218 Bee - 12/22/16
It took me a very long time but I finally completed my collection of Winchester lever rifles - all models made by Winchester. I must admit I stretched the rules a bit when I let some spaghetti rifles stand in for the model 60 (I know - before Winchester), 66, 73, and 76 rifles but two things made me do it: First, I am not rich and these rifles cost a lot! Second, one of my rules is the rifle must be shootable and ammo for the first two are difficult to find. I must say, however, that these copies are very well built.
I started this collection 42 years ago when an acquaintance decided to turn himself off rather than deal with drugs and alcoholism after the Viet Nam conflict. I inherited his Winchester model 94, circa 1899, in .25-35 (a rifle I cherish to this day). Soon after that I sold my circa 1968 model 94 in .30-.30 and decided to go for one of each model. I was amazed at how many models there are! I know that some are merely modifcations of existing models, but I wanted to collect one of each - even the model 88. Over the years I have also come across a cica 1955 Model 94 in .32 WSP which I sold to buy a model 55.
Thanks for bearing with me this far. My question to anyone who might know is: What is Winchester's plan for producing .218 Bee ammo or brass? Since one of my rules is I have to fire each lever action model, I am looking for some .218 Bee. I found some on Gunbroker but it cost me well over $100 for a box. I found a few pieces of brass so I can handload and I have made Bee brass out of .25-20 WCF brass (another almost impossible to find). I can make Bee brass out of .32WCF brass but that requires neck thinning - something I don't want to do also I don't want to use up my supply of .32WCF brass as one of my other levers use that cartridge.
I've asked Winchester but got no reply.
One thing I hesitate to discuss but maybe I should is an experience I had at Gunbroker where I found a box and a half of .218 Bee ammo, paid the guy $178.00 plus shipping, and when I got the box in the mail, the mailing box was empty. I don't know if he didn't put the ammo in the box or if it just "fell out" but it wasn't there. Since he obtained the insurance, he had to file the claim with the post office. No, he didn't ship it ORD either. To make a painful story shorter, I never did get the ammo, nor the refund, nor the insurance. I contacted Gunbroker who sent the guy a message to make it good, but they didn't follow up or do anything else. Beware.
So - anyone hear of plans for anyone to make Bee ammo or brass again?
I'd love to write more about my collection but I've already made this too long... Next Summer I will take every one of these rifles out to the desert and fire them all.
Take care and thanks!
I started this collection 42 years ago when an acquaintance decided to turn himself off rather than deal with drugs and alcoholism after the Viet Nam conflict. I inherited his Winchester model 94, circa 1899, in .25-35 (a rifle I cherish to this day). Soon after that I sold my circa 1968 model 94 in .30-.30 and decided to go for one of each model. I was amazed at how many models there are! I know that some are merely modifcations of existing models, but I wanted to collect one of each - even the model 88. Over the years I have also come across a cica 1955 Model 94 in .32 WSP which I sold to buy a model 55.
Thanks for bearing with me this far. My question to anyone who might know is: What is Winchester's plan for producing .218 Bee ammo or brass? Since one of my rules is I have to fire each lever action model, I am looking for some .218 Bee. I found some on Gunbroker but it cost me well over $100 for a box. I found a few pieces of brass so I can handload and I have made Bee brass out of .25-20 WCF brass (another almost impossible to find). I can make Bee brass out of .32WCF brass but that requires neck thinning - something I don't want to do also I don't want to use up my supply of .32WCF brass as one of my other levers use that cartridge.
I've asked Winchester but got no reply.
One thing I hesitate to discuss but maybe I should is an experience I had at Gunbroker where I found a box and a half of .218 Bee ammo, paid the guy $178.00 plus shipping, and when I got the box in the mail, the mailing box was empty. I don't know if he didn't put the ammo in the box or if it just "fell out" but it wasn't there. Since he obtained the insurance, he had to file the claim with the post office. No, he didn't ship it ORD either. To make a painful story shorter, I never did get the ammo, nor the refund, nor the insurance. I contacted Gunbroker who sent the guy a message to make it good, but they didn't follow up or do anything else. Beware.
So - anyone hear of plans for anyone to make Bee ammo or brass again?
I'd love to write more about my collection but I've already made this too long... Next Summer I will take every one of these rifles out to the desert and fire them all.
Take care and thanks!