Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SMALL-BORE CENTERFIRE
.218 Bee
A small, rimmed bottleneck centerfire cartridge associated with traditional varmint rifles. Its relatively short case is a separate design from the Hornet.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 1.645–1.680 in
41.783–42.672 mm - Case length · max
- 1.345 in
34.163 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2245 in
5.702 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.408 in
10.363 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Small-bore centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.2245 in / 5.702 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 1 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 45 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.218 Bee is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 218 Bee. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
The .218 Mashburn Bee is an altered chambering. Tubular-magazine rifles also require appropriate factory bullet shapes.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Winchester introduced the .218 Bee in 1938 for the Model 65 lever-action rifle. Based on the .25-20 WCF case family, it was intended to offer more performance than the .22 Hornet without entering the larger high-velocity varmint-cartridge class. Its capacity lay between the Hornet and Winchester’s contemporary .219 Zipper.
The original rifle influenced the Bee’s reputation. The Model 65’s lever action and tubular magazine represented a different package from the bolt-action rifles that helped establish the Hornet’s accuracy reputation. The Bee later appeared in other action types, but it never achieved the same lasting commercial presence. That outcome illustrates how a cartridge’s success depends on its first firearms as well as its dimensions. The Bee remains an interesting survivor of the 1930s search for a practical small centerfire that could serve both traditional sporting rifles and the expanding varmint market.
Historical sources: Sierra: .218 Bee cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited .218 Bee examples, bullet weights are 45 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
45 grains
2,750 fps
HP Match
Compare all 1 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady8307 | 45 gr 2.92 g | HP Match | 2,750 fps 838 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.218 Bee: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 45 gr Hornady HP Match | Hornady | 0: 2750; 100: 1974; 200: 1362; 300: 1019; 400: 867; 500: 763 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .218 Bee?
A small, rimmed bottleneck centerfire cartridge associated with traditional varmint rifles. Its relatively short case is a separate design from the Hornet.
What diameter does .218 Bee use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2245 inches (5.702 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
The .218 Mashburn Bee is an altered chambering. Tubular-magazine rifles also require appropriate factory bullet shapes.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 74 ↗
- Sierra: .218 Bee cartridge background ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.