Anybody here ever shoot a .256 Newton?

[JPShelton]

I'm wondering if anybody here has ever shot or currently shoots a .256 Newton, and if they have any insight on how to make cases for the round and in turn, make loaded ammo from them... 
 
I've been thinking about buying an old Newton rifle, and if I do, the .256 Newton is what I want it chambered to.  Might be fun if there's some way to make cases out of .30-'06 brass for it.....  I've never owned a 6.5mm rifle, but I've kind of wanted to get my hands on a Newton since I was a kid.  Dunno why......
 
JP

[D Fischer]

I've never even seen a picture of one but, it is supposed to be an awful lot like the 6.5-06. Probably if that's what the rifle is in now you could cast the chamber and have dies made from that. Cases could probably be made from 30-06 cases. If it's not in the 256 right now, any value it has will go down if you mess with it. It would probably be better to keep the Newton the way it is and build a 256 on a different action. I assume it is in a newton cartridge right now?

[JPShelton]

The rifle I am thinking of buying is a Newton cambered in .256 Newton.  Owner has two boxes of Western .256 Newton ammo.  Ain't gonna be nearly enough, methinks, but I need to figure out how big of a PITA it is going to be to shoot the thing before I commit to it.
JP

[RememberBaker]

It's not difficult to shoot the .256 Newton, I have one. RCBS and CH4D both make dies, they're special order from RCBS and take at least 90 days, Buffalo Arms usually has the CH4D dies in stock.

While you can make brass from 30-06, it's easier to make by necking down .270 Winchester or necking up 25-06. Both Captech International (formerly Jamison's) and Quality Cartridge make properly head stamped Newton brass, MidwayUSA carries the QC brass and Buffalo Arms Co has the Jamison's brass.

You would probably be better off keeping or selling the Western ammo, a lot of it seems to have split necks and even if it dosen't the brass is so old it's probably not going to be reloadable, too old and brittle.

[RememberBaker]

A couple other things that might be helpful:

If the rifle is a First Model Newton (1916), the twist rate of the rifling seems to be best suited to bullets of 130 grains or below. I shoot 130 gr. Nosler Accubonds or 125 gr. Partitions. I've never tried 140's, but I've been told they don't shoot well.

Load data is thin, Ken Waters devoted one of his "pet loads" articles to the .256 and if you google it, you should be able to find it. There is a fair amount of stuff on Loaddata .com. if you subscribe to that.

Much of the load data for Newtons was done without pressure testing equipment and is very hot. Start low and be careful, Newton stocks are highly prone to cracking, especially in the larger calibers.

[D Fischer]

It's not difficult to shoot the .256 Newton, I have one. RCBS and CH4D both make dies, they're special order from RCBS and take at least 90 days, Buffalo Arms usually has the CH4D dies in stock.

While you can make brass from 30-06, it's easier to make by necking down .270 Winchester or necking up 25-06. Both Captech International (formerly Jamison's) and Quality Cartridge make properly head stamped Newton brass, MidwayUSA carries the QC brass and Buffalo Arms Co has the Jamison's brass.

You would probably be better off keeping or selling the Western ammo, a lot of it seems to have split necks and even if it dosen't the brass is so old it's probably not going to be reloadable, too old and brittle.

I've used 270 case's to make my 6.5x06 loads. As I recall, the necks need to be trimmed quite a bit or the case's won't chamber.

[JPShelton]

Thanks, RememberBaker...  The rifle I am considering is the first model Newton marketed, so I appreciate your commentary on rifling twist rate.  As for the rest of it, I'd rather use properly headstamped brass and would go that route since there seems to be some out there to obtain.
 
Probably obvious, but this Newton rifle deal falls under the heading of "want" rather than "need" for me and I still haven't committed myself to the idea that this childhood dream is one that really needs to be realized at this point in my life.
 
Still, I'm glad to know that if I DO take the plunge, loading for it seems like it won't be as difficult as I imagined it would be.
 
JP

[RememberBaker]

First Model Newtons, particularly those in good original condition aren't very common, there were around 4000 of them made. The .256 was the most popular, about 2500 of the 4000 were originally chambered in that.

They are fairly valuable in almost any condition, the most valuable ones are in good condition, with matching serial numbers, original sights and butt plate. After that any additional factory options increase their value. Those would include, bolt peep sights or a Lyman 48 reciever sight, barrels longer than 24 inches, raised comb stocks and factory sling swivels.

Modifications that detract from their value are things like, tapping  for scopes or stocks shortened and butt plates that were changed.

The stocks are quite delicately shaped and as I said previously, are prone to cracking, so you want to check carefully near the tang.

They were serial numbered in a bunch of places, under the bolt handle, floor plate, grip cap, butt plate, receiver and the stocks tend to be numbered under the action, grip cap and butt plate. Oddly, the barrels seem to be numbered only rarely.

If the rifle is in reasonably  good condition and its something you've always wanted, well, I wouldn't let it get away. They are very cool rifles.

[JPShelton]

Thanks again, RememberBaker!  Your input is most helpful.  The rifle that all my fussing is about is a first model and it doesn't appear to have ever been used much during its life.  The stock has very few handling marks, and appears sound around the tang.  The bluing is in fabulous condition, with an appearance fitting a gun of its age and kept oiled and stored.  It does have a Lyman 48 but I don't know whether this was installed at the factory or as an aftermarket modification.  Who installed it and when doesn't really matter to me in the grand scheme of things.  I'm glad its there because I like that sight A LOT.
This may sound sacraligious to some, but I have no space in my gun room for arms that don't get fired and / or hunted with.  So if I do buy the Newton, it will most definately get used both on the range and in the field.  That is, after all, what it was made for.
I'm leaning heavily toward buying.  I had the good fortune of essentially "inheriting" a Griffin and Howe built on a Springfield barreled action when I was 18 and hunted with it extensively until I was about 30 years old, when I had the misfortune of loosing it to the fire that razed the cabin on my family's hunting camp.  I've wanted a "suitable replacement" ever since and this Newton I'm considering is a more cost effective alternative than the G&H Springfields I come across that are duplicates of my old one.
I'm not getting any younger, either, and it would be nice to have a Newton while I'm still in shape enough to fully enjoy it in the field.
JP
 

[RememberBaker]

If its a long slide Lyman 48, (I think the scale goes to 120), that's the sight that would be correct for the rifle and it really dosen't matter if it was installed at the factory or later. If its a short slide (scale goes to 60) it was put on later.

As far as shooting the rifle and hunting with it, I'm with you, they were made to be used. My .256 Newton is my deer rifle, the .30 Newton will be my moose rifle as soon as I'm fortunate enough to draw a tag.

I'm sorry about the Springfield, I really like those rifles. I have another barrel for a .256 Newton, I haven't decided if I'm going to keep looking for a Newton action to put it on or put it on a Springfield action.