Author Topic: Anyone have any experience with .256 Max? (Read 500 times)

mikej · « **on:** February 24, 2004, 08:39:12 AM »

I'm thinking of getting a barrel for my Contender Carbine in .256 Max. Does anyone here have any information on sources for barrels, and loading data for this cartridge? Thanks in advance.

skb2706 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2004, 09:23:58 AM »

While I am not familiar with a .256 max I am assuming it is a .357 max. necked down...kinda like a .256 mag. I just got my first batch of .357 max brass last night and was thinking of several possiblities like that. Curious what you find out. .....

mikej · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2004, 05:21:32 AM »

I have had a .357 Max barrel for my Contender for a number of years, and wildcats based upon the .357 Max have intrigued me as well. There is a cartridge called the .222 Rimmed, which uses the .357 Max as it's basis, and the capacity of the .222 and the .357 Max are identical, so I thought a .357 Max necked down to .257 would be interesting. I called Redding, and they make forming and loading dies for a .256 Max, using the .357 Max as it's basis. The reamer was made by Dave Manson to specs from Bulberry, so the equipment is available, I just didn't want to purchase a reamer and barrel if someone already chambers the cartridge. I was also curious as to what velocities you would get from various barrel lengths, and whether I would be duplicating some other cartridge more readily available. Any comments/info are welcome. Thanks.

RonF · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2004, 06:23:08 AM »

Seems to me this should be a lot like the .257 TC/U as far as ballistics go. With that one you just neck up .223 cases and go - no forming dies. Of course, it's rimless if that bothers you. If you want something a bit hotter with a rim, go with a .257 JDJ.

RonF

mikej · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2004, 07:59:15 AM »

What kind of velocities and with what weight bullets in the .257 TCU and the .257 JDJ?

RonF · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2004, 10:45:59 AM »

Not sure about the TCU, but I believe you can get 25-2600 out of 100 gr. bullet in the JDJ with a 14" barrel and close to 2800 with an 87 grainer. The advertisemet says positive epansion on game at 300 yards. I don't have my books here at work so can't be absolutely positive. Take a look at reloading data for the 6.5 TCU and JDJ and subtract about 100 fps for equal weight bullets, as there is a bit less base to push on. Of course, you'll need to use just a bit less powder to reach these velocities since the expansion rate is different. The bullet base area ratio is (.257/.264)**2 = 0.95 so around 5% less velocity should be achieved at a given pressure profile, as a very rough approximation.

RonF

Moe · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2004, 01:47:53 PM »

I have a VV Encore carbine barrel that I bought used. It was 24 inches, I had it shortened to 16.5 inches. Also got the dies with the barrel, including a neck sizer and a 300 Mag sizer shortened to step the 357 to .30, then to .25. As a side note I just got a 30 Herrett and die set two weeks ago. The 30 Herrett sizer works just fine to step to .30. After that I think you can use a .256 Win Mag dieset. I lose a few cases if I am not paying attention. They seem to last a while after sizing. I have some with 6-7 loadings. I don't have a chrono so I don't know how fast they are going, but the 75's hit pretty hard. I also HAD a 10 inch Van Horn barrel that I wish I had not sold. It was fun. There is an article in an older varmint hunter magazine about this caliber. You gain about 30% over the 256 Win mag. With about 30% more powder. Pretty much the same loads as the Win Mag, same powders, just bumped up about 30%.
I have my eye on a 257TCU right now, trying to locate some reasonably priced dies first. Anybody have any ideas on dies?

mikej · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2004, 05:06:52 AM »

Thanks for all the help guys. Van Horn makes a barrel for either so I'll check with him.