.256 Win. Mag. Load Data

The .256 Winchester Magnum is a centerfire cartridge introduced by Winchester in the late 1950s and officially launched in 1960. Its development was aimed at providing a small-caliber, high-velocity round suitable for both rifles and handguns, particularly revolving around the versatile Winchester Model 62 and later the Model 43 bolt-action rifle. Rooted in the .357 Magnum case, the cartridge is formed by necking it down to .257 caliber, resulting in a unique blend of handgun and rifle performance. The .256 Win. Mag. was commercially offered in the Marlin Model 62 Levermatic and the Ruger Hawkeye single-shot pistol, representing an era of experimentation with bottlenecked pistol cartridges. Despite its innovation, the cartridge failed to gain widespread acceptance due to limited rifle and handgun offerings and the lack of major expansion in available bullet styles during its heyday.

In practical terms, the .256 Winchester Magnum was promoted as a dual-purpose round, capable of excelling both at the shooting range and in the field. The cartridge's relatively flat trajectory and mild recoil made it ideal for small game hunting, varmint control, and even competitive target shooting. Its adoption, although limited, was primarily by enthusiasts interested in its unusual ballistics and reloaders seeking to optimize performance beyond factory offerings. As a reloading cartridge, the .256 Win. Mag. provides a unique opportunity for customization, allowing skilled reloaders to tailor loads for specific target species or shooting disciplines while extracting improved accuracy and velocity from the modest original design.

When it comes to target species, the .256 Win. Mag. finds its niche most comfortably with small to medium-sized game animals. It is particularly effective for varmints such as groundhogs, jackrabbits, and prairie dogs due to its high velocity and precision over moderate distances. The cartridge's energy and flat trajectory enable successful engagement of these targets at ranges out to about 200 yards. Some hunters have also used it on slightly larger species, including coyotes and small deer, although ethical shots are generally reserved for closer distances and with careful bullet selection. The mild report and manageable recoil also contribute to its popularity among shooters needing to dispatch pests or practice marksmanship without excessive noise or fatigue.

The typical bullet weights for the .256 Winchester Magnum are in the 60 to 87-grain range, with 60-grain soft-point or hollow-point bullets being the most common factory offerings historically. These bullets offer a good balance of expansion and penetration for the game species mentioned and most reloading manuals present data for similar weights, catering to both hunting and target shooting needs. The cartridge is characterized by a bottlenecked case, moderate powder capacity, and a maximum average pressure that supports efficient ignition and consistent velocities. Its .257-inch bullet diameter opens up options for reloaders, such as using .25 caliber projectiles originally designed for the .25-20 Winchester or .25-35 Winchester, thus enhancing its adaptability. While not as popular as other small-caliber magnums, the .256 Win. Mag. remains a favorite among collectors, lever-action aficionados, and experimenters seeking a cartridge with historical appeal and distinct performance characteristics.