The attached picture below is a factory original Model 43 Special rifle (click on the picture to enlarge it) note the checkering pattern on the stock, and the capped pistol grip. It saddens me to say this, but the future of the .218 Bee is looking less than bright. 4.0 out of 5 stars. In 1944 Winchester introduced the bolt-action Model 43, which was often described as the country boys Model 70. That rifle is positively not factory original with that stock (as stated by your local gun store). Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! This small framed bolt-action rifle is a perfect varmint rifle that is both accurate and reliable. . The 32-20, 25-20, and 218 Bee all have the same rim dimensions, lending to many options regarding parts interchangeability. Winchester ~ Model 43 ~ .218 BEE Description: The Winchester Model 43 is a great platform for a varmint rifle. Kurt is a Gunsmith, Reloader, Hunter, and Outdoorsman. Developed for the mail-order firm Sears, Roebuck and introduced in 1936, it began life as an over-under shotgun in 12 gauge. I looked it over today and everything seems to be as advertised. Anyway, you are probably not going to find anything with that pitch. Price: $895.00. Buy a 218 bee online. https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/i/DMW19831/718482F9-4348-43CE-8F8C-E62D22C1FF16.jpeg. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. The fact that bullets much longer than 0.600 inch are not stabilized by that twist rate rules out the use of the Nosler 40-grain Ballistic Tip and Hornady V-Max of the same weight. At the time, the .22 Hornet was loaded with 45-grain and 46-grain bullets at a claimed velocity of 2,650 fps. Those of us who have handloaded both cartridges also know that due to the thicker wall of the Bee case, it is less susceptible to neck collapse during bullet seating than the Hornet. Once I get it home and have correct fitting screwdrivers handy I am curious as to what the date stamp on the barrel is. *Caliber, Barrel Length, Generations, Sub Models may all affect item price. When handloading for lever-action rifles, the Speer 46-grain FNSP and the Hornady 45-grain FNHP are equally effective on varmints ranging in size from ground squirrels to groundhogs. A-Series rifles were quietly introduced. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Necking the .25-20 case down in 1938 resulted in the .218 Bee for a modified version of the Model 92 called the Model 65. I will go into more detail about this below. The good news is the .218 Bee case can be formed from Starline .32-20 Winchester brass, which is available as this is written. Shooting reloads may void any warranty on your firearm. Mounted on a select walnut stock, sling swivels, and a checkered steel buttplate. PLEASE CALL US AT (478-257-6655) Even though the .218 Bee holds a pinch or two more powder, the same propellants work equally well in both. The Winchester Model 43 is far from being a poor mans Model 70. Moving on to other companies, Browning introduced a Japanese reproduction of the Winchester Model 65 in .218 Bee in 1980. It also has a very unique dovetail filler blank that a Winchester rep from the 50s told me is a genuine factory filler blank. WINCHESTER 43 Magazine 218 BEE 4RD: ORIGIN USA CALIBER .218 BEE WEIGHT 6 LBS. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition. However, it wasnt until midway through production that the Model 43 was drilled and tapped for a scope. Therefore, to my knowledge, there isnt any real way to get an exact date on when it left the factory. Rifle has some field wear, otherwise good condition. Use a .25-20 Winchester sizing die prior to the .218 Bee die, and you end up with a supply of cases. .25-20, .32 WCF & .218 Bee, 5 Round (Triple K) Product #: 248100 CT buyers must be FFL holder. Stock has been custom checkered and has a small age crack near butt plate. close. 7656 Marlin 1894 Classic. Any idea where I can get documentation as to when it was made, value, or possibly an owners manual? MTAR15. The serial number is 29150A. Winchester Model 43 Bolt Action Rifle in .218 BeeManufactured from 1949 to 1957 with standard Winchester markings, hooded ramp front and elevation adjustable rear sights and receiver tapped for sight/scope mounting. It is a cock-on open, controlled-feed design that sports a walnut stock with a pistol grip and a 24-inch barrel weighing approximately six pounds. Mechanics:The action functions Correctly. Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. The Winchester trademark is used with the permission and to the credit of Olin Corporation/Winchester Division. The .218 Bee was the first modern varmint cartridge designed expressly for a lever rifle - Winchester's Model 65. Bert I have a number of Model 43 218s and one 25 20. David Wilt said That could help in sorting it out convincingly. 5 product ratings - Winchester Model 43, 218 BEE, 5 RDS by TripleK #693M Made in the USA! Watrous notes that Winchester first authorized the development of a new bolt action repeater with a detachable box magazine on May 31, 1944. WTB: Winchester model 70 Marksman coarse checkered butt pla, Selling original Winchester 1886 carbine butt-plate with scr, Suggestions for replacing or restoring a worn-out 1873 carbi. CALIBER - .218 BEE. Excellent article. They include the 46-grain flatnose from Speer and three bullets of roundnose form: the 45-grain Hornet bullets from Nosler and Sierra and Sierra's 40-grain Hornet. The attached picture below is a factory original Model 43 Special rifle (click on the picture to . Produced from 1949 to 1957, with about 63,000 sold. This isn't your grandpa's muzzleloading system. About this item. If anything, it resembles a larger Winchester Model 69A .22 LR action, sharing many features from the rimfire, including the rear locking lugs. 218 BEE Caliber 5 Rds. In terms of relative performance, the .218 Bee falls between the smaller .22 Hornet and the larger and more popular .223 Rem. The complete rifle sold for $117.50, and a barreled action was $97.50. Also often recommended is slightly quicker burning 2400, but it borders on being too fast, making it tricky to work with in this cartridge. So Inherited a nice Model 43 in 218 Bee along with others but this one has peeked my interest more than others, so a few notes after reading this. Previously sold. Im jealous of that 22 Hornet barrel you have. Can you assist me in determining the years with the serial numbers? Those sound like beautiful rifles! These changes were substantial and affect the parts interchangeability of Pre-A Series rifles. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Both bullets shed velocity fast, and for this reason, 100 to 125 yards is about the maximum distance for consistently dropping mature groundhogs in their tracks. Markings:The left side of the barrel is marked MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA / WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK / MODEL 43-218 BEE. The receivers on all 43s were drilled and tapped for a Lyman 57A receiver sight. Moving to the opposite extreme, IMR-4198, H4198 and Reloder 7 work okay with 45-grain bullets, but you usually run out of case capacity before reaching top velocities with lighter bullets. As old-timers go, IMR 4227 and 2400 are as good today as they were back then, although some of the newer kids on the block, such as H110, W296, VihtaVuori N120, Accurate 1680, and Hodgdon LilGun, sometimes deliver higher velocities at similar chamber pressures. Looking to confirm this is in fact a custom stock or perhaps this is original. Bert I have a number of Model 43 218s and one 25 20. Seriously, what is more fun than hunting varmints with classic rifles, chambered in classic cartridges? It was manufactured in 1952. I have another couple of articles on the Model 43 that Im working on that I will have done in the next couple of weeks, they are digging deeper yet, and by the sounds of it, they will be right up your alley! Find Winchester Model 43 parts and schematics today with Numrich Gun Parts. Serial number- 52550A. However, I will only summarize them here. I set an aluminum tubing column to support the rear action screw without having to worry about the wood compressing. Hodgdon lists impressive velocities for CFE BLK, but charges are heavily compressed. Respective 100-yard energy ratings for the .218 Bee, .22 Hornet, and .25-20 were 520 ft-lbs., 445 ft-lbs., and 385 ft-lbs. When one comes sneaking in to my tormented bunny call, I wait until it is inside 50 yards before squeezing the Marlins trigger. The small number of those rifles chambered to .218 Bee serves to illustrate the lack of popularity of the cartridge. 2-Pack Winchester Model 43 218 BEE 5 RDS Magazine Mag Mags Made in the USA! Any and all help is appreciated. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. It ought to be especially good for rabbits past 100 yards where the energy of a .22 Long Rifle begins to fade. It really is a neat looking rifle w/o the front sight ramp, and it validates my earlier thoughts regarding a 43 with a clean barrel would make handsome rifle. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Originally loaded with 20 grains of blackpowder, velocity was around 1,300 fps for its 100-grain lead bullet. I havent been messing around with 43s long enough to find out if theory and practice have a positive correlation yet on this. When all is said and done, H110 and W296 - along VihtaVuori N120 - offer the best combination of bulk density and burn rate available for bullets weighing from 30 to 45 grains in the .218 Bee. 99% condition--. Early company literature described it as powerful enough for use on deer. Report this item. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. The barrel of the T/C carbine I have has a 1:14 twist. There are some compression marks in the checkering on the left side of the pistol grip. The Winchester Model 43 was available in four calibers; the 22 Hornet, 218 Bee, 25-20 Win, and 32-20 Win. According to Hartmans extensive research, this transition occurred between serial numbers 4,100 6,200. WINCHESTER 43 .218BEE BOLT ACTION RIFLE. Price: $1,895.00. SKU: 693M. Opens in a new window or tab. Lyman has a lot of parts for the 57 series and a lot of them can be used on the 57A. Lastly, in late 1950, Winchester began to drill and tap receivers for scopes. The A-series Model 43 refers to a change Winchester made to the design in 1950 and is identified by an A suffix added to the serial number. and .32-20 Win. Seller: Columbia . Model 43. Stock has been custom checkered and has a small age crack near butt plate. If I can come up with a receiver I have a barrel that is pitted at the breach end that I can cut off and make up a cute little varmint rifle for my kids with. The Model 43 was a nice little rifle and often described as the poor man's Model 70, but those I owned in .22 Hornet and .218 Bee years ago were nowhere near as accurate as my Winchester models 54 and 70 in .22 Hornet. Scarce deluxe model 43 in popular .218 Bee. BORE EXCELLENT ALONG WITH FACTORY BLUE AND WOOD FINISH. I was looking for a part the other day and said to myself: I havent seen this article before. Our Assessment:The .218 Bee is a .224 caliber centerfire rifle cartridge designed for varmint hunting by Winchester in 1938 and was originally chambered in their lever-action rifles. All Rights Reserved. Official Web Site Of The Winchester Arms Collectors Association. The only difference between the two was the stock which I will cover below. The serial number locations were changed from the left side of the receiver to the right. Why did the .218 Bee never catch up . Available in different sizes and red dot ready, it'll fit your needs, whatever they are. He was gifted the 22 Hornet, and I got the 218 Bee. The .218 Bee was designed in 1938 by manufacturer Winchester and is based off the .32-20 Winchester cartridge. Winchester 43 .218 Bee caliber rifle. Collectors and gunsmiths alike will benefit from this. Caliber. Whereas the Hornet was designed for use in bolt-action rifles, the Bee was designed for a rear-locking lever-action rifle, and for this reason, it was loaded to lower chamber pressure. Its detachable magazine holds three rounds, and it was imported by Firearms International and introduced to American hunters and varmint shooters in 1949. A secondary shoulder will appear, but it vanishes on the first firing, and while the neck will be a bit shorter, it is not enough to matter. Serial number 19257A was manufactured in February 1950. Like the Winchester Model 43 and the Sako L46, the Kimber Model 82 allowed the use of pointed bullets in .218 Bee handloads, which improved its performance over factory ammunition. This change was made sometime around the end of 1949. Reconditioned vintage, **PENDING**SOLD**THANKS**JIM** - Winchester model 43 in 218 bee. Standard hooded front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Bore is very good with strong rifling. Winchester Model 43. The 218 Bee was introduced by Winchester in 1938 for the model 65 lever action and later for the model 43 bolt action rifle.. Many things affect the price of the Model 43 rifle. When I did more research on the rifle, I realized there was little information on these rifles. I have actually been kicking around the idea of doing one up like that if I came across a rough one to restore at the right price. Lighter and tougher and more precise than ever, it's the perfect back country hunting rifle. When I became obsessed with hunting as a young kid, my gun cabinet was pretty thin, and the Model 43 went into the woods with me for everything imaginable. Attempting to neck it down in one step usually results in a collapsed case. This small framed bolt-action rifle is a perfect varmint rifle that is both accurate . The Winchester Model 43 is a relatively little-known rifle compared to the companys many legends, such as the Model 94 and Model 70. Deluxe checkered stock with fancy figured walnut stock and Winchester pistol grip cap. Timothy Hamilton said The body of the scope shows light wear. The bore on this rifle is in great condition, so this rifle ought to be a tack driver. 11 Top Hunting Rifles Chambered in .350 Legend, How to Clean a Rifle Barrel the Effective and Harmless Way, Mossberg Patriot Long-Range Hunter Bolt-Action Rifle: Full Review. So long as the dovetail is snug, I think it is probably nothing to worry about. The asking price was in the right ball park for a common garden variety standard grade 43 in 218 Bee and since this rifle was produced at the end of the production run and Winchester would have been trying to use up parts they had on hand, it is likely they would have had a barrel w/o sights available to put a rifle together with. While some Model 43s were drilled and tapped, others were not. Most of those in .25-20 and .32-20 were exported to Australia. Jul 30, 2014 (Edited) A while back I purchased this Winchester Model 43 in .218 Bee, without doing a great deal of research on it. Buy It Now +$3.50 shipping Factory drilled for scope. Auction In 1944 Winchester introduced the bolt-action Model 43, which was often described as the country boy's Model 70. Introduced in 1933 in .25-20 and .32-20, the Model 65 had a 22-inch barrel and was produced until 1947, with just over 5,700 rifles built. Beth Shimanski of Savage introduces their all new straight-pull rifle. STORE HOURS 10AM - 6 PM MON - SAT EST. These revolvers were designed with a snub-nose barrel, which makes it [], The Colt 1860 Army revolver, also known as the Colt U.S. Cavalry revolver, was widely during the American Civil War. The markings are clear. WEIGHT - 6 LBS. Weaver K6 optics are clear. Bolt action rifle made from 1949 -1957 in both. JD, thank you! Wow! / TOP-3/4. Classic bolt action varmint rifle in .218 Bee. AB836 Make: Winchester Model: 43 Serial # - Firearms: 49085A Caliber: .218BEE Low Estimate: 100 High Estimate: 250 Very good condition. Additional holes drilled and tapped for scope mount. That is a list of the changes made throughout the production of the Model 43. Condition obviously plays into it but has much less effect than being drilled and tapped for a scope when it shouldnt have been. The locking lug was made more narrow and taller, which we can assume was done to strengthen the lock-up of the bolt during firing. Another cartridge capable of reaching across the back 40 and stinging a varmint is the .218 Bee. Model 65s were chambered in .218 Bee, .25-20 WCF and .32-20 WCF. . The barrels of Winchester Model 43s were never drilled and tapped at the factory. The demand of used WINCHESTER MODEL 43 rifle's has fallen 1 units over the past 12 months. The recoil of the Bee and Hornet is so minimal. It was small caliber, either .25-20 or .32-20. The revolver was 44 caliber and the cylinder could be removed for reloading, one of the first of its kind. Inv#0522143. A friend tipped me off to a pristine barrel and as it stands all that remains to be done on that one is to finish the stock. More rifles in that chambering were sold, but none of them made the cash register ring often enough to remain in production for more than a few years. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. I most certainly can. Rate of twist for each calibre 1885 model? Subscriber Services. Adding a bit more history for Sako rifle fans, the 7x33mm Sako on a lengthened 9mm Luger case was developed specifically for use by Finnish seal hunters, and very few L46 rifles chambered for it left that country. I cannot find any information on the model number on the Winchester website. A World Record Attempt and everyone is out at the range shooting and practicing. These easily concealable revolvers have distinct characteristics and are synonymous with both law enforcement and the hoods they pursued. Use coupon code KTG10 to get 10% off your order of $150 or more at Brownells. I am taking possession of a Model 43 tomorrow in 218 Bee that has an original Model 43 barrel w/o sights on it. Rifling looks brand new. In pleasant contrast, Hornady comes close to making its 2,750 fps billing in my Marlin and actually exceeds it from my Sako. A serial number had been on a fishing boat and had a lot of surface corrosion. . Other than they have roll marking that ends where the receiver begins and the caliber has been stamped to the left of the roll stamping on the barrel they look OK. Among them is a Winchester Model 43, standard model, swept bolt lever, chambered in .218 BEE, with a Weaver scope mounted on it. There is no erosion. My grandpa gave me that rifle before I was old enough to talk. Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories. It had many of the same benefits as the 32-20 but with a flatter trajectory. The pistol grip has a Winchester Repeating Arms Cap. Tied for second place are the Federal GM205M and the CCI BR4. The Special model also includes a plastic grip cap and, like the standard model, retains 1-inch sling swivels. But do you know how to properly use them? Description: WINCHESTER MODEL 43 DELUXE CALIBER 218 BEE. Excellent bore. | I took the corrosion off by rolling the barrel and receiver on my bench stones for about a week in the evenings and saved all of the roll markings on both. However, polishing was one of many manufacturing steps, not the final step. Along with the change in the location of the serial number, the A suffix was added to note a pretty significant design change, the locking lug. Mine was able to be salvaged. Introduced in 1944, it was also offered in .22 Hornet, .25-20 and .32-20. Magazine is after-market, but works good. Close Menu. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. The Model 43 in 25-20and 32-20 were among the offerings that were to no longer be in the catalogue starting 1951. Excellent bore. Website by Hudson. Introduced in 1930, the 22 Hornet was an immediate success and is still widely used across the globe. For sale (NO TRADES PLEASE) is a nice 1952 Model 43 in 218 Bee. Before this change, Model 43s only had open-sight options, with the exception of the Stithe mount. I love that rifle and have taken red foxes, coyotes, woodchucks, rabbits, ground squirrels, and everything in between.
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