256 Winchester Magnum

[drdoolittle_1]

Can cases be formed by just running 357 Mag brass through 256 win mag size die or do you need to run them through a form die first?
TIA,
Dave

[Flash]

When I used to own my 256 barrel, that is all I did. I had difficulty with the nickel cases but the brass ones worked fine. You have to be carefull with hydraulic dimples on the shoulder but with some practice, your reloading/sizing dies will work fine.

[Graycg]

Perhaps if you start with new brass you can do that, I've not had any luck with it with  any fired brass.  I am told that if you get a 30 mauser die, you can use that for an intermediate step...truthfully, I bought 200 rounds from Dustin's brass over the internet, the same guy who sold the 150 grain 358 bullets, and I'm happy with the brass he makes from new winchester 357 for $26 per 100.

regards,
 Graycg

[drdoolittle_1]

Thanks guys!
Graycq, that's exactly what I've done! Purchased a 100 brass from Dustin to get me started and can fool with forming at my leisure. I'll just buy a 2-die set of dies. Barrel will be here in next couple of days.  H110 and 4227 seem to be the powders, huh? Thanks again for your responses Graycq and Flash.
Cheers,
Dave

[ppro40]

Nice choice of cartridge for the T/C

I have one of the slow twist.... and one fast twist (1/7) which shoots bullets through 120 gr. super well.

One of the nicest cartridges I have worked with.

I did get the two step sizing dies and use starline brass, but I don't know that it is necessary.

have fun........great cartridge

Paul

[ppro40]

By the way.....
With the starline brass.....I load 18.4 grs of accurate arms 2200 and a 116 to 120 Hornady....

No pressure problem and extraction is good........VERY accurate and flat shooting.
1 1/4 high at 100 is dead on at 150

I have a fairly short throat version........

I don't know why this combination works so well......but it does.

Paul

[Joe Kool]

If you cast, try the Lyman #257420 bullet. Cast from wheel weights + 2% tin they weigh about 69 gr.. 8 gr. of IMR 4756 gives about 1875 fps. from the 10" Contencer barrel. Accuracy is is excellent. Muzzle blast is fairly low. Many of ground hog have been on the receiving end of my 256.  

[Blackhawk44]

According to a couple of old Handloader articles by Wayne Blackwell (Load From a Disk), annealing the cases first cuts case forming losses to near zero.