WW680

OK, I got three pounds of this NOS at a gun show a while back, always heard it was good stuff with jacketed loads in the Hornet and Bee.

I'm about to start loading for my Bee, up to now, just shot ammo that came with the rifle. I have some 45 grain jacketed bullets and went to look up data only to find I have none in several loading manuals I have.

Does someone have a source for published data for the .218 Bee using 680?

Manuals published in the 80's-2000 should have some data.

11.8 is max for your hornet with a 45
11.6 with a 46.
from the winchester 14th.

give me a minute to go dig through my Bee data.

Hornady manual from 1980 had data for the Hornet but not the Bee. Speer manual from that era, not data for the Bee at all. Also have an old Hogdon from back then, just two powders, no 680 for the Bee.

40gr bullet 13.5,,, compressed.
45gr 12.5 to 13.5,,,, 13.5 max
50gr 12.5,,, compressed

Ken Waters.

I hadn't thought of looking through Pet Loads, should have looked there first.

Thanks very much. Did he say what rifle that data was tested in? Mine is built on a MArtini Cadet, not sure how that compares with say a Winchester 43 strength wise.

he done a low wall, and cautioned on a model 63.
he also used a win 92.
personally i'd probably go straight to between 12.5-13.0 and work from there.

the drop from 100 to 200 even at like 2800 fps. just isn't worth the squeeze. [airc it's like 6"s]
but as a 50-150yd. varmint rig your right on the money with easy [read expensive] case life.

Between what I got with the rifle and what I've accumulated, I have a fair amount of brass, several hundred rounds.

I got into the Hornet as a substitue rimfire. Figured out how to do that pretty fast and as a result, I have never loaded a "real" Hornet round. Strange, I know.

For the Bee, I'd like to see how it performs in it's true state first, but this will likely become a squirrel rifle as well, so brass oughta last a long time. I kind of figure I have a .222 and a couple of .223s if I want to do more with a light varmint rifle.

I shot Bee's for several years and found them easier on brass than the Hornet, and generally more accurate. Used the Bee as a reloadable 2,000 f/s close in varminter and for vermin around the barns.

AA 1680 powder is supposed to be the same as WW 680 powder. I've found 1680 to substitute for 680 in my .218 Bee for accuracy and pressure when I used my last can of 680. Possibly you could use AA 1680 loading data.

Well, done with my memorial Day committment, think I'm gonna go out to the shop and give this stuff a whirl. As fine as that powder is, it should meter like water.

Thanks for the help.

it does.
i went the other direction with 1680 and used 680 data when it first come available... pretty much the same-same.

I liked the powder I was gifted another pound after using all mine a decade+ ago.

Yes on 1680 was replacement but mot sure on same date.

I can search some of my old Lyman/Speer manuals if you need. I also have most pet loads in a binder.

CW

Had 20 cases all full length sized and primed. Turns out these little bullets were 40 grainers rather than 45s. Seems a #13 rotor in the Lil Dandy throws 12.4 grains, perfect!

Then I misadjusted the new seating die and crushed a case neck, ruining it, Damn! Bad with anything, but especially something hard to obtain. Quite for the evening. Went back this afternoon, was more careful setting the die up and also flared the case mouths just a tiny bit, something I don't think I've ever done for jacketed bullets, but it worked like a charm. Had to stop once all bullets were seated, wife is gonna want to go do Taco Tuesday, but the dies came to me with a Lee factory crimp die, I don't care about the crimp, but want to make sure to take the flare out. Hopefully get to shoot these tomorrow.

richhodg66 said:

Between what I got with the rifle and what I've accumulated, I have a fair amount of brass, several hundred rounds.

I got into the Hornet as a substitue rimfire. Figured out how to do that pretty fast and as a result, I have never loaded a "real" Hornet round. Strange, I know.

For the Bee, I'd like to see how it performs in it's true state first, but this will likely become a squirrel rifle as well, so brass oughta last a long time. I kind of figure I have a .222 and a couple of .223s if I want to do more with a light varmint rifle.

Click to expand...

What you did with the Hornet I wanted to do with the Bee in my M43. I figured a 45-50 fn cast bullet at something in the 22Mag speed area would make a dandy varmint gun. But then primers and powder became unobtainable and 22 mags were all that was on the shelf!!! Can't win sometimes.

Brett, during the Obama years (not blaming him, seems there are runs on things no matter who's in now)when .22 LR ammo was unobtanium, I got my first Hornet, a Savage 219. It was on gunbroker and I was watching it, then noticed the seller was pretty much local which sealed the deal not to have to ship, transfer, etc. Met the guy and bought it, he had a few cartridges with jacketed loads in them, he wanted me to shoot it as they are notorious for busted firing pins, good guy, so I shot it into a gravel pile on the side of the highway where we met up and that was the last jacketed bullet I ever shot in a Hornet.

Messed around with checkless bullets from a couple of Lyman molds which worked alright, but bought the NOE 45 grain WFN, ordered it with all plain based and two grains of Bullseye makes a very good killer of Fox Squirrels at realistic woods ranges. Later, I got one of the original Lee Bators, not their current one, cast real soft, checked and six grains of 2400 does a real nice job too. Those are really the only Hornet loads I shoot, but since primers cost more than .22LR rounds now, I likely won't be doing it much now.

Can't see a reason it wouldn't work just as well or better in the Bee.

I'm not a Hornet fan, but a 219 could tempt me. I always liked that little gun.

I really like the 219s as well, so slim and graceful in the hands, like a stalking rifle.

Took a little time and shot the Martini, 20 rounds at 50 yards, but pleased with the first handloads. HThese are some kind of leftover bullets which likely aren't the best and I need to experiment around with seating depths, but most holes were in a half inch. Trigger on the rifle could use some work.

I need to load up some more and see how she does at 100. Not gonna hotrod this rifle, so 100 yards or a bit more is all I'm ever gonna ask of it.

JUST got a very old ~lb of it... What else is it known for?