Win 256 Mag

R

reddog

New member
I just bought this caliber yesterday, in a Marlin Levermatic, model 62 and was wondering if anyone had any experince with it.

I didnt really buy it to shoot it, although I probably will.

It kept calling my name and I couldnt resist its charms.

Plus, I thought it was cheap for as few of them as you ever see around.
 
Interesting a 357 necked down to .257 pushing 2700ft/sec
Sounds like a potent varminter.
The quote below was from 2005 so them stating that ammo is still available through Winchester might have changed.
Produced from 1963-66, it looks kinda like a Ruger 94/44 carbine priced at about the same as a model 336.



"Even though the .256 Winchester is more flexible and thus more useful cartridge than the .25-20WCF, the Marlin Model 62 lever action and Universal Firearms M1 carbine are the only two rifles ever chambered for it. Obviously, few shooters took serious note of the cartridge since the production life of both rifles was brief. Life for the .256 Magnum was equally short in the Ruger Hawkeye, a single shot handgun that excited few people except collectors.

The .256 Winchester Magnum is nothing more exotic than the .357 Magnum case necked down for .257" bullets. Winchester still offers factory ammunition with a 60 grain jacketed bullet at over 2700 fps. Un-primed cases are still available from Winchester. Reloading dies are available from several sources.

When the ballistics of the .256 Winchester Magnum are compared with those of other varmint cartridges, its performance in the field is not something one would sneeze at. A 75 grain spitzer moving out at 2500 fps delivers over 600 foot-pounds of residual energy at 200 yards, or about the same as the .222 Remington at the same ranges. Zeroed 2" high at 100 yards, the same bullet is down by less than 2" at 200 yards.

A varmint shooter who just has to have a rifle in this chambering has no choice but to go the custom route. A custom rifle in this caliber built around the Martini Cadet would be a nice little outfit for roaming the varmint fields. Another good possibility is to have a custom barrel made tor the T/C Contender Carbine."

From :
http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/256w.html
 
Thanks CO,

It came with brass, dies, scope and mounts for 375.00

Couldnt pass up a rare breed for that amount.

Should have it soon.
 
I traded mine in on a 222.
The 256 is a fun gun to shoot but mine was not very accurate.
I like the lever action and had the same gun in a 57M
22wmr....it was very accurate and I wish i still had it.
The 256 is better than the 25-20 and if it is accurate
enough would be a cool 150 and closer calling rifle. Just my .02
The only Red Fox I have ever shot was taken with the 256.
No real fur damage other than full penatration.
 
I have the same rifle , passed down to me from my dad, 25 years ago. Its been the demise of many groundhogs over the years, although I probably havn't fired it in over 5 years now. I still have a handful of brass and the reloading dies.
I wasn't aware anyone was still producing ammo for it. I would be interested in brass if anyone knows where it can be bought. Steve
 
Got the same rifle, you STOLE that set-up man!! Mine loves the Hornady 60 grain flat nose on top of 15.9 grains of IMR 4227. Great gun, great caliber, I grab brass whenever I find it. Factory ammo is stupid expensive but reloading makes it fun. I have an older T/C Contender in the same caliber. There are rumors floating around that there were some 62's made in 22 Jet, but I don't think they have been confirmed. My uncle called on one advertised in the classifieds here in NH about 10 years ago and he got the "just sold it" story.

The factory Winchester 60 grain hollow points shoot superbly, I lucked out and bought a bunch of old 60 grain hollow point bullets from a guy to reload in my brass. NOONE makes a 60 grain 25 cal. flat nose hollow point anymore so I really was happy to find these. Good luck, Rich.
 
Quote:
Got the same rifle, you STOLE that set-up man!! Mine loves the Hornady 60 grain flat nose on top of 15.9 grains of IMR 4227. Great gun, great caliber, I grab brass whenever I find it. Factory ammo is stupid expensive but reloading makes it fun. I have an older T/C Contender in the same caliber. There are rumors floating around that there were some 62's made in 22 Jet, but I don't think they have been confirmed. My uncle called on one advertised in the classifieds here in NH about 10 years ago and he got the "just sold it" story.

The factory Winchester 60 grain hollow points shoot superbly, I lucked out and bought a bunch of old 60 grain hollow point bullets from a guy to reload in my brass. NOONE makes a 60 grain 25 cal. flat nose hollow point anymore so I really was happy to find these. Good luck, Rich.




Like I said, I couldnt even believe it was on an auction site at that amount, when I seen it. I called the guy, and he said it belonged to a rancher in Western SD, and he had fallen on some bad health issues, and needed the money. He said he and his son had matching rifles, and the dad decided to part with it.

I even told the guy that had it for sale, that it was too cheap. He said... Does that mean you want to buy it right now, then lol I said no, Im working on buying a couple other things, and needed to think about it a bit more. After hanging up, I regretted it, and called him right back, and bit the bullet.

Almost every one Ive seen, has been between 500 and 850, depending on who has had it for sale. I did see an extra clip on a site this week also. I probably should get that one also, just to have it.

Looking forward to tinkering with it..

I also have a 57M Levermatic in 22 Win mag. Theyll look pretty good next to each other..
 
I love my 256 Win Mag.
I have a Contender barrel, 9" bull and its deadly accurate.
60gr FP or 75gr Vmax with H110...it will blow stuff up.
Its not 300 yard gun...but I have a 223 for that.
Perfect little truck gun.
You can buy formed brass or form it yourself, its not really that hard. I formed 50 more the other day and didn't lose any.
I think you got a helluva deal!!
I'm in western SD...wish I would've seen this!
Congrats and shoot it alot!
 


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