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Post by 45MAN on Jun 3, 2020 9:41:27 GMT -5
What kind of FPS are you expecting? Around 2000 fps with a 45/46 grain. A bit more with the 35 and 40 grain offerings. ENCORE64: NO OFFENSE BUT 2,000 fps WITH 45/46gr BULLETS, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS "THAT WILL BE THE DAY". EVEN WITH 40gr BULLETS 2000 fps WAS MORE OF A DREAM THAN A REALITY IN 22 JET REVOLVERS. JUST MY THOUGHTS, BASED UPON LOADING EXPERIENCES WITH 22 JET, 22 HORNET, 22 K-HORNET AND 25-20 REVOLVERS, AS YOU GET NEAR 2,000fps WITH THE BEE, EVEN WITH 40gr BULLETS, SET BACK AND/OR STICKY CASES MAY BE AN ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I MAY BE SKEPTICAL I HOPE I AM WRONG AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
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Post by Lee Martin on Jun 3, 2020 9:53:34 GMT -5
Neat thread, especially the build photos. I converted a full size Blackhawk to .218 Bee a long time ago. Kinda wish I had used the smaller frame like you did: I tried, but could never quite hit 2,000 fps with a 46 grain bullet. Tops was 1,970 using 13.0 of AA1680. No setback or extraction problems at that clip however. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"
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Post by Encore64 on Jun 3, 2020 10:03:06 GMT -5
Neat thread, especially the build photos. I converted a full size Blackhawk to .218 Bee a long time ago. Kinda wish I had used the smaller frame like you did: I tried, but could never quite hit 2,000 fps with a 46 grain bullet. Tops was 1,970 using 13.0 of AA1680. No setback or extraction problems at that clip however. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time" Thanks Lee...when I say 2,000 fps I do realize that covers from 1900-2000 more or less. I could only estimate as it was the question I was asked. I also have a Blackhawk 218 Bee that Gary Reeder built me many years ago. As you know, each gun is different. Some barrels are simply faster than others. Throats, forcing cone, barrel gap and even temperature can cause changes. Nor am I convinced all chronographs read the same. I have hit 2040 fps with it with an 8" barrel. This gun may be slower or faster, who knows? I won't be sad with a few less fps. Think it'll do exactly what I want it to do. Huey
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Post by Encore64 on Jun 3, 2020 10:08:13 GMT -5
Around 2000 fps with a 45/46 grain. A bit more with the 35 and 40 grain offerings. ENCORE64: NO OFFENSE BUT 2,000 fps WITH 45/46gr BULLETS, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS "THAT WILL BE THE DAY". EVEN WITH 40gr BULLETS 2000 fps WAS MORE OF A DREAM THAN A REALITY IN 22 JET REVOLVERS. JUST MY THOUGHTS, BASED UPON LOADING EXPERIENCES WITH 22 JET, 22 HORNET, 22 K-HORNET AND 25-20 REVOLVERS, AS YOU GET NEAR 2,000fps WITH THE BEE, EVEN WITH 40gr BULLETS, SET BACK AND/OR STICKY CASES MAY BE AN ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I MAY BE SKEPTICAL I HOPE I AM WRONG AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR EXPECTATIONS. No offense taken. I have had a 218 Bee revolver for years. It seems Lee's experience is within 1.5% of my own estimate. I've never had an issue with setback either. I was asked what I expected and posted my best guess. What this gun will do all remains to be seen.
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Post by flyingzebra on Jun 3, 2020 11:21:02 GMT -5
This one is a little ripper.
For a function test I had it out for a sunrise trail walk on my high desert ranch.
First round printed POI at POA so I spent an hour smoking targets of opportunity.
Handles very nicely. Points like a finger. Muzzle report while down on a canyon arroyo was shrill and metallic up the rocky gap. Extraction was effortless. Cool little gun.
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Post by mike454 on Jun 3, 2020 12:51:44 GMT -5
nice!
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Post by 45MAN on Jun 3, 2020 14:03:33 GMT -5
ENCORE64 & LEE MARTIN: GLAD I AM MOSTLY WRONG ON THE POTENTIAL OF THE BEE. IIRC, YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A BEE REAMER AND REAMED OUT AN AUXILLARY 22 JET 22lr CYLINDER, BUT IT WAS A HAND JOB AND I BOTCHED THE REAM JOB (OVERSIZED CHAMBERS) AND NEVER WENT FURTHER WITH THE BEE PROJECT. AM THINKING THAT A SA REVOLVER MAY BE LESS PROBLEMATIC THAN A DA REVOLVER. I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THE LOOK OF HORNADY's 46gr BEE BULLET, EVEN BOUGHT A LEE .222 SIZER TO SWAGE SOME DOWN FOR USE IN MY S&W JET REVOLVERS, INCLUDING ONE WITH A 22 K-HORNET CYLINDER, BUT BEFORE I GOT AROUND TO USING THEM I DISCOVERED REED's .222 BULLETS AND BOUGHT A BUNCH OF HIS 40 GRAINERS.
I HAVE A LONG BARRELED 22 HORNET BFR THAT I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING A BEE CYLINDER FOR BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL.
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Post by Encore64 on Jun 4, 2020 5:48:39 GMT -5
I bought 4,000 of the 40 grn HP Bullets intended for the 22 TCM.
This gun won't need to be loaded hot for much of what I do.
Likely, I'll break out my old Phil Sharpe Manual for some loads with Unique and 2400.
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Post by bushog on Jun 4, 2020 8:45:24 GMT -5
You are not helping....
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Post by flyingzebra on Jun 4, 2020 9:18:14 GMT -5
... with a 46 grain bullet. Tops was 1,970 using 13.0 of AA1680. No setback or extraction problems at that clip however. -Lee That's really moving for a 46 grain bullet from a handgun. The FN 5.7 struggles to get that from the 28 grain hollow-point SS192.
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Post by Encore64 on Jun 4, 2020 17:53:33 GMT -5
Like many of my off the wall projects, this will have limited appeal.
The 25-20s have exceeded all expectations from a revolver.
These fine old cartridges are too often overlooked in the Magnum Era.
I'll still take these along with the 32-20, 38-40, 44-40, 44 Special and 45 Colt over most modern rounds.
Never claimed to be normal...
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Post by 45MAN on Jun 5, 2020 6:45:46 GMT -5
flyingzebra: WHICH OF THE SINGLE SIX SIZED REVOLVERS WOULD BE GOOD DONOR CANDIDATES FOR A 5 SHOT BEE CONVERSION? WHAT WOULD BE BEST, BLUE OR STAINLESS? WHAT ABOUT FORCING CONE EROSION? IS THERE A PREFERRED FORCING CONE CUT AND/OR BARREL STEEL? WHAT IS THE APPROXIMATE COST FOR A BEE CONVERSION? CAN YOU GUYS CONVERT A RIMFIRE TO CENTERFIRE AND JUST USE THE 22 BARREL? THE PROMISED LAND (2,000FPS) REALLY HAS ME THINKING, AND WANTING.
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Post by flyingzebra on Jun 5, 2020 7:44:42 GMT -5
Give Jack a call and he'll give you the straight dope.
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Post by Encore64 on Jun 21, 2020 10:16:19 GMT -5
The joy of these is they don't need to be full powered loads to be useful. The old reloading manuals show plenty of data with Unique and 2400 powder.
This will greatly increase the life of the forcing cone.
Just like a vehicles, a gun doesn't have to be run wide open.
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