Has anyone loaded a 256 Winchester

[shotgunner]

After many years of looking I finally bought a Marlin 61 in 256 win. I see that brass is made from time to time and Midway will back order. I also found a couple of people who are selling re-formed 357 brass. Has anyone had any experience loading the 256? I remember reading an article some years ago on it. There is no chapter in Pet Loads by Ken Waters. Any input would be helpful. Shotgunner

[shotgunner]

Correction. The Marlin is a model 62, not a 61 as it says in my post. It was a very long day yesterday. Shotgunner

[briannmilewis]

Did you read this thread? I just found it but do not know if it is relevant to your situation. Good luck.


http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,4095.0.html

[stimpylu32]

shotgunner

Its a fun little round to shoot , try 2400 , H110 and IMR 4227 , all 3 powders do very will with bullets from 60g to 87g .

As for brass , Redding sells a die set to make them from 357 mag that does a great job , I use it as a form die to neck 357s for 22 Rem Jet too .

stimpy

[Reed1911]

We have properly head stamped brass in stock for 80.00 per 100 and it is made correctly and will head space unlike the Quality Cartridge brass that Midway sells. Heck, Midway has posted on their site the comments about bad quality and head space issues about the stuff, not sure why they still carry it.

I prefer 4227 myself for all my loads.

[Paladin]

+1 for the 4227. a friend of mine had a marlin 62, shot very well through he did blow it up a number of times. good luck

[shotgunner]

I just learned how to make brass without buying expensive forming dies. I ran some 357 cases into a 32-20 die to start the shoulder, then into the 256 dies in 3 steps. I bought 20 sets of dies at an auction yesterday and there was a set of RCBS 256 dies among them, so this must be my lucky week. You loose a few cases, but not too many. I am going to fire form them later today. I will get a scope on it and test some reloads tomorrow. How are the 87 grain bullets? Will they stabilize? I started with 4227, as I have a lot of it on hand. Is there any data for Lil-Gun?  This is great fun. Shotgunner

[Steelbanger]

Years ago I had a Contender bull barrel in 256 Win. That barrel had a very slow twist rate of around 1 turn in 14 inches. Bullets of up to 75 grains shot very well, 87 grain bullets opened the groups and anything over that was really bad. That's about all I can tell you. Hope it gives you a little insight into what's ahead for you.

[Reed1911]

I just learned how to make brass without buying expensive forming dies. I ran some 357 cases into a 32-20 die to start the shoulder, then into the 256 dies in 3 steps.

When we were making the brass from Starline .357 Mag we would anneal them, then use a 7.62x25 die then the .256WM die, works well that way. I've never tried the .32-20 but it should work in the same manner. I'm surprised you did not have to anneal the brass to get it to last though.

[shotgunner]

I was lazy and did not anneal the brass. I used 2 brands of once fired 357, Remington and PMC. I lost 8-10 cases out of 50. From what I know of the gun it is going to go through a lot of brass, and I can't see spending big money on it. I don't think it is the brass that is the problem, but the lock up of the gun. I mounted the 2X7 Leupold yesterday and did not get to shoot as it was raining. The skeet range is open today, so maybe when the boys get dome I will get a chance to shoot it. Shotgunner.

[cwlongshot]

I had one for a couple years, IIRC 4227 and a 75Gr HP was a nice combo!!  I made my own brass and annealing was near manditory.

Good luck,
 CW