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.256 Winchester Magnum
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Cartridge Drawing
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When it was introduced in the Ruger Hawkeye single shot pistol in 1962, the 256 Winchester Magnum was quite a sensation. Back then, a 60 grain bullet at 2350 fps from a 8-1/2 inch factory test barrel sold lots of firearm magazines. But it apparently caused very few guns to be sold. Now most of the guns are in the hands of Ruger collectors, Thompson/Center chambers very few Contenders for this caliber, and as handgun cartridges go, the 256 Magnum is just about a dead duck. Which is understandable when we consider how many different single shot pistols chambered for cartridges with far higher velocity potential are now available.
About the only logical reason one might come up with for buying a gun in this caliber today would be the inheritance of a truck load of .357 Magnum cases from which the .256 Magnum case can be formed. The mild levels of recoil and muzzle blast generated by this cartridge make it great fun to shoot, which is reason enough for shooters to grow fond of it then they have. Those who still own Contender barrels in this caliber should stick with the softest .257 inch bullets available when shooting varmints. Two of the best for this purpose are the Hornady 60 grain and the Speer 75 grain, both of the flatnose form and thin jacket construction for good expansion at relatively low impact velocities. Even though a 75 grain hollowpoint shoots a bit flatter, the softer flatnose bullets expand quicker and shoot flat enough to hit varmints as far away as they should be shot at with Winchester's .256 Magnum. In the powder department, H110 and H4227 are excellent performers in this cartridge.
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In Production:
1962-
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