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I have - and really like - a standard Bee. My objective for the Bee was to develop Hornet Rifle speeds from a 14" Contender. The Bee does that, and more. In other words, the Bee gives me the same 2800 fps from the pistol that the Hornet delivers from my rifle. That's pretty impressive.
What's even better is that the Bee actually does it with 50-grain bullets versus the 45s that work best in the Hornet. The Bee's faster twist has a lot to do with that, but the extra case capacity makes it possible, too.
In a rifle, the Bee is a superb choice - of only somebody still made one. You can find the occasional Ruger #1 factory chambered for the Bee, but no currently-made repeaters at all. The old Win M-43 rifles in Bee demand collector prices in the heart attack region, and likewise the very few Sakos ever made in Bee.
But a T/C carbine, a converted Martini or are-chambered NEF (if that's possible) would be slick. The Bee crowds the Fireball in performance. There are really no gaps in the performance fence with 22 centerfires. There is a smooth continuum of oomph from the 22 Hornet through Bee, Fireball, 222/223, 22-250, Swift. Call it 2500 fps to 4000 with identical bullets. That's a heck of a performance range!
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