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.218 Bee (Using Hornady Bullets)

Warning! Notes: This data was shot by Brian Pearce, Wolfe Publishing Company. Gun: Winchester Model 43; barrel length: 24 inches; case: Winchester; primer: Winchester Small Rifle; bullet diameter: .222" and .224"; 35 GR Hornady V-Max COAL: 1.650"; 40 GR Hornady JET COAL: 1.615" 40 & 50 GR Hornady V-Max COAL: 1.770"; 45 GR Hornet & Bee COAL: 1.610"; 50 GR SPSX & SP COAL: 1.700"; maximum COAL: 1.680" (1.700" and 1.770" in single shot mode only); maximum case length: 1.345"; trim to length: 1.335".

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Cartridge History

.218 Bee (Using Hornady Bullets)

The .218 Bee, a rimmed, bottleneck cartridge developed in the 1930s by Winchester, still finds relevance today—especially when paired with Hornady bullets, which are known for their high quality, consistent machining, and reliable ballistic performance. When using Hornady’s varmint-grade offerings, the .218 Bee delivers a blend of flatter trajectory, good expansion, and respectable accuracy that many shooters appreciate in vintage or classic rifles.

Hornady’s bullet selection for the .218 Bee tends toward hollow-point or polymer tipped designs in the 35 to 50 grain range. Lighter bullets, such as their 35-grain Varmint V-Max, tend to produce faster velocities and aggressive expansion, making them excellent for ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and similar small game. Heavier bullets, up toward 50 grains, offer better wind resistance and more energy retention at longer distances, albeit with a modest trade-off in velocity.

In many handloader reports, using Hornady bullets with powders like Lil’Gun, H4227, IMR-4227, or perhaps a clean-burning benchrest style powder yields consistent performance. Velocities in properly maintained rifles with longer barrels can approach 3,000 fps with a 35-grain bullet under good conditions. Accuracy tends to tighten when seating depth, primer choice, and case prep are controlled—Hornady bullets are generally forgiving of minor inconsistencies, but as with all .218 Bee loads, small deviations can show up as significant shifts in group size.

The recoil for the .218 Bee using Hornady bullets remains very mild, thanks to the relatively low bullet mass and moderate powder charges. This makes it ideal for shooters who enjoy long range varmint shooting without punishing kick or uncomfortable recoil. Also, because Hornady’s production quality is high, the jackets tend to resist deformation, which helps maintain consistent expansion and penetration shot after shot.

While the .218 Bee will never match the commercial popularity of more modern varmint cartridges, pairing it with Hornady bullets gives the shooter access to reliable components, repeatable performance, and a pleasant shooting experience. For those firing classic lever-action or bolt rifles chambered in .218 Bee, this combination strikes a satisfying balance of old-school charm and modern precision.

Source: Wolfe Publishing

Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.

Wt.	Bullet	Powder Manufacturer	Powder	Charge	Velocity (FPS)
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2011
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2182
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2383
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2584
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2785
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2968
Remarks: maximum load
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N110	Subscribe	2415
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N110	Subscribe	2568
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N110	Subscribe	2721
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N110	Subscribe	2873
Remarks: maximum load
35	Hornady V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2397
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2541
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2709
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2877
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	3038
Remarks: maximum load
35	Hornady V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2198
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2388
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2570
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2758
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2933
Remarks: maximum load
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2100
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2288
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2485
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2675
Remarks: maximum load
35	Hornady V-Max	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2106
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2301
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2496
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2692
Remarks: maximum load
35	Hornady V-Max	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2102
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2308
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2514
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2719
Remarks: maximum load
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2351
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2468
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2605
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2741
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2877
Remarks:
35	Hornady V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2999
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2327
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2483
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2639
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2795
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2474
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2568
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2677
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2786
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2889
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2481
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2582
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2755
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2877
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2930
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2078
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2270
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2477
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2699
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2291
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2486
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2367
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2469
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2588
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2706
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2818
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2658
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2730
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2802
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2874
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2801
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2851
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2901
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2950
Remarks: maximum load
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2757
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2902
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	3047
Remarks:
40	Hornady JET or V-Max	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	3191
Remarks: maximum load
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2270
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2393
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2536
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2678
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2813
Remarks: maximum load
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2215
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2321
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2445
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2569
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2688
Remarks: maximum load
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2488
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2534
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2588
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2641
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2691
Remarks: maximum load
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2594
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2650
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2715
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2780
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2843
Remarks: maximum load
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2323
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2445
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2588
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2731
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2868
Remarks: maximum load
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2481
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2553
Remarks:
45	Hornady Hornet or Bee	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2624
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2193
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2292
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	2391
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2162
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2309
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2456
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	2602
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2377
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2548
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Winchester	W-296	Subscribe	2697
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2037
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2160
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2304
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-4227	Subscribe	2448
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2274
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2368
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	2462
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2232
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2367
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2502
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Vihtavuori	VV-N120	Subscribe	2636
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2329
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2425
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2521
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Accurate	AAC-1680	Subscribe	2617
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2464
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2545
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2626
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Hodgdon	H-4198	Subscribe	2708
Remarks: maximum load
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2285
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2445
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2605
Remarks:
50	Hornady V-Max, SPSX or SP	Alliant	RL-7	Subscribe	2766
Remarks: maximum load