A question about a Single Shot - Page 2

skeet · #16 10-18-2009, 12:41 AM

Quite a few years ago I had a K Hornet. It was a Winchester 43 and it was fairly accurate. So I have made the cases. Headspace on the shoulder works much better and the cases last longer. But I think I am probably going to go with the 218.. I have a couple of Hornets now..(77-22H) and think the 218 would be a neat change..and I do have some ammo and cases...and many many 40 and 45 gr bullets to use. Wasn't the Bee based on the 32-20 case??

Larryjk · #17 10-18-2009, 12:49 PM

Skeet, I think the 32-20, 25-20 and .218 are all the same case. How do you like the Hornet in the 77/22H? I reworked one trying for good accuracy, and it would shoot under 1/2 inch if you single loaded and bypass the magazine. We had seated the bullets out to touch the rifling and the magazine wasn't long enough. Too bad they didn't make that magazine about 1/4 inch longer. I have been trying to buy a Winchester Model 43 in .218, but the price is just crazy right now. People are buying that don't know the difference between the standard and Deluxe and are driving the price up on the standard. I have a local one that is tied up in an estate right now that the heirs have said they will give me first crack at when the estate is settled.

skeet · #18 10-18-2009, 01:53 PM

The 77-22 H I have that I bought new is a tack driver.. It's been good to approx 200 yds on foxes ad ground hogs. For some reason some of them don't shoot so good. Something about the bolt needing to be pinned or something. The other Hornet I have is a blued lighter bbl'd rifle. Got it in a pawn shop for a VERY good price. It however is not as accurate as the heavy Stainless one. OK on PDs and such to 150 maybe. If it was a bit more accurate I would make it a K hornet. A little story bout the stainless one. I put a junk Simmons scope on it till I got a 4x12 Leupold to mount. Darn thing is so accurate it still has the Simmons on it.I ain't changin nothing...Now as to the 43s.. Just to let you know..I doubt if you will find a very accurate one. They were few and far between. I had a Hornet that was a pretty little gun but when I shot a hornet I shot the old Savage 340. Much more accurate. Ugly though. Had a few 43s in all calibers(except 32-20) and none were barn burners as far as accuracy. Heck my last 218 was a Kimber and it would shoot. Pretty too but sadly..I sold it because..well h3ll I don't know why. There are other rifles out there for the same money that are much better shooters and much prettier than a 43. Unless you are a Winchester collector...which I was..is and am. Going to an auction next week that has a Win 43 22 Hornet in it. It'll go for more than I want but will try to buy it. There is also a Rem 721 in 300 H&H I'm going to try for.. BTW the M-70 300 H&H the old fellow gave me with the ugly stock..Well I found a Winchester stock for it for under 50 bucks. Gonna put her in an original stock thank goodness. That stock he made is UGLY

Larryjk · #19 10-19-2009, 12:23 PM

Skeet, Ylu discussion of 43s is interesting. Was the less than accurate a factor of barrel wear or some other physical problem? I know the Ruger No.1-B is very accurate in .2218 Bee but I wanted a magazine rifle, specifically the Model 43 because I have never had one. Besides the Kimber, and maybe Savage, what other bolt rifles are around in .218 Bee?

skeet · #20 10-19-2009, 12:45 PM

The question with the 43s is hard to answer. I think the factro affecting their accuracy was the rifle itself..and of course the cartridges. Those rimmed rounds were hqrd to get accuracy with anyway..especially at the time they were made. A little less care in the assembly of the rifle etc . I love Win guns but they aren't always perfect of course. Most of the guns I had were in exc condition.ie bores good et al . but at a time when the 43 cost more than ...say a 722 or 700 in 222 the 218 and Hornets were left in the dust...at least as far as accuracy anyway. Also when those rifles were made, accuracy standards were a little different than later. People didn't expect as much then. I think that is why the Hornet and 218 chamberings, which are great little cartridges, kinda died out. Nothig shot like the 222 and 222 mags or even the 223 when it came out. I just know that the 43's in most flavors just didn't shoot great. I have a guy in the next town who wants to sell me a nice Marlin 1894 in 218..and I just don't want it. Rather make my own. Oh and when I loaded those rounds back then I tried all kinds of tricks..headspacing on the rim..shoulder neck sizing etc. Nothing made any difference. If I got 2 inches I had to be happy. They used to call the 43 a poor mans M-70...but it wasn't even close. Looks more like a rich mans m-69 to me. Heck I had a Winchester 65 lever gun once in 218 that shot as well as the 43s using a peep. But that was when I could see pretty well.

Larryjk · #21 10-19-2009, 10:48 PM

Skeet, After all you told me I think I might use one of the Martini Cadet actions I have to make a .218 Bee. The triggers are tough to get just right but I am used to less than perfect triggers. I really want to try one this next summer.

skeet · #22 10-20-2009, 12:24 PM

Larry don't let what I say about 43s turn you off. You may just find one that will shoot. As far as the Martini..really neat little rifles. Always wanted one for some reason myself. Going to look at an old Walnut Hill tonight. See what it looks like. If reasonable might just have to get a little crazier...again