruger single shots in 218 Bee shoot extremely well with a number of different loads. FWIW, they also have 1-14 twist barrels.
  
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Bulseyetom
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Re: 44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Reply #3 - Mar 6th, 2020 at 11:00am
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My 044 1/2 in regular 218 Bee likes 4227.  I tried Lil Gun but the pressure gets high in a hurry.  Tom
  
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BudHyett
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Re: 44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Reply #4 - Mar 6th, 2020 at 11:33am
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W-W 680 powder, I am still hoarding two cans for both my .22 Hornet and .218 Bee. My .218 is the regular case, not the Mashburn. 

I understand that Accurate Arms 1680 is a very similar powder, however, I have never tried it. Their website has load data for the .218 Bee

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rkba2nd
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Re: 44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Reply #5 - Mar 6th, 2020 at 3:07pm
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With the Mashburn, you can have both, accuracy and speed. I never tried cast bullets, so can't speak to that. High velocity and cast bullets not usually a good pairing. On my way to the shop now. back
                      218 Mashburn Bee                                                    
                      Unertl 1" 10x                                                         
                      45 GR Sierra                                                             
                      16 GR IMR 4227                                                       
                      RWS primers                                                            
                      consistent 1/2" to 5/8" groups @ 100                                                             15 GR 4227 with 50 GR Sierras worked almost as well.                  There are lots of good bullets and new powders available to us since then. This might just be a good jumping off point. Best of luck, and I am sure you will be pleased. These loads were given to me by Neal Rice, who worked for Art Mashburn in the early sixties after he attended Trinidad gunsmithing school. He then left to serve in Viet Nam in 1968.
  

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rkba2nd
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Re: 44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Reply #6 - Mar 6th, 2020 at 3:15pm
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Bud Hyett   -    I have switched to Lil Gun for both my Hornet and K Hornet, although Accurate 1680 worked just as well for me as 680, and nearly as well as LilGun. I found with Lil Gun, a little goes a long way. With small charges, a very small increase can spike pressures, so start low and work up in small increments. You, I am sure are aware of all this, but feel compelled to pass it along.
  

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SBoomer
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Re: 44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Reply #7 - Mar 6th, 2020 at 4:35pm
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I very rarely settle for a factory round. There is something magic about the Ackley style shoulder when it comes to efficiency and brass flow. At any rate, I am having a ball with this new barrel. On a hunch, I tried a calculated load of 4759. Wow! I can see that I am going to have to put the 1/8 dot T36 on next. The crosshairs on the 20X STS nearly cover the 3/8” center paster.
  
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SBoomer
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Re: 44 1/2 in .218 Mashburn Bee
Reply #8 - Mar 6th, 2020 at 7:46pm
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Gewehrfreund,
I hope my answer didn't sound snarky! It certainly wasn’t meant to be. As a retired machinist, diemaker and Engineer, I enjoy tinkering with my lathes almost as much as shooting. Part of the challenge for me is to “create” without spending excessive $$. In the case of this Bee, I have had the barrel finished and waiting for chambering for over a year as I watched for dies, brass,etc. Phase II of this Bee project is going to be a 25 Mashburn Bee on a BRC barrel blank that I picked up a couple years ago. I hope to use that to shoot cast with high loading density. It will take several very enjoyable days on the ‘Ol South Bend 13 to mill the octagon and finish the barrel as the 25cal twin to this 218 Mashburn. It is way more enjoyable to do barrel work for myself at my leisurely pace than crank one out for an impatient customer.
  
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