256 Win mag from 357 Mag

[AxeHandle]

Who is doing this? Book says we need the #1 and #2 case forming dies.

[boolitdesigner]

Some thirty five years ago I formed brass 357 Mag cases to 256 Win. I used a 30 Mauser sizing die to neck the case down. Put a normal sized 256 Win case in the ram and raise it all the way, then screw the 30 Mauser or 30 Luger die down till it just touches it for adjustment, then size and put in the FL 256 Win sizer die. Brass worked much better than nickel cases. They worked fine in the Contender barrel.

[wilecoyote]

I have a friend, and he seems to me a patient but not particularly sophisticated reloader, who bought really cheaply a carbine born in .30m1 and here (!) demilitarized in 256 .
he plain uses the 256 dies, and I supplied him with .357 cases...
btw, his 30m1 works quite well_

[sixshot]

Good info, I had a 256 & dies about 35 years ago, have no idea what happened to it. I'm guessing that Huey would know a thing or two about case forming 357 magnum brass.

Dick

[AxeHandle]

20-25 years ago I picked up a 10 inch bull TC barrel and die set. Best I remember when I ran a 357 case up in the 256 size die it did not go well. Quick research pointed me to the #1 and #2 case forming dies. Got busy doing other things and just now getting back to it. You know... Old people stuff..

[contender]

Ok, as a Ruger Hawkeye shooter,, I do make .256 Win brass from .357 cases.

I tried a few of the "shortcut" methods at first.
First off, no nickle cases.

But my experiences were not met with good results in general,, and I ruined many cases.

Then I found a set of the Corbin case forming dies. They are excellent. So much so,, when I found a deal in a spare set,, I bought them. Yet,, I was kind enough to let someone else in need own the spare set.

Due to the short neck, as well as the shoulder angle, and such,, I highly recommend getting a proper set of dies.

Also, I actually built a case annealer machine just to do those cases.

Life is good now,, and I can shoot & use .357 brass all I want in my Hawkeye!

[Encore64]

I've formed several ways, including the 30 Mauser Die, the Reloading Dies.

Worked ok, but used too much bad language.

Finally bought Redding Form Dies and haven't lost a case since.

[contender]

I was about to buy the Redding dies when I found my first set of Corbins. ANd I too had used some colorful language in trying the other methods prior to getting a correct set of dies.

[boolitdesigner]

There was a time when all this nice new brass wasn't available for most anything over 50 years ago. You either had to buy expensive factory ammo or form it yourself. After you've made a whole lot of 55 gallon drum-fulls for the old shop owners that supplied everyone, you learn to do things not written down at the time. Things like this are fairly simple compared to some of the things they wanted..... and 256 Win. was pretty easy to get new brass for at that time.

[AxeHandle]

There was a time when 50 years ago sounded like a long time ago. Today? Not so long.

[Encore64]

But, the 256 Winchester is worth the effort and cost. With the dying small game cartridges, it's a dandy.

[AxeHandle]

Spent $250 for the Redding #1 and #2 case forming dies.. Midway ships quick!

[AxeHandle]

Looked around a little for bullets. 87 grain and up are easy to find. 60 grain not so easy. Looking at my bullet shelf in the shop it looks like I haven't done much 25 stuff. The 257 TCU might be the only one.

[Encore64]

The 75 grn VMax is an excellent choice for the 256 Win Mag...

[contender]

Hornady makes a run of their 60 grn bullet once a year. I buy a bunch each year,, and I've found them at gun shows in the "odds & ends" stuff. I haven't had to try anything else yet,, as I have a fair stock of the 60 grn ones. I like trying to duplicate factory stuff.