Just wanting to get an idea on the brass life of a 218 mashburn bee.
For those who have one of these how many reloads are you getting?

I'm presently fire forming 500 218 bee brass in my mashburn by loading it as normal and shooting ferals.

Thanks

Hutzpah

i believe i've gotten 15 or more loads out of mine. I think 500 rds of brass will probbly outlast the barrel. if its of any help my load is 16.2 gr of H4227 and a 40 gr bullet

Thanks butchloc
This is my first small centre fire and looking at the brass it looks quite thin.
To get 15 reloads would be great.

Hutzpah

PS-my present load is 13.5gr 2400 40gr BT.

You may wish to review the subject of annealing in the reloading forum. I shoot .25-20, essentially the same brass, and found to retain neck tension on reloads and get reasonanble case life I had to anneal every 3 or 4 reloads.

I shoot a wildcat called a .20 Killer Bee which is essentially a .218 Bee necked down to .20 caliber and the shoulders blown forward to 40 degrees. Moves a .20 caliber 32 grain V-Max Hornady out at 3,800ish with no sign of pressure and a little safety margin left over, very efficient.
The Bee has heavy primer pockets compared to say a .22 Hornet or .17 Ackley Hornet even though the brass isn't overly thick.
I've shot one batch of 50 cases 5 times neck sizing in between with no sign of anything giving up or even getting ready too.
As good a case as it is however I wouldn't lean on it too hard cause although I've never shelled out a primer pocket I have a feeling if it did let go it would happen all at once. It is after all a lot older than any of us guys even old farts like me.
Neat case to wildcat on.

I have a Bullberry Contender barrel in 218 Mashburn Bee. I've lost a few cases fireforming, but haven't had a preoblem since. I neck size only.