I've been given an old Win 92 in 218 Bee, and know nothing about the cartridge...

I already have a 22LR, 22WMR and a 223, and the Bee case looks like it will slot rather neatly into the 'varmint' group...

It's too light and handy to put a scope on it, so a peep sight is mandatory...

Plus, it came with dies, and I'm a pretty experienced handloader...

Any opinions, thoughts, comments?

I have a Marlin 62 that was rebarreled to 218 Bee. It is a nice little cartridge and a fun to shoot 150+/- yard small varmint cartridge. I don't think that the Winchester 92 was ever offered in 218 Bee, but the "improved" 92s, the 53 and 65 were, so it wouldn't have been much work to rebarrel a 92 action with a 53 of 65 barrel.

Jeff

You'll need to load it with rather blunt bullets to accomodate the tubular magazine. Probably 45 grain bullets made for the Hornet would work best. Don't expect benchrest accuracy out of your Bee, but it should be able to do about as well as you can using open or peep sights.

Although the Bee has a little more case capacity than the Hornet, you're probably best served by aiming for Hornet velocities (say 2600-2700 fps with a 45 grain bullet). This will ensure that your pressures are well within the capacity of the old '92 action.

Brass can be formed from .25-20 (or even .32-20) if Bee brass is unavailable.

Try it, you'll like it! You are on the right track with the peep sight. I use a tang sight on a Win 25-20 rifle and it is a great small game close range (stalk) varmit gun. I have a Win 43 in 218 and the cartridge is another good one just the same thing. In other words, PLAIN OLE FUN. It will fit the gap nicely between the 22 Mag and your 223.

I don't have my copy of Madis handy, but IIRC there were some 92s barreled in 218. However, it was a common mod to use the 53 and 65 barrels for conversion.

Recoil ain't enough to make me worry about using spitzer or BT bullets in that tube magazine. I would not use HPs or FMJs, though.

Peep is the right way to go, but what kind of peep depends on your hunting. Tang is correct for period, but, ime, they are pretty hopeless on moving targets. I've always favored receiver sights, generally without the aperture removed.

My '92 is in 25-20.....and I, too, was under the opinion the '92 was not chambered to the 218 Bee...
However the lever action 218 Bee is a sweetie and a good 150 Max yard coyote rifle. It'll work on jack rabbits and don't need a scope.

Use the open sight that came with the rifle.

you lucky guy!!!

If you can still get those 22 mag projectiles that everyone use to/does use in their hornets, it would be perfect.

I just picked up my first 218 Bee in a trade deal with my friend "Chopper Guy". It is on a Martini Cadet action with the factory barrel and has a 4x Burris Mini-scope. It is a shooter and should make a great rifle for my 16 month old son someday. (That's assuming his twin sister does not fall in love with it first!).

I used a Williams Foolproof rear and a Redfield Sourdough front on my Browning M92. The .218 Bee is a fun cartridge, but due to ammo costs, handloading is MANDATORY for this little round....

I have a Marlin 1894 CL in 218 Bee and it's a great walk around gun ( when I just want to take a walk an maybe something will need shooting). I use Horn 45gr Bee hollow points, they have a really large hollow point to prevent detontion in the mag., another good bullet is the 46gr Win. HP it's kind of a rounded hollow point like they use in the factory ammo. They don't have a channelure but the Lee factory crimp die will hold the bullets so it doesn't get pushed back into the case in the mag.. I load with 2400 and a little on the light side.

I used reciever sights for quite awhile till some ee surgery mandated a scope and a K2.5 Weaver in low rings fills the bill now.

375win

Thanks folks,

I think I'm going to enjoy this little gun!!!

According to the serial #, it was made in 1915... so maybe it has been rebarelled - I don't know...

Yep, receiver sight for me, although I'm also interested in how you mounted a scope 375win? At 54, the eyes sure ain't what they were!!

I once owned a Winchester M-43 in .218 Bee and it was a very good & accurate little gun. Shot several Woodchucks, one Fox, and several Crows with it. Sold it years ago, but wish I still had it! Oh-Well, at least I still own my Winchester M-43 in .25-20 Win.! <This one is a keeper!>

RU,
I have several hundred .218 B brass- that iwas going to form to Mashburn bee for my martini- do you want some??

Contact through e-mail if you still have it.

later
p

I have a Contender in .218 BEE, and .22 K-Hornet. They are both real good rodent guns with very little noise so using them around or close to buildings is great.

Pete

Ive got a 218 Bee Cadet that is just so much fun to shoot . You can buy new brass without too much trouble , and its cheap to shoot , specially if you can get those bulk .22Magnum projectiles. I think you will like it - its fun and a bit differant and it still knocks them bunnies over out to at least Hornet ranges.

The lever action 218 Bee is a great coyote/varmit/turkey cartridge/rifle for a HUNTER.

Thanks Muzza, yep, it sure is fun to shoot!! No expectations re benchrest accuracy, but I'm going to put a receiver sight on it just for fun!

NE 450 #2, yep, this is one little gun that is in the hands of a 'hunter'...