Attn. Arborman (& others).. Got the 256 Win. Mag shooting...

savage99

savage99

New member
Just thiught I'd let you know that after working up loads for my Marlin 62 in 256 that I finally got one to shoot. After trying some combos, I came up with a good recipe that shot great at my uncle's 50 yard indoor range. Now I know it wasn't at a real 100 Yarder, but I have hopes that this load will be a good yote smoker /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif. The following recipe finally yielded a .413 inch 3 shot group:
Case: Win. 256 Win. Mag
Primer: Federal 205
Bullet: 60 gr. Hornady flat nose
Powder: IMR 4227 @15.9 grains
At about 2500 ft. per sec., I am happy with this final result. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Savage99, Have you had any problems with sticky extraction. I have in my marlin 62 and the loads are mild. Glad yours is shooting so well. Byron
 
pastorp, yes, a little bit with even factory. I hope to remedy this situation somewhat by neck sizing only. The model 62 chambers were all made oversized at the factory and this is an inherant problem with most people's 62 I know here who shoot one. The brass swells so much in the chamber that extractions are sticky from time to time. I have found that trimming my brass to the "trim to length" each time really does help. I am happy with the IMR 4227 but my uncle Dave claims that 'Lil Gun should work well too and he is working on a load for his 62 with it now. The real drag is that it is almost impossible to match factory accuracy with the Win. 60 gr. hollow points. Bummer noone makes a 60 gr. hollow point in 25 cal. for the reloader.
 
I love the .256 Win-Mag and have been using one for the past 3 calling seasons. It’ll knock the stuffing out of a coyote, I’m sure you’ll enjoy yours. I’m surprised that it isn’t a more popular wildcat. It got some IMO undeserving bad press in an Article for Varmint Hunter by Rocky Rabb. It’s been a while since I read it but if memory serves me right he was using a borrowed 10” T/C Contender and some questionable/dated loads.
My experience has had the favorable outcome that it sounded like he was hoping for when he wrote the article.

My T/C Encore .256 Win-Mag was built by Virgin Valley before they went out of business. It has full 1-10 24” barrel tapering to .750 at the muzzle. With it I have tested just about the entire gamut of load possibilities. I form my own brass from .357 Magnum cases and have several loads that will shoot MOA or better when I do my part. I think the real beauty of this little round is that I get results that are nothing to sneeze at while using little powder, having low recoil, long barrel life, and economical to shoot. You’re under a different set of circumstances with the Levermatic than I am. I would surely give RL #7 a try as I prefer it to IMR 4227 with just about every load. I would also give the Speer 75gr Hot Core Flat Noses #1237 a go as I liked them better than the 60gr Hornady Flat’s probably do to the twist in my barrel.

I kept exacting notes during my load development and can give anyone who’s interested my notes. My pet load turned out to be…

78gr. Berger MEF Moly
19gr of RL#7
Fully Prepared Formed .357 Brass (Neck Turned, Primers de-burred uniformed, etc.)
Remington 71/2 SR BR Primers ( I use CCI and Federal too without any difference)
1.980” OAL
2,700fps Chrony at 10 feet.

I had some good luck with heavier bullets but they gave up too much in velocity for me the 85gr Noslers BT’s and 87gr Speer TNT’s were both accurate.

It’s nice to see somebody else shooting a .256 and having good luck with it.

Blaze
 
I always thought the .256 was a neat round, too young to get a new one when they were first introduced and kicked myself that I never got a Ruger Hawkeye. Enjoy your guns. Don
 
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Blaze, I like the Hornady 75 gr. hollow point outta my contender in 256 but the problem with my rifle is I gotta shove 'em way down into the case to get them to chamber. I was gonna try some of Hornady's 75 gr. V-max's that I shoot otta my Ruger 77 in 250-3000 but they are too long too. Do you happen to know who makes the shortest in total length 75 gr. 25 cal. pill?
 
Savage I am in Korea right now so I can't just go out and look in my shop. The simple answer is, Speer 75gr Hot Core Flat Noses #1237

If your looking for a Spitzer Pointed bullet Berger's 78 grain that I like to shoot is .873" but I dont remember them being any shorter than the Hornady 75gr HP's your shooting now.

I had good luck with the Hornady 75 gr hollowpoints too. 17.5gr of RL #7 clocked at 2,500fps and were both mild in noise and recoil. They were the best bang for the buck bullets I tested; grouping right at or slightly under MOA.

Sorry I could not help more.
 


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