Anyone hunt with one? What game could I reasonably expect to take with it?

JB,


I have several 256 Win Mag, Ruger Hawkeyes, Marlin 63, T/C Contenders. I generally load the Hornady 75 grain jhp, cast 74 grain bullet. I hunt small game and varmints with them.

Doc

My Brother-in Law has one. The .256 is a casual small game / varmint caliber. Good up through bobcats, coyotes and such.

Own two, an original TC 'octagon' and a custom MGM. I prefer Hornady's 60gr .25-20 'pill' or Speer's 75gr .25-20 bullet. I use it on coyotes and smaller critters.

What primers does it use, small rifle or pistol?

JB,

I generally use small pistol primers. The cases can be made from the 357 Mag ( the parent case ), if necessary. It was initially a pistol cartridge; however, Marlin made some model 62 Levermatics for the round. The Marlin 62 was chambered in 256 Win Mag and 30 Carbine. They were supposed to make them in 22 Rem Jet; although, I can find no evidence for the 62 in the Jet caliber. So, I built my own.

Doc

I got some brass and a Lyman two die set along with the Contender. Just gotta find some bullets. Is the cartridge still a decent performer out of a ten inch barrel, say out to 50 yards(iron sights)?

JB,

Yes, it performs well out of a 10" barrel. The Ruger Hawkeyes have an 8.5" barrel.

Doc

I use small rifle, Remington 71/2s. Hornady reccommends (or did)the use of small rifle primers. Actually it's 'which ever shoots 'best and consistant' for you.

I haven't had an opportunity to hunt with mine yet, but she's finally set up and sited in. It's a 10" octagon and it wears an old bushnell 3-9 rifle scope. I'm currently loading hornady's 60gr FPs and 87gr SPs. I'm not quite sure what i'm going to do with it, but i always thought it was a great idea in cartridge development. I did have a slight problem getting the short 60gr bullets to seat deep enough with Redding dies so redding sent me a 22 caliber seating plug that allows the larger 25 caliber bullet to be seated deeper. Good luck and happy hunting.

JB,

The 256 will perform great at 50 yards and beyond. My furthest shots have been at 200+ at rockchucks, with a scope sighted gun.

Doc

Great choice, great caliber. Had one once and like always, sold it and regretted it everafter. Load it, use it and keep it. Easy loading ammo. Not hard at all. Can be formed from 357, which are plentiful, in years past.