.256 winmag

[gumpokc]

Rocky, in another thread you mentioned this caliber, and i know where a rifle in very good shape in it is for sale.

The info i have found, while not disparaging, is not exactly praising it, so i thought i'd ask for you thoughts on it.

Overall what do you think of it?

[BILLY D.]

I ain't Rocky and I don't impersonate him on TV. But I'll stick my nose in here.

I only know of the 256 Win Mag from Silhouette shooting about 20+ years ago. It is the 357 Mag case necked down to 25 caliber.


My synopsis is it's kind of wimpy. It would not put down the rams at 200 meters reliably.

As a small game/varmit round it would probably? be effective inside 200 yds. For the deers sake I would not recommend it.

There were only two rifles produced for the round, Marlin Mod 62
and I for the life of me can't think of the other.

Thompson Center produced barrels in this chambering and Ruger also produced a Hawkeye Pistol for it.

As you probably know factory ammo is zilch. Strickly a handloading proposition now as far as I know. However components are easily purchased including dies. Cases are standard 357 Mag. The people that I knew who shot it all liked 4227, either brand.

Thats about all I know so I'm about dried up. Maybe somebody with more info will come along.

Best wishes, Bill

[gumpokc]

Thanks Billy, that abouty sums up what i had heard and read about it.

The rifle in question in a marlin model 62, with scope, in about 90% condition, maybe a little better for about $600.

With it never becoming very popular, nor all that many made, I was wondering if it might have any collector value late ron down the road.

thanks again for the info, and your never butting in :)

[BILLY D.]

Gump

I never got intothe collector end of guns even though I have a few that could be considered collectables.

I personaly have never seen a Marlin 62. so they must be as scarce as chicken lips. If I'm not mistaken there were some built in Hornet and 218 Bee. The 30 Carbine and the 256 suffered the same fate especially in the Ruger Pistols. The pistols were great, the rounds just died and never became popular.

Numerich/ Gun Parts has a web site that has a bunch of old duffers, sorry Rocky, on it and they are pretty good at tracking down the going price on older guns. Two of the best are Seaweed and Zeke. Address your question to them.

I hope you find your rifle is worth more. Knowing their scarcity and the condition you say yours is in seems a fair price to me.

Best wishes, Bill

[gumpokc]

Nods Billy, thanks for the additional info.
The rifle isn't mine, but it could be if i wanted it.

It's been sitting in the local gunshop/range i use for about 2 years, so the owner might actually go a little lower to move it on out.
Just figured i would ask around and see what i could find out.

The rifle in question actually came from the same estate/collection as my Ljungman. He had quite a few milsurps, and about 30 different leverguns.

[skeet]

The price of 600 bucks is top dollar for that gun...maybe over. Unless it has a good Leupold on it or something. They were not that popular and if you shoot it and anything breaks...good luck. I've seen a few of them and they were not the best handling rifle in the world. Saw one in 30 carbine (I think) not long ago right in a Cody Wy gun shop. I do buy the ammo for these harder to find calibers every now and then. Bought a whole case of Remington 350 Rem mag ammo not too long ago. 5 bucks a box. Hard to find 256 Winchester now. Not too hard to make from 357...easier than 22 Jet for certain. I only have a 256 bbl for my contender and haven't shot it for quite a while. Offer the guy 450. Bout what it is really worth...so you can maybe make a profit if ya ever sell it.

[Catfish]

I have a rifle that is chambered in the .221 Fire Ball case necked out to .25 cal. It is almost Identical to the .256 in case capisity. I bought it for the action but though I should shoot it befor I rebarreled it and it shot so good It`s still around after about 25 years. It`s the gun my wife always grabbed to shoot groundhog with, and to the best of my recolection she never missed one with it. All of that said, I would never have a gun built in the round. In my oppenion there is nothing wrong with the round, but the case case and powder charge in .22 cal. will do the same job at longer ranges with less chance of a ricochet.

[Riposte1]

A .256 was an intersting artifact, especially in a Ruger Hawkeye, but I could never figure out what it was for.

I am sure it worked fine on vermin but then so does a lot of far more available rounds.

I sure wish I had bought a dozen Hawkeye's though - I could trade them today for some serious weaponry!

Riposte