[jeff]

While I know that 218 Bee is the root case for the Mashburn I'm wondering if there is any reason to form the cases from 25-20 Brass and then neck turning. Excluding the additional labor, wouldn't the cases from a 25-20 be stronger?

I also see that 25-20's are $6-$8 less per 100 compared to the 218 Bee case and that Remington produces 25-20 brass as well.

Any comments or cautions?

Thanks

jeff

 

[Slim Chance]

I have always used 218 cases. I'm not sure necking down from 25 to 22 caliber would require neck turning as the brass is pretty thin to start with. AA1680 works well in both of mine as well as my standard Bee.

 

[Del]

.218 Mashburn Bee.......

I have been eyeing a Custom .218 Mashburn Bee done on the Ruger Blackhawk by Reeder Custom Guns. I think it'd be a great varmint / predator revolver, maybe express sights or small red dot mounted on top depending on how and where you'd use it most.

Anyway, I would much rather shoot standard .218 Bee loads in a gun to fireform them to .218 Mashburn!! As apposed to trying to resize .25-20 brass to .218 Mashburn, then having to neck turn and trim them. To me fireforming is much more fun then resizing, neck turning, trimming, etc.

By the way what are you shooting this round from??
Del

 

[jeff]

I agree that fireforming the Bee to a Mashburn chamber is a non-event. It's just load, shoot and you're done. What bummed me out was the cost differential between 32-20's 25-20's vs. the 218 Bee case. COW states that the Bee case is just a 25-20 necked down. While I can easily afford the cost differiential I was just wondering out loud if there was any advantage in necking down a 25-20. I was also under the belief that squeezing that 25 cal neck would thicken the neck up and require a little turning.

I'm shooting a custom CPA Stevens 44 1/2 singleshot. 26" Badger barrel.

jeff

 

[double d]

Checked Midway...100 25-20-$15.99...100 .218 Bee-$21.42...$5.43 difference, For a one time purchase, I'll buy the Bee, thank you.

Here's my Mashburn

It's a miniature Issac Hollis Martini Action. Not a Francotte Cadet.

The Mashburn Bee is a super gun for Montana gophers and rock chucks. But it realy shined when I took it to Africa used it on guinea fowl and Steinbok.

 

[Del]

.218 M's.........

Jeff & Double D,
Those are some fine looking firearms!! Wish I had one of each!
Have a good day & keep shooting those classic old rounds! I've got a .256WM that I'm about to bring out of retirement, should be about perfect for what I have in mind. Del

 

[jeff]

I know what you mean.

I've got a little itch that says I need one of those Martini's too! I especially like that Martini engraving. It shows up better with the bluing that mine with the color case hardening.

 

[double d]

Go to the Single shot rifle forum here on Graybeard and look for my Post called Martini Resource list. There area bunch of Martini's out there.

I don't like the color case on the Martini.

Here's my wife's.

She really likes it.

Her's is a Kilbourn Hornet. A true K-Hornet not one of the many variaties with a short neck. Her's has the long neck with the sharp shoulder that stops where regular Hornet shoulder stops, just like Kilbourns original.