256 win mag

waxman

Is anyone making brass or ammo for the 256 win mag? I can't find any and what I'm making from 357 brass isn't turning out the best.

waxman

is it possible to make 256 win mag cases out of 357 mag brass for this round. is it reasonably easy to do. thanks

nononsense

waxman,

"...and what I'm making from 357 brass isn't turning out the best."

Maybe you need some help with your techniques for producing alternative cases from the master case. Why don't you describe your process and let's see if there are places where we can help you.

Contact Jamison International Brass, they list it:

http://www.cheytac.com/JamisonIndex.html

Conley Precision Cartridge lists it:

http://www.cpcartridge.com/256winmagP.htm

Best.

waxman

I have just been running new star line brass through a redding full lenght size die. Some of them are not getting the shoulder set back far enough to chamber and all of them have lines formed into the neck and shoulder that doesn't come out even when fired.

mrbruce

I think it would help if you did the necking down in small steps instead of all at one time..

nononsense

waxman,

I think you need to do some reading about forming cases. There is a tremendous amount of material on the Web but there are a couple of good books to get also:

The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversion by John J. Donnelly

Designing and Forming Custom Cartridges, by Ken Howell

Here is an article on annealing:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/annealing.html

Best.

perry shooter

Hello Check out Bobski on ask the expert forum he has 49 cases . and wants to sell

bobski

i would never try to sell something on gb. thats against rules![:I]
but i would like to know what these are worth....then i could auction them![;)]
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=291625

HandgunHTR52

Quality Cartridge also makes .256 Winchester brass. Midway has it listed but it is out of stock.

Dumpster Baby

quote:Originally posted by waxman
I have just been running new star line brass through a redding full lenght size die. Some of them are not getting the shoulder set back far enough to chamber and all of them have lines formed into the neck and shoulder that doesn't come out even when fired.


The problem is that the brass is too hard, and needs to be annealed. I used to form .256 cases in one pass in my RCBS sizing die with Super Vel brass and occasionally some odd Winchesters. Most batches of .357 brass I tried was too brittle and wouldn't form without crinkling in the shoulder and neck area. The Super Vel ammo has been discontinued for decades now.

If I was faced with making .256 cases now, I would pick any brand of brass (not nickel) and anneal the case mouths as the first step. I wouldn't even waste my time trying to form them without annealing first.

waxman

Thanks Dumpster Baby I will try annealing them first. I thought about necking them down in steps but couldn't come with any die to use as an in between step. bobski if you put your ammo on auction let me know I would be interested.

dtknowles

If you are looking for a die for the in between step try 7.62 x 25 (.30 Mauser/Tok). Be careful how you adjust the die, if you set it like normal it will set the shoulder back to far so don't screw it in all the way, leave it short and try then adjust. +2 on annealing

Tim

5mmgunguy

They will form perfectly IF you properly anneal them.

Dumpster Baby

Update:

After my last post on annealing and forming I got inspired to try something. I remembered having a couple of 60 RPM gearmotors in my junk box. I mounted one in a wooden box at the front side, and put an old canteen cup in the rear of the box to catch hot brass. The shaft coupling that was on these motors was just right for holding a piece of brass rod to act as a "shell holder".

I used a propane torch to anneal 50 Midway .357 cases I found. I lubed and formed them in an RCBS .256 sizing die. All came out perfectly. [:D]

I should have done this many years ago.

Here's another guy's version of a gearmotor annealer: