I'm not a gunsmith, so I apologize if this is a dumb question. Since the rim diameter of a .223 is 0.378" and the rim diameter of a .218 is 0.408", could a bolt face of a .223 be opened up to accommodate the .218 bee? Are there extractor issues going from rimless 223 to rimmed 218? Please enlighten me. I have an interest in this caliber (as well as .22 hornet) for sentimental reasons. Thanks for any help.
kstockfo

Forget the Bee, go for the Hornet. I have both and ballistically they are equal. When it comes to brass, good luck finding Bee brass. I have both and only shoot the Bee occasionally...

For the cost of the job you should be able to find a nice Win 43 in 218 Bee.

The biggest problem with the conversion is getting it to feed as the Mini magazine is built for rimless cartridges. Now a nice 221 Fireball on the mini would work well. Or get one with a 6.5 Grendle bolt face and build a 22 PPC

Also the Marlin 94 CL came in 218 Bee and mine shoots pretty good, but like Shrapnel said I don't use it much in the field as brass is pretty dear.

Or simply load the .223 down to Hornet/Bee levels when such things are desired. Versatility!

Might be possible to form a rimless 218 Bee from 30 Carbine brass.

Bruce

How about the .221 Fireball? Based on the .222 it should fit well. I'm thinking easier to load for than the hornet if you want to stay in that range. And with its proportions I find the cartridge aesthetically, well, sexy.

I built a Cz FB for my hunting partner...when we went to shoot rats in Oregon he loaded 33 gr Speer bullets over shotgun powder..worked out fantastic....way more accurate than a rimfire mag or 17 hmr .kinda split the difference between 22 mag and 22 hornet..

Just buy a .375 H&H and be done with it.

With a round nose bullet to identify the Bee level loads ...