Help me decide: 218 Bee, 222 or 223

[ralfus]

I am new to Contenders and I have not completed or shot my Contender Pistol project yet. I have a 10" 357 barrel for deer that I am keeping but I have not decided what 22 centerfire barrel I want to stick with.

I currently have a 218 Bee 9" barrel that came with dies and brass that I got in a trade and have not used yet but wonder if I should go with a different barrel/cartridge.
I have 222 brass and dies.
I have 223 brass and dies.
I have a nice supply of 40, 45 and 50 grain bullets

I want to stick with a shorter pistol configuration, 12" or less barrel length and possibly use for varmint up to coyote/javalina size critters. I know the correct answer from TC fans to to buy one of everything but I cant afford that now.
Would the 223 be too loud and wasted energy from a 10-12" barrel??
Would the 222 Rem be better suited?
Am I better off just sticking with the Bee for this barrel length?

[mcwoodduck]

Flip a coin. between the 222 and 223.
reloading all three are great.
the 222 has a better rep for accuracy.

[Lone Star]

There is nothing wrong with your Bee for the smaller aminals, especially if the range won't exceed 150 yards.  The .221 FB is a small step up power-wise, but both are better suited to a 10" barrel than the .223 IMO.  My 10" .223 is very loud unless I load with a faster powder like BlueDot, then the blast and performance are like a normal Bee load.  I'd opt for the 12" tube if I was buying another.

All three are on the light side for javelina, as is a 50-grain bullet - again IMO.  If you are wedded to a .22CF and Javelina, then go with the .223.  You can easily load it down to Bee performance and blast, or heat it up with the 60-grainer Nosler Partition or the Speer 70-grain SP for coyotes and little pigs. 

.

[Hopalong7]

     The Bee....I love it!....especially in the 10".  My first 22 centerfire and I think my overall third barrel was a 10" octagon Bee.   Still got her and she still shoots good, in fact.... better, with the newer lighter bullets with better BC's and Li'lgun.

[ralfus]

Thanks folks. I'll stick with the Bee. 

[woodchukhntr]

A rimmed cartridge works better in Contenders since they headspace on the rim, stay with the Bee.

[Lone Star]

A rimmed cartridge works better in Contenders since they headspace on the rim, stay with the Bee.

No, rimmed cases do not work better because they headspace off the rim!  All bottlenecked cases should headspace off the shoulder in the Contender.  This was proven decades ago with cartridges like the Herretts.  The reason a rimmed case may bet better than a rimless case in the T/Cs is for more positive extraction, not headspace.

That said, I have yet to have any extraction problems with my .223, .300 Savage or .35 Remington barrels.  And thousands of silhouette shooters using the TCU cartridges didn't either.....



.

[casper_zip]

I agree with Lone Star. I have a cousin who swears that rimmed cases are superior in the Contender. Me, I have owned many rimless cartridge barrels. Have I ever had a problem with them ? NOPE. It ain't going to happen if you resize your cases properly.

I like both, but for case life, do my handloading carefully, size only what's needed. Works for me.

casper_zip

[Hopalong7]

     I'm one who definately prefers rimmed cases in Contender/Encores.   Do they shoot better??  NO!!  Do they handle easier??  Absolutely!!(at least to my old fingers).  The extractor has to be sping loaded for rimless cases, where it is a straight push/pull for rimmed.  ALL bottle neck cases should be headspaced on the shoulder.  If you screw up and head space a bottle neck case too short it is true that it will seat on the rim and probably fire, but this is certainly detrimental to accuracy and case life.  I've had my share of .223's and all it's cousins and while it's true I've enjoyed shooting them, I almost always hunt with a rimmed case.
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt 

[bobg]

   I called Virgin Valley a few years ago and ask the same question. I really wanted a Bee. I was told the better choice in a 12" barrel would be a 221 Fireball. That is what i ordered. Never had any problems loading for it and it was a great shooter.  I know this doesn't really answer your question. Just telling you what i did.
   bobg

[Hopalong7]

bobg,  Not sure why the  Fireball would be a "better" choice than the Bee other than the fact it is a slight step up in power(powder capacity).  I shoot both in 10" barrels and my Bee shoots smaller groups....granted, I've shot it more and "tinkered" with different loads a little more.  Any difference in the two IS minimal.  I'm sure the fact that the Bee is rimmed and the fireball isn't influences me considerably.

[Ladobe]

In a short 9"-10" barrel my choice would be the Bee also of the three you mention.   I've had a couple of 10" octagons and they were great shooters with the short tube.   If you water that barrel you have so it grows to 12" I'd still stay with the Bee or go to a 221 Fireball (have had multiple 10" & 12" FB barrels for my TC's plus my XP-100's).   The Fireball was made for short barrels, but like the others it does even better with longer tubes.   Water it a little more and if you could stand 14" the 222/223 can be a good choice.   

[stubshaft]

For efficiency, fun and ease of loading and shooting go with the Bee!