[Hutzpah]

Hi, Ive just ordered a Taurus 218bee revolver(12in barrel) and I am wanting to develop two loads for it.
Both shooting hard cast lead bullets
One 35grain round nose bullet at 22rimfire velocity.
The other a 55 grain round nose gas check bullet towards the maximum.

I'm finding it hard to find data on hard cast lead bullets.
Your help would be much appreciated.

 

[ENGLANDER]

Hutzpah~

Greetings Hutzpah ! Welcome to the forum ! I must admit i find your choice of gun nothing short of bizarre ! Knowing the cost here in the U.K for what your ordered not to mention the hassle !

How ever every man to his own, funny also as ive just bought a Marlin 1894 in .218 Bee I will how ever be bagging bunnies and charlie with it as well as plinking on the range.

I take it you will only be on the range with it ??

Regarding cast Bee data have you looked at loadswap above ?? There is 45 gn hard cast at 1700 f.p.s ish and 2000 f.p.s plus perhaps you could use it as a starting point ?

Will you be casting your self ?? or buying your cast bullets ??

Im sure some will here will be able to help you more than i

Englander

 

[Hutzpah]

Englander

Your right about the hassle.The police seem to have thier own opinions on what's right
to own.
Not just the black and white of the Law eg:12in barrel, 24in long.
I'll be using it at Bisley and buying hard cast bullets.
You spoke well "every man to his own".
I am not new to shooting, just making a return.
In NZ I had rimfire, fullbore, shotgun and blackpowder all on one licence.

Thanks for the info, I'll take a look.

Hutzpah

 

[William Iorg]

Hi,

I have the NEI #1 bullet, it weighs a nominal 35 grains. I have never shot it in my Marlin Bee but in the standard hornet at .22LR type velocities it shoots well. this is a copy of an older Lyman offering.

I also have the Lyman 225438. Mine is a latter mold with the wider lube grooves and drive bands. The earlier molds had narrower bands and lube grooves. This bullet was once offered as bevel base, flat base and gas check, along with a hollow point. It simiulates the .22 LR in the Hornet. I have not had any luck with this bulet above 1800 fps, others have written that they have.

For the bigger bullet I suggest the Lyman 225415. I have had pretty good luck with this bullet in my Marlin. I suggest you start with 9.5 grains of Alliant 2400. This gives 2269 fps in the 22" Marlin. This load has a low extreme spread and seems to group well at fifty yards. I have not worked with this particular load enough to have long term data but I like what I have seen. My bullets are soft, they weigh 55.4 grains as they drop from the mold and 56.8 grains when lubed and sized. Lyman lists this bullet as weighing 45 grains when cast of #2 alloy. I prefer to shoot them unsized but I have just been starting to experiment with sizing them to .224" I believe this is too small and intend to open my size die up to .225" to have a look.

With jacketed bullets be sure to try Hodgdon 'Lil Gun. It gives good results with high velocity and seemingly lower pressures. Watch your cases for stretching. The Bee will surprise you if you dont keep an eye on your cases.

 

[Hutzpah]

William

Thanks for the info.

Believe it or not I brought some Hodgdon 'Lil Gun today, and was thinking "I'm just going to have to spend the time sorting out some good loads, starting small and working up 2 loads".

I've written down the references to the Lyman moulds.

Huztpah