Luddite (noun) 1. Any of a group of British workmen who, between 1811 and 1816, rioted and destroyed textile machinery in the belief that the machinery would diminish employment. 2. A person opposed to increased industrialization or new technology.

Yep, that second definition is pretty much me…at least when it comes to this shooting business. I’ve felt it coming on for years in other aspects of my life; witness the fact that I only last year obtained what is euphemistically referred to as a “smart” phone. How can you tell if you’re infected with the Luddite virus? I’d suggest that if you already knew what a Luddite was BEFORE reading the above definition, then you’re very likely well on your way…and (in case you’re curious) there isn’t an app for this.

As far as shooting is concerned, I suppose that I was destined to be a Luddite almost from the start. Daddy started my initial shooting training with the requisite .22 Long Rifle but in short order I was graduated to my first centerfire round, a cartridge of staggering power to my childish eyes…the .218 Bee.

For those unfamiliar with the round, let’s cast our eyes back into the first half of the last century. 1930 saw the introduction of the .22 Hornet, a cartridge that set the varmint hunters of the day all atwitter. Launching 45 grain .224 bullets at 2400-2500 fps and delivering fine accuracy, it began a miniature “arms race” amongst wildcatters and ammunition companies alike. Winchester jumped into the fray in 1938 by taking their .25-20 WCF round (not to be confused with the .25-20 Single Shot cartridge) and necked it down to .22 caliber and, voila, the .218 Bee was born!

With somewhat greater case capacity than the Hornet, the Bee should have made more of a splash than it did…but the deep thinkers at Winchester chambered the Bee in their Model 65 lever action (and later the Model 92). Now I’m a fan of lever guns from WAY back, they’re handy, portable and NOTHING carries easier in a saddle scabbard…but they most decidedly don’t offer the varminter what a bolt action or single shot can. The top ejection of the 65/92 made scope mounting over the bore impossible (side mounts were the only option back in the day) and two-piece stocks just never seem to yield the accuracy of properly bedded one-piece stocks. Of course, you can toss in the fact that most bolts or single shot triggers can be tuned better than most lever triggers and you can see how Winchester virtually doomed the Bee from the start!

The .218 that I cut my teeth on shared most of the problems listed above. It was a Model 92 that had been originally chambered in .25-20, but Daddy had sent it back to Winchester in the ‘50s and had it re-barreled to .218 Bee. Yep, the factories actually took in “custom” work like that…and I’ve got copies of their correspondence to prove it!

That rifle, while both functional and accurate, was decidedly NOT easy on the eyes. The 24” round barrel that Winchester installed wore a standard-levergun-issue ramp adjustable rear sight. Up front, however, it wore a modern ramp similar to the bolt guns of the time. Oh, the combination shot well enough…but it was ugly as homemade soap!

Another niggling little issue was that the sights listed slightly to starboard. In setting the barrel they weren’t QUITE right on their threading. To quote Agent Maxwell Smart, “…missed it by THAT much!”. Luddites everywhere will likely get that reference…

All grumping aside, that little rifle would put its tiny 46 grain hollow points in respectable little groups with dreary regularity. Yes, hollow points…another issue with “lever action varminters” is that you can’t run pointy (and efficient) bullets through a lever’s tubular magazine. Oh, you COULD; and risk having the tube full of cartridges let go in your hand. Those pesky primers have a tendency to ignite if a pointy something pokes them hard enough!

Now, after spending three paragraphs detailing that rifle’s shortcomings, I have to confess: I loved that thing! Took my first whitetail with it, too (the little buck having clearly ignored the .218’s ballistics!) and Daddy swore by it for turkeys. Truth is, the .218 Bee (just like the Hornet) is a wonderful little cartridge if we don’t ask it to do things it was never designed for.

That last thought must have been in my mind when I acquired a Ruger No.1-S in .218 Bee back in the early ‘90s as most, if not all, of the “problems” with the .218/M92 would be dispensed with! I had an action as strong as a bank vault, no magazine to preclude better bullet choices, and 26” of barrel length to wring as much velocity as possible from the little round!

Over the next few years I put the 1-S through its paces and have been very pleased. Accuracy has been wonderful. The trigger listened to reason. I’ve long been enamored of single shots with Farquharson-esque lines, and the No. 1 has that in spades! Frankly, the only complaint I have with the package is that it’s heavier than I’d like…No. 1s are a lot of things but svelte isn’t one of them! OK, so it isn’t a sheep rifle; but the last time I looked at my waistline I noticed that I don’t have the physique of a sheep hunter either…so I guess we’re even!

So let’s review where we stand: I’m a big fan of a rimmed pipsqueak of a varmint cartridge that’s 80 years old, I’m launching it out of a single shot falling block rifle, and I’m using aperture sights in the process. I’m pretty sure my Luddite status is gonna go unchallenged for a while longer…and that’s alright by me!

Shoot safe,

Mark

My current "Ludddite" .218 Bee




A Skinner aperture helps my aging eyes.



Factory 46 grain hollow point, handload w/ 50 grain spitzer, parent .25-20, .32-20 for comparison

That’s a very long first post lol.
I love the 218 Bee, many a deer have been killed with them and yes, they’re hell on turkeys too. Popped one on the King Ranch with a Bee. That’s a nice looking rifle.

Beautiful rifle!

Thanks! Long post? Huh, I hadn't even considered it. True Luddites can't function with a 140 character limit!

Mark

You'll do well here, hope you have some muck boots.

Very retro cool!

Very nice little rifle. My falling block 22 cal is a Browning 1885 low wall 22 Hornet, that may wind up as a K Hornet

Beautiful rifle and I liked your post!

I'm a Bee fan, own a Marlin 1894CL. I actually own all three rifles in that series; 218 Bee, 25-20 Win, and 32-20 Win.

I use the Bee as a small critter getter with a 50-grain home cast bullet.

Thanks Kmon1! I bet that Low Wall is an absolute joy to carry afield!

Ranch Dog, that's a pretty awesome little graphic...right down to the gas check! And shooting two "hyphenated" cartridges out of lever guns? Hey, I know a fellow Luddite when I see one!

Mark

Pretty rifle! Hard to beat the look of wood and case hardening!

nice looking rifle!

That is is as I bet your 218 is a pure joy in the field. I also have one of hte 25-20s Ranch Dog mentioned. Great little turkey rifle that also works on coyote and bobcats

"That is is as I bet your 218 is a pure joy in the field. I also have one of hte 25-20s Ranch Dog mentioned. Great little turkey rifle that also works on coyote and bobcats"

Another Luddite! What a surprise to find multiple devotees of such ancient (and useful!) cartridges. Speaking of the .25-20: remember the .218 M92 mentioned above? I had it rebuilt to its original chambering. I've gotta take some pics and then I'll post its story as well.

Mark

That is a fine looking rifle!

Awesome write up and beautiful rifle.

Guilty as charged! All my 1894CLs are identical, I check the bore diameter when I pick one up.



All are scoped as well with a 1.5x4.5x32, as most of my critter shooting is a night. I love these little cartridges, I probably shoot the 32-20 Win the most. All are very accurate. I have a protein feeder 70-yards from my back porch, I can shoot a coon off the nozzle of the feeder, through the head, at that distance no problem with the 25 or 32-20. My load on the 218 Bee is a little light for that work. It is great for shooting coons out of the top of my pecan trees, all through the head.

Oh, the drawings are generated by the reloading software I use; TMT's Precision Records, I've used it for a long time.

Scopes? Aarrgh...blasphemy! ;-) Of course, 70 yard coon head shots at night with irons is gonna get pretty chancey. Good work!

Funny about the .32-20. I "discovered" it last and yet it may well be my favorite of the lot! And thanks for the link to TMT; looks like we'll be doing some business.

Mark

I've killed a bunch of feral hogs with the 32-20, all out at 70 ~ 80 yards. I've shot them in the head and through the heart/lungs. Never lost one. I shoot a 115-grain round, flat nose bullet of my design with a max load of Lil'Gun.