The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Small Calibers 22 hornet or .218 beeGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| 22 hornet or .218 bee | Login/Join |
| One of Us |
Which would you rather have for short range varminting. I have 76 acres and have lots of coyotes to deal with. I am building a single shot and want one of these for a second barrel. I know the .218 bee is a better performer, but was wondering about ammo availability, accuracy and such. Bailey Bradshaw www.bradshawgunandrifle.com I'm in the gun buildin bidness, and cousin....bidness is a boomin | ||
|
| One of Us |
I like the Bee. I shoot both in Ruger #1's. The Bee is easier to load for and a bit more accurate than the Hornet. Ammo and brass are available, although it's somewhat pricey. | |||
|
| one of us |
If you don't intend to handload, the Hornet ammunition is somewhat more readily available than the Bee. If handloading, the Bee gives you more flexibility. | |||
|
| One of Us |
The .218 Bee is a fine cartridge, but it not as well liked as the .22 Hornet, or as available. Both have similar ballistics. David | |||
|
One of Us |
Agreed Beefa270: Yes I really love my 270win | |||
|
One of Us |
Both!  | |||
|
One of Us |
If I had the problem you described, my solution would be simple... NEF in 22 Hornet $200.00.. if you handload even better...If you need a little more velocity, have a gunsmith ream it out to a K Hornet... But still why mess with either, when you can just do a 223, and if you are a handloader especially.. duplicate everything from a 22 Short to a 223.... Life Member: The American Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Jan 20, 2009.. Prisoner in Dumocrat 'Occupied America', Partisan in the 'Save America' Underground Beavis..... James Beavis..... Of Her Majesty's Secret Service..... Spell Check Division "Posterity — you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it." John Quincy Adams A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him "Why do you carry a 45?" The Ranger responded, "Because they don't make a 46." Duhboy....Nuttier than Squirrel Poop... | |||
|
One of Us |
Yup.....I'd get the .218 in a heartbeat. That said....if you're looking for a rimmed round you should look closely at the .219 zipper and the .225 Winchester. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
|
| one of us |
The Bee has a real cartridge case. The Hornet case head is so small that you can expand the primer pockets easily. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Thanks for the input!! The thing is...I am not a handloader, and just can't take on another hobby. What I am looking for is a rimmed cartridge to have fun shooting varmints and such. I am building the rifle from my own design, and am too the point where I need to buy barrels. I want to stay in the 40,000 psi range for chamber pressure just to stay on the safe side with my break action. The .219 zipper looks cool, nice ballistics.....but not much ammo available. What about the 25-35 win? Bailey Bradshaw www.bradshawgunandrifle.com I'm in the gun buildin bidness, and cousin....bidness is a boomin | |||
|
| One of Us |
If you'r not a handloader this is available only in a 117 round nose bullet and has a tradjectory like a basketball. Handloaded with a 75 grain bullet it's a good idea! For a guy that don't handload the .22 Hornet might be the best option. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
|
| One of Us |
+1 to that. Good luck finding any 218 Bee ammo on the shelf at Academy. But you will find 22 Hornet stocked there. LWD | |||
|
| One of Us |
Have you considered the 25-20? | |||
|
| One of Us |
I really like the hornet that I have. I don't have any experience with the bee. Mine is just a bone stock contender carbine. It shoots always better than 1 1/2 inches most times better than an inch and sometimes 1/2 inch. DW | |||
|
| One of Us |
Tho I have had my Win 22 Hornet for 50 years now, I consider the 218 Bee, handloaded with a spitzer bullet and in a bolt gun, to be the better choice. However, if a bit more noise is not a problem, the 222 Rem would be my choice, even with off-the-shelf ammo. It is rimless; don't know if that complicates building your rifle. Bud W | |||
|
| One of Us |
| |||
|
| One of Us |
I have always thought of getting a Low-wall 1885 Model winchester custombuilt for the .218Bee or the 28-30 stevens...perhaps one day  . I just love those small roundsDRSS: HQ Scandinavia. Chapters in Sweden & Norway | |||
|
| one of us |
The best of both worlds is the K-Hornet, it is just a well designed cartridge, very effecient and accurate by design.. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
|
One of Us |
Get a .218 Bee. W-W still make ammo and on the acres you have, it will do very well (and quietly). | |||
|
one of us |
Bailey, Given my nom-de-plume, my answer should appear to be obvious... However, since you state that you're not a handloader or planning to become one, I'd give the nod to the Hornet (based both on cost and availability of the two rounds). Just my take... Mark DRSS "I always take care to fire into the nearest hillside and, lacking that, into darkness." - the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson | |||
|
One of Us |
I have had both, and still have a nice little .22 Hornet-but I like the Bee better. Cases last a lot longer-the .22 Hornet brass is very thin & weak. I would actually like a Mashburn Bee or a K-Hornet better than either of the standard commercial rounds. Cost-wise, I have never understood why Bee ammo was do damned expensive. Brass costs more too, but not that much more. And once you have the brass, it costs the same to load either one.... "Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen." | |||
|
| one of us |
"You'll probably find more affordable rifles in 22 hornet (I think Savage is making one now), as well as the NEF. You'll have to get your pocket book out for a decent 218 Bee (Ruger #1, Win 43, Kimber)". T/C contenter w/.218 Bee barrels are availible from midway and others for around $240. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I had a 22 hornet and it worked very well for hunting. I killed 2 coyotes with it head shots at under 100 yards. The rifle was not very accurate on paper the average was 1 1/2 at 100 yards. I now own a bee and I feel it is a better choice. I would suggest that you buy the 218 bee and find someone to handload for you, reloading for the bee will still be cheaper than buying over the counter 22 hornet. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Never had a Bee, or a K-Hornet. I sure lusted after a K-Hornet, then I got entirely too flush and bought an Anschutz 1733 Hornet and sold my trusty old Savage. I've never doubted a Hornet, and one afternoon in upstate NY that old Savage took 13 consecutive Woodchucks, one round each. Something I've never matched with a .222 or .243, plus, those bigger rounds are noisy! I love the .22 Hornet, cheap and easy to reload, easy on the ears, and accurate enough for a now getting old guy. LLS  | |||
|
| one of us |
I favor the .22 Hornet... I have never seen a 218-Bee that was not lever action. Lever actions are not as accurate as a Bolt Action 22.-Hornet. | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Small Calibers 22 hornet or .218 bee
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia