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.256 Winch. Magnum

robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
edited February 2002 in General Discussion
I was talking with Allen about this earlier. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of this round? Anyone have a gun chambered for it, and shoot it? I'm interested in learning more of this round. The thread about 'what obsolete cartridge would you like to see made again', got me looking at this, and now I cant get my mind off of it. Seem like it would be a great short range, large diameter varmint cartridge, with dual purpose, and cheap to shoot and reload. Anyone have input on this? Does anyone know of a modern cartridge that is very similar to it, that I may be overlooking?
SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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Comments

  • win37win37 Member Posts: 74 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Barrels for the Contender keep popping up on the auction sites. One on ebay right now.
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  • 218Beekeep218Beekeep Member Posts: 3,033
    edited November -1
    Ryan,it`s basically a necked down 357 magnum.I enealed a few 357 cases,and ran them through the 256 Win. die,and came out with perfect 256 cases.I`ve heard other guys talk about other steps,but mine came out fine the way I did it.Jody,who hangs out on the want ads here,told me at the show today,that he runs them through the 30 carbine sizer die first.I have a single shot rifle,rechambered to 256 from 25-20,that I`m working on,..my brother has an old Marlin "LEVERMATIC"rifle in 256 win mag. .218[This message has been edited by 218Beekeep (edited 02-17-2002).]
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the info. Maybe I can locate one of these old Marlins, or get a gun rechambered as you did. Any ideas which calibers can be just rechambered with out any other hassle, should I be looking only at single shots, to avoid feeding, ejection problems? Thanks, Ryan.
    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • jodyjody Member Posts: 94
    edited November -1
    218beekeeper, that was a 30 luger die . btwyou came very close to owning a mod 65!see ya at the next show JODY
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  • 218Beekeep218Beekeep Member Posts: 3,033
    edited November -1
    Jody,sorry for the mis-quote,are 30 luger dies very easy to come by,I never see them,and I`m always looking through dies at the shows...I`m cheap,and I hate buyin` new ones. Ya say I came close to owning a 65?...you mean you were gunna give me the rifle,but changed yer mind ...see ya at Pinellis Park next weekend .By the way,you covered some ground,from Lakeland to Ft Myers,what town do you live in,anyway?.218
    Did somebody say somethin` about bees?
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  • 25-0625-06 Member Posts: 382 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 256 is a fine little cartridge, however it was never very popular. The only factory guns made for it were the Ruger Hawkeye, a single shot on the Blackhawk frame with a unique rotating breech block that rotated out to the right side for ejecting the fired shell and loading a new one. The TC Contender had barrels available for awhile and Marlin chambered the Model 62 Levermatic for it a few years. I believe that is it for factory arms. It was a neat little cartridge, I had a 10" Contender for awhile and shot rabbits and prairie dogs and two coyotes with it.The best bullet for it was the Speer 60 gr. spire point which is no longer made. Hornady still makes a 60 gr. flat point for tubular magazines for the 25-20. The case does not have enough capacity for 75 gr. bullets to achieve any decent velocities. You might be able to rechamber a Marlin 1894 (one of the newer ones) to it. You might have to alter the feed mechanism somewhat also. I believe it is Fox Creek, or something like that, that was TC's custom shop. They might make you a barrel for a Contender or an Encore frame in rifle length.
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  • jodyjody Member Posts: 94
    edited November -1
    Yes, you would had it for FREE!!!! I was alittle upset at all the OTHER venders tryingto give me 300.00 to 350.00 for it ,I was gonna give it to you but, you said I have a mod 43 bee. I currently reside in Punta Gordabut my job has me all over Fl. JODY
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  • jodyjody Member Posts: 94
    edited November -1
    Yes, you would had it for FREE!!!! I was alittle upset at all the OTHER venders tryingto give me 300.00 to 350.00 for it ,I was gonna give it to you but, you said I have a bee. also I live in Punta Gorda
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  • woodsrunnerwoodsrunner Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Uberti makes a little Rolling block in .357 magnum, I've often thought if I ever found one used I'd have it rebarelled to a .256 magnum. WOODS
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