Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Fox/bobcat/coyote rifle

I bought an old Winchester M43 in 218 Bee a few months ago. My intention was to split the difference between what I would use for coyote (223) and fox (22 WMR) in case I run into the other one. I wanted something that would not destroy the pelts. The problem is I have been loading all different combos of bullets and can't get any to shoot very well. I am getting 3" to 4" groups (sometimes worse) at 100 yards from a shooting bench. That means it would be a lot worse shooting off hand. I am no sharpshooter but I expected better accuracy.

I am at the point where I am frustrated with the rifle and I want to explore other options. I may take it to a gunsmith but I don't want to sink money into a lost cause. I hunt the woods so I generally won't take long shots but I am still unhappy with it. I get significantly better accuracy from my 22 WMRs.

Anyway, I have been looking for a 17 fireball or 221 fireball but they are always expensive when I find them. (I am not poor but I have a wife who doesn't really appreciate my many hobbies). I have come across some 222 Rem rifles that are costing around $1000 - $1300 or so. That beats the $2,000 - $3,000 I keep seeing for the less common cartridges.

So here is my question: Would a 222 be able to be loaded down to match the velocity of a 218 Bee / 22 Hornet? If so, would it still maintain accuracy? Would a shorter barrel assist in slowing it down to these speeds? (I have seen everything from 18.5" to 26" barrels on 222 Rems.)

[For the record, I have never shot a fox so I am not sure how much damage the 218 Bee would do to them anyway. I have shot coyotes (big northeastern coyotes). This may be a situation where there is no one cartridge that would be relatively fur friendly.]

Thanks for any knowledgeable advice.

Go .222 and don’t look back. 12.7 grains of 4227 with a 45 or 50 grain bullet gives you 22 Hornet velocities, and good accuracy. That’s my Turkey load too.

Also, I know Savage rifles are available for a lot less money. I owned one before and it was garbage. I will never own another one.

Thanks, John

I wouldn't give up on the 218 Bee or 22 Hornet. Sierra does make a bullet that may work for you in your 218 Bee. It is a reproduction of the original Hornet round nose bullet. I have shot them in the Bee, because the Bee won't allow the 40 grain VMax to seat in the case and still fit in the magazine of my Sako L46.

Here it is compared to the 40 Grain VMax in the Hornet...

I've seen them and tried to order but couldn't find any in stock. I have tried 40 gr and 35 grain VMax, Speer 40 grain soft point, 40 grain Sierra Blitz King, 45 grain Hornady Bee bullets, 50 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and the factory Winchester 46 grain hollow points. Some loads were shooting 10" groups at 100 yards. The factory Winchester loads shot the best. It rifle should not be this difficult to find a load for.

What's the twist rate? Those plastic tipped bullets may be too long to allow for proper stabilization.

This article claims anything over about .600 is too long for a 16 twist Bee.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/218-bee-cartridge-varmint-powerhouse/461387

Thanks. I will measure the bullets when I get home. I doubt they are too long - especially the Winchester factory loads.

Those are probably fine but any of the 40 grain plastics will most likely be too long.

I have a few Sierra 40 grain HP as well as some Nosler Varmageddon 40 grain HP I could send you to try. From 2 articles I just read most are liking the 40-45 grain semi round nose that were intended as Hornet bullets.

Ammoseek.com may yield some results.

You have a PM.

Pic doesn't match description but part number in pic is different than listed so probably just a generic pic.

Do your research to make sure these are legitimate businesses.

https://www.dowdlesports.com/Sierra-Bullets-22-Cal-223-40gr-Hornet-100_p_64551.html

I have some 45 grain Hornet bullets made by Hornady and Speer if you want to try them.

Why pay a bunch (since cost is a concern) for a .222 or other relic when a .223 can be loaded down just as easily? I like the old ones myself, but finding and feeding them can be problematic.

That 46gr Speer FP shoots very well in my 1-16” Hornet, but so do 40gr VMaxes.

There was an article on the .218 in Handloader 342, Feb. of this year. A 43 was used to develop the loads IIRC.

.222 brass is easily made by running.223 brass into a .222 die and trimming it.

Thanks for all of the help, guys. I really appreciate it. I did load 3 dozen of those 45 grain Speer bullets this morning. I will give them a try when I can get to the range. I also have and loaded some more of those 45 grain Hornet bullets by Hornady to try as well. It's been a frustrating process but maybe I will keep at it. Maybe a gunsmith could help. I guess it is possible to replace the barrel if necessary but I'm not in love with the action or stock on this rifle either. I think I just like modern rifles with synthetic stocks better but accuracy could change my attitude.

Pappy, I do own a 223 Rem but I load it for for coyote and long(ish) range varmints. I can shoot 1" at 100 yards with it consistently so a great shooter could probably cut that in half. The reason I have not tried loading down is because I think it will change the point of impact and screw me up with my current loads. I may be crazy but I normally pick a good load and shoot nothing else with each one of my rifles. That way I am confident in my shot and don't need to keep sighting in. Thus, I have about 20 rifles in my safe.

I live in a city (a mile or two from the Philadelphia border) and the nearest public shooting range is over an hour away. It means I can only get to the range on weekends. I am heading to my camp in Vermont this weekend. I may bring the 218 bee with me to test it more but I don't have a shooting bench on my land so I would be shooting off hand or resting on a 4-wheeler. It's not really conducive to testing accuracy.

Thanks Barm and everyone else for the generous offers.

Ive found a reduced load of 16.5 gr of 4198 and a 50 gr SP in the deuce to be " Fur friendly" and it works on all three of the critters you mentioned...

A few fox one night with the deuce.

Less report than full house loads??

Which 4198??