I was fortunate enough to become the custodian of a Martini Cadet .218 Mashburn Bee, and I'm looking for reloading data for it. I have the two Handloader Magazine articles which discuss loading this cartridge. What I'd like to find is data using AA1680 and Li'lGun, neither of which is mentioned in the articles. I'm focusing on 50 grain bullets for this cartridge, but will happily consider other bullet weights up to the 55 grain bullets, if you have data.

Thanks very much.

Do you know your rifle's rate of twist? I have a 22 Hornet that I experimented with using several different bullet weights to finally conclude that only short bullets(light weights of 35-40 gr) would stabilize for accuracy.You have a great little cartridge that only us old guys know about.

I have a standard Bee and love it. Great choice.

Being a Martini Cadet I would start with standard .218Bee load Data. Old superceded W-W680 powder data will give you near identical loads for AA1680.

RE-7 and H4198 will work well with 45-50 grain and heavier projectiles. W-W296 for 40's.

A friend of mine has a Mashburn Bee in a Remington rolling block. Basically, he used max loads for the standard Bee and worked up, keeping a close eye on pressure signs. I think at the time he was using 4198, and maybe 4227. The loads he settled on were 2-3 grains heavier than listed max loads for the standard Bee.

I have a #1 in 218, been using H110 and R-7 with the 40gr V-max.

my mashburn bee is in a cadet too. my load is 16.2 gr of H4227 and a 40 gr nosler bt. chrono at 3120fps

I have a Cooper Model 38 .218 Mashburn Bee (last name Mashburn so I had to have one!!). I use 25-20 Winchester brass - I neck it down to fit tight in the chamber for fire forming - Be careful using 218 bee brass vs. 25-20 as it does seem to behave differently. The 25-20 doesn't split during fire forming as much as the 218 bee does. WSR primers. Normal disclaimer - start low and build up since rifles and barrels are different...
most accurate fire form -
50gr Midway bullets 12.7gr of IMR4227 - 2427fps
After fireform, most accurate:
50gr vmax or Berger or sierra
17.5 of H4198 - 3020fps
After fire forming: I did not get good groups with 4227 although velocity was better.
40gr Berger 17.3 of H4198 3080fps
40gr Vmax 17.2 H4198 3145fps
(Sierra worked fine also.)
butchloc refers to 16.2 of h4227 w/40gr - that is about as high as you want to go as I used 16.5 of imr 4227 and the bolt was hard to open - don't go there.

Thanks for the loads everyone.
Got two Martini Cadets in standard 218 Bee.
Someday I just might Mashburn one of them.
One never know what the future will bring.. LMAO
The future may be as early as tomorrow...

Don

AA1680 is an outstanding powder for cartridges in this class. I would start with whatever is listed as a full-power load for the regular Bee and work from there.

Thank you all very much. I appreciate all of the information and insights. I've loaded my first 50 cases for fireforming. I wanted to see how well the brass held up before I did a bulk fireforming project.

Once I get them fireformed, I'll begin accuracy testing.