Ok, lets see if anyone has played with this old round - 256 Newton

[TXBear]

I picked up a 256 Newton in a 1917 era Newton Rifle. Action is a Mauser 98 with an unknown barrel (whatever Mauser used back in 1916-17). What I'm wandering is if anyone has loaded for this with either 120-125 weight bullets or 129-130 weights.

Looking for a starting load and any other information you might have. I've looked all over Al's internet and haven't found anything with more modern powders.

 

[MTyotehunter]

I have a friend who built one, not sure what he’s shooting out of it. just a 6.5-06 isn’t it?

 

[softcock]

quick internet search looks like case head stamped 256 newton Brass is expensive and listed in a few places . but as ( out of stock ) .
--
Shooter Forum / 2010 / . talking about load info . also looks best to neck-up 25-06 brass and trim it down .
https://www.shootersforum.com/wildcat-cartridges/68869-256-newton-buffalo-arms.html
.
Never heard of it but looked it up ( .256 Newton ) . say's ... Parent Case is a 30-06 Springfield, shortened, and necked-down .
what am I missing ? . Why not just call it a 264 Newton ? . So why do they call it a 256, when the case is necked-down to the Bullet Caliber of 264 ? .
.

 

[MTyotehunter]

Neck up 25-06 that is. Yea .256 is 6.5 bore diameter, so it’s just an old 6.5-06 chambering.

 

[softcock]

I went and tried to find load listing in a couple of my real old Load books published back in the 50's - 60's but I must have tossed them or boxed them somewhere . But the powder they used back then is sub-par with today's new powders, so probably no help anyway if newton was listed .

internet history of ( Charels Newton ) and his work . It about all I could find but it carries some details . the guy even work up a .22-Newton .
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.256+Newton+and+6.5-06.html

-

 

[TXBear]

Very close to the 6.5-06 but slightly slower, say 100 fps due to less case capacity. Thought about just using 25-06 brass but I have two 25-06's and don't want to chance mixing them up. So, I'm looking at 270 brass (since I don't have one) and trimming the length down.
If I had to load right now, I'd probably start with the low end (or a bit lower) of 6.5-06 and working up. I'd rather find someone that currently loaded for it.
I had an uncle that had two of these - one a 256 that was his go-to elk and mule deer rifle and the second in 22 Newton, a.k.a. 22 Savage Hi-Power. Need to call a cousin and see if he knows where they are.

 

[Dewey7271]

Softcock;
Tried to use quote but it didn't like the iPad.
Newton frequently used bore size instead of bullet size. Bore on most 264 s is 256 thus the 256 Newton name.
Westley-Richards did the same thing on the old 318 WR. It takes a .330 bullet.

 

[TXBear]

Here's some load info I found: https://web.archive.org/web/2012090...sp?CaliberID=298&Powder=IMR+4350&LoadID=10965

I've been playing with some 129 ABLR and IMR 7828ssc. Starting at 50 gr with a max at/around 53.