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218 bee.

Oakie
I just bought a tauras 218 raging bee and want to reload for it.Before i reload for it though I want to ask some questions. First off is it as hard to reload as the 22 hornet which I found to be a nightmare and gave up. Second; does anyone have a good reload data for this. I only have the hornady reloading book. Does anyone have any experience with reloading for this perticular model gun. I know it was only manufactured for a couple of years and is pretty rare since I don't see alot for sale. In fact I have only seen two for sale and I bought the one.[:D][:D][:D]Oak.
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • swearengine
    I have a Ruger #1B in 218 Bee. I use Ken Waters pet load of 12 grains 4227 behind a 46 grain HP. I don't think it is hard to load at all. I use it for prairie dogs and generally load about 1000 cases per year. Good Luck.
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  • RCrosby
    What were your problems with the Hornet? You may or may not have the same with the .218. The only "problem" I ever had with the Hornet was getting use to the small size. A half a grain diffence in powder weight that would have been of little consequence in an '06 or .338 was a much larger percentage of the total charge in the Hornet. Once I started treating it like a bench rest project and got really anal about things like choice of primer, weight of charge, concentricity etc. we became good friends.
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  • sandwarrior
    Oakie,

    I second the question of what was the issue with the Hornet? It shouldn't have been that bad. Something in your system probably wasn't right. Sometimes it helps to have a second, and more sets of eyes looking at the problem. Most of us have all come across something that stumped us. So not to worry.

    Anyhow, the Taurus Raging Bee is a revolver pistol in that cartridge. It's going to be a little different than when I loaded for it in a rifle. The case has to perform like a pistol case in that all the velocity is attained at ignition. Therefore the biggest thing I would say is to use the fastest powder you can.

    I would suggest finding a load for AA no. 5., 7., and 9. What I used to load was 13.5 gr. behind a 40 gr. bullet for about 25-2600(ish) FPS. In this case the 4227 may be better as swearengine noted because it's faster. Lil' gun is in there too as well as Hodgdon HS-7. The faster powders you should be able to start at 10 gr. and work up. For some that's up toward the middle of the range but not near the top. It'll start out a little dirty, but as pressures get close to where they are supposed to be they will clean up. I wouldn't worry about working up to high pressures with this rig. It's just not a good set-up for it. Functioning properly, will give you all the velocity you will need out of that pistol.

    -good luck
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  • Oakie
    The problem with the hornet is I keep crushing the shoulders[:0]. First I thought it was not enough case lube. Not the proble. Then I thought it was too much case lube. Not the problem. Then I cleaned my dies. Not the problem. Then I went and bought new dies. Not he problem. Then I thought about putting my cases and my rock chuker press in a box with some c4 explosives[:(!]. Noth the solution. So I came up with the answer........I'll just buy the ammo. Don't like that option or the price[xx(] So Iam going to calm down and try again because I LOVE my 22 hornet and shoot it alot[:D][:D][:D]. Please help. ANYONE. Besides I cant find any C4 for sale. I Looked[^]
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  • RCrosby
    Sounds like die adjustment. Back out sizing die a full turn or two, lube then smoke a case with a candle, and then keep turning the die down until the cleaned off soot shows that you're just shy of touching the shoulder. Make sure the case will chamber easily and set your die.
    You might also want to try Lil'Gun powder, 40 grain bullets and small pistol primers. Good luck.
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  • tsr1965
    I second RCrosby on the die adjustment. Make sure your case mouth is chamfered. Back your seating die off so you don't crimp the case when you are seating the bullet. Make the crimping operation a seperate operation, and back the seating stem off so you don't contact the bullet when crimping. For most practical purposes you don't need a crimp unless you are shooting a semi auto, lever gun or revolver anyway.

    Best
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  • Tailgunner1954
    Also, and other hornet reloaders have had the same problem, is to make sure that the expander ball is BELOW the neck portion of the die. Bad things happen when 3 things try to occupy the same space at once.
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  • bpost
    Please take an empty SIZED case and measure against these dimensions.

    Bullet diameter .224 in
    Neck diameter .242 in
    Shoulder diameter .329 in
    Base diameter .349 in
    Rim diameter .408 in
    Rim thickness .065 in
    Case length 1.345 in

    Have you fired factory ammo in the gun?
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  • GONESHOOTING
    I would seat the bullet on one step and then crimp it on another, or use the lee factory crimp die.
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