Anyone cast for 256 Win Mag?

[Adam10mm]

Been thinking of getting an Encore pistol in 256 Win Mag and casting for it. What molds work well? Any secrets?

[johnly]

I have a pair of 10" 256WM bull barrels and a 10" Octagon for my Contender, along with a EBCO 256 Maximum. I'd recommend the chambering for lead and jacket bullet shooters. I've only shot jacketed bullets in mine, but I've been looking for a mold so I can give cast bullets a try.

I have both Encore and Contender frames, and for a round of this size, I'd opt for the Contender frame.

If you need some formed cases, or the dies to form them, just let me know.

John in Oregon

[Adam10mm]

Thanks. I'm looking at getting the 10" bull. Where did you get yours, straight from TC? Lyman lists a 257420 65gr (lino) FP and a 257312 89gr (lino) FP both GC in their manuals.

I got 30-some pcs of 256 WW headstamp brass. I also started loading for the .357 and will get Redding form dies and reloading dies in the near future.

[Calamity Jake]

The only way to get a TC in 256WM is thru the TC custom shop, it is no longer a standard chambering or from BullBerry. You might find a used one.

I've had a 10" bull for over 20 years. I shoot the lyman 257420 sized at .257 with FL on top of 10.0 gr surp WW680, with a 4X scope and me doing my part I can shoot 1.5-2.0 inch @ 100 most days. Canister powders like 2400, 4227, AA1680, AA#9 wnd some others work good in .256

[johnly]

The easy and cheap way to make 256 cases from 357 brass is by using either a 30 Mauser or 30 Luger sizing die before trying to force them into a 256 die. Use brass cases, nickel will work, but they are a PITA.

Form the cases all the way down to 256 before annealing the necks, otherwise the shoulders will collaspe during the 30 to 257 reduction sizing.

I have a 30 Mauser die I can send your way, and perhaps a spare set of 256 dies. If you're interested, just let me know.

John in Oregon

[Adam10mm]

Yes I am. PM with with a price and ship to.

[Leftoverdj]

I've shot the Lyman 257420 in the .25-20 and assorted larger cases for 20-30 years, and have lusted after a .256 for about the same time. The 257420 has done very well for me. The T/C custom shop barrels have a bad reputation for short sharp throats which is one of the reasons I have never gotten one. If you intend to shoot bullets heavier than about 80 grains, you'll probably have to throat it out anyway so that may not be a consideration. I have a .25 neck/throater if it turns out that you need it.

[beagle]

The 257420's a good little bullet in the .256WM. I had a Bullberry 10" bull barrel on a Contender for a while and it was a fun plinker on water filled pop cans at 100 yards. I also shot the same loads in a Competitor for a while. Both are pleasant shooting and accurate.

Cases can be formed easily from unplated .357 Mag brass if you take it slow.

I'd love to find a "shooter" Ruger Hawkeye./beagle

[redbear705]

As I was reading this post I recalled that I have a set of dies for this caliber.

They are RCBS part# 33301 group d.....FL Die Set 256 Win Magnum. has the box and paper brochure inside.

I will never have a gun in this caliber, I dont need this set and I have never heard of anyone even talking about it....so if someone is interested p.m. me and make offer! These look to be unused but I can not be sure.

I am open to trades...

This should be in the for sale area but you guys are here so I made a post.

JR

[tommag]

The easy and cheap way to make 256 cases from 357 brass is by using either a 30 Mauser or 30 Luger sizing die before trying to force them into a 256 die. Use brass cases, nickel will work, but they are a PITA.

Form the cases all the way down to 256 before annealing the necks, otherwise the shoulders will collaspe during the 30 to 257 reduction sizing.

I have a 30 Mauser die I can send your way, and perhaps a spare set of 256 dies. If you're interested, just let me know.

John in Oregon

John is there anything you don't have in your cabinet?

[johnly]

Tom,

You've seen my garage.... you couldn't have been surprised that I had a set of 256WM dies.

I picked up a new 45 caliber mold, next time you're down this way bring the 450 along and let's see if we can get it to shoot.

John in Oregon

[tommag]

Tom,

You've seen my garage.... you couldn't have been surprised that I had a set of 256WM dies.

I picked up a new 45 caliber mold, next time you're down this way bring the 450 along and let's see if we can get it to shoot.

John in Oregon

It wouldn't surprize me to see dies for the 105 mm in there!
Sounds good, maybe around Cristmas/New years?

[oldfart]

I have 225 winchester and so far I like. I have 14" t/c barrel on g-2 frame

[shdwlkr]

I have the lyman 65 grain mold and a 6 holer lee that I got here 80 grain in weight. Both work fine in my 257 and the 256 cases I made from 357 mag cases.
Still waiting on my smith to build my model 92 in 256 win mag. May go and find a marlin 62 in 256 win mag while the smith makes mine.
I wanted the 256 win instead of the 25-20 just because I can make my own cases as I shoot a 357 mag.
The last time I saw brass for the 256 in was something like $40 for 50 cases. I also was able to make around 2-300 cases using nickel cases and can see nothing wrong with them if they last one round they cost me $0.10 a piece.
I got the redding dies to go from 357 to 257 and only lost one case that just totally collapsed when I tried to resize.

[nemo]

.265 Win Mag Brass. You can reform .222,.223 or .221 You can extract witha strick ,rod or get a extracter from TC .Pressure is no plob as .256 is 40000 class base is .003 less than rimed case. I have been useing .221 in atest that works real good . when you start getin miss fires from too long cases at the sholder resize sholder back from .002 back too take pressur off TC`s safety

[Colorado1135]

so has anyone cast bullets for the 256? I really want to get one for my wife and I to plink with and for her to hunt with. do these need a gas check?

[383]

I've had an interest in this caliber since reading about it a few years back. Did it die off from lack of or type of firearms it was chambered in, or did it just not do anything that other calibers already did?

[Colorado1135]

not sure, I think it didn't have enough oomf as larger cases perhaps? I have no idea many of the 25 calibers have fallen by the wayside such as the 25-20 or 23-35 especially

[Colorado1135]

I finally got a 256, now I need a recommendation from someone on a good mold, and where to find a .30 mauser die. this is my first obsolete project, so any help would be appreciated