I recently acquired a very nice 256 newton (ser. no.1096) I have formed and fire formed the brass and am ready to get serious. Of course I can extrapolate various similar cartridges, but am hoping someone might have some hands on experience loading this thing.

Sorry I have no first hand experience. However, it appears the capacity is basically the same as the 257 Roberts AI. In mine I liked the 115 Nosler and a full case of H414.

HEY RAMROD,

I APPRECIATE YOUR REPLY,
NOBODY ELSE SEEMS TO KNOW THIS CALIBER.
THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 2500 G00D ONES MADE.
PROBABLY IN 1917. THE CALIBER IS .....264!

YOUR LOAD FOR THE 257AI IS A GOOD ONE. I HAVE IT IN A TWELVE INCH TWIST AND CAN USE ONLY 100 GRAINERS.

REGARDS,
JEFF

Oops. LOL Well Loadtech (yes .264) shows 48-52 for H414 velocity 3400+/- and 50-55 Rl 19 same velocity. These loads give 60,000.

I know a guy who loves the .256 Newton. Send me your email address and I will forward it to him and perhaps you guys can talk.

He has even built one from scratch!!!

My email address is gurrieman@netzero.com

Gurrie Fandozzi

I think Ken Waaters did a pet load on it.

P.O. Ackley's book lists several loads:
100 gr bullet....46gr....4064powder...3090fps
120 gr bullet....47......4895.........2767
120..............54.5....4350.........2955
120..............48......4064.........2892
140 .............45......4895.........2604
140..............45......4064.........2663
140..............53......4350.........2853
140..............58......4350.........2952
150..............50.5....4350.........2870
160..............46......4064.........2550

I'm presuming that he used IMR powder but I know for sure that Ackley allowed for more pressure than most would today.

I loaded and shot a 256 Newton for 20 years but finally decided to retire it and replace it with a 6.5-06.

Below are some loads you can use.

256 Newton, 6.5mm .264 87 grain spitzer bullet

Power gr Muz Vel

H4831 63 3340
61 3201
59 3036

IMR 4350 59 3339
57 3179
55 3026

IMR 4320 52 3284
50 3165
48 3053

IMR 4895 52 3345
50 3231
48 3165

IMR 4064 52 3322
50 3233
48 3115

256 Newton 6.5mm .264 100 gr spitzer bullet

H4831 56.6 3200
55 3100
53.3 3000
51.6 2900

IMR 4350 52.2 3200
50.5 3100
48.7 3000
47 2900

IMR 4320 47.6 3200
45.7 3100
43.8 3000
41.9 2900

IMR 4895 44.7 3100
42.9 3000
41 2900

IMR 4064 44.3 3100
42.4 3000
40.5 2900

256 Newton 6.5mm .264 120 gr Spitzer bullet

H4831 59 3000
57.8 2900
56.2 2800
53.8 2700

IMR 4350 55.1 3000
54 2900
52 2800
50 2700

IMR 4320 47.2 2900
45.8 2800
44.6 2700

IMR 4895 47.1 2900
45.6 2800
43.8 2700

IMR 4064 47.4 2900
46.1 2800
44 2700


256 Newton 6.5mm .264 129 gr Spitzer Bullet

H4831 54.2 3000
52.3 2900
50.3 2800
48.3 2700

IMR 4350 49.8 3000
47.7 2900
45.7 2800
43,6 2700

IMR 4320 47.1 3000
45.2 2900
43.3 2800
41.4 2700

IMR 4895 44.4 2900
42.4 2800
40.4 2700

IMR 4064 44.1 2900
42.1 2800
40.2 2700

256 Newton 6.5mm .264 140 gr Spitzer bullet

H4831 58 2900
54 2800
52 2700
50 2600

IMR 4350 53 2900
51 2800
50 2700

IMR 4320 47.4 2800
46.3 2700
44.1 2600

IMR 4895 47.7 2700
45.5 2600
43.4 2500

IMR 4064 48 2800
45.7 2700
43.4 2600

256 Newton 6.5mm .264 160 gr Round Nose bullet

H4831 54.5 2800
52.4 2700
50.2 2600
48.1 2500
45.9 2400

IMR 4350 51.4 2800
49.1 2700
46.9 2600
44.7 2500

IMR 4320 46.7 2700
44.5 2600
42.3 2500

IMR 4895 46 2700
43.9 2600
41.8 2500

IMR 4064 43.9 2600
41.6 2500
39.2 2400

thanks, barstooler, great data!
you ever consider publishing a manual?

Jeff,

No. Just be careful and work up your loads with the min loads I listed.

My .256 Newton is serial number 1900, and it was fun to shoot for many years with its double set triggers, but I bought mine used and the bolt face gave evidence of some idiot constantly blowing primers from using too hot loads. I checked the rifle with a good gun smith, but felt I never could trust it even with all the Newton "multiple locking lugs."

Thus I retired the rifle and built a 6.5/06 to play with.

Barstooler

Hey fellas, thanks for the info on the .256 Newton. I've got a .256 Newton Mauser coming soon and have need of the load data. By the way, what brass are you using, barstooler, and what is the rate of twist for your barrel?

Currently, I reform from 25-06 brass with Remington cases. When I first got my 256 Newton, however, the 25-06 was a "wildcat" and factory brass was not available so I used to make my 256 case using 270 Win brass.

I honestly do not know the rate of twist -- what ever was standard for the Newton rifle back then. Never had trouble stabalizing 140 gr bullets. I always found 4350 to be the most accurate powder, but 4895 was a close second. Groups were always about 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards with a peep sight.

I never scoped the Newton, left it original since I picked it up used in my home town in the late 1960s. I believe I traded a used 30-30 bolt action Savage and threw in about $100 for for the Newton back then.

I harvested two whitetails with the Newton over several years and my father borrowed it occasionally and also shot a couple of whitetails. It was never my rifle of 1st choice, and I normally packed a 35 Whelen when I went hunting.

When I decided to retire the Newton, I built my "replacement" -- a true 6.5-06 on the standard 06 case necked down. Got tired of fooling around with resetting shoulders, trimming, and fire forming. I now just neck up 25-06s to 6.5mm by running the cases over an expander plug and go for it. My 6.5-06 is based on an 03 Springfield, with a premium 26" Shielan barrel, with Timmney trigger, a Leopold V III 2.5-10 scope and a fine piece of walnut.

My 6.5-06 complements an almost identical 03 Springfield I am building up with the same components into a 338-06. The 338-06 is also built with a 24" Shielan barrel, Timmney trigger, and while the Leopold V III it wears is a 1.75-6, the walnut is extra fancy.

I guess I just "like" the 06 case because I now have a 25-06, 6.5-06, 270, 30-06, 338-06, and 35 Whelen. I would not trade any of them.

Barstooler

Barstooler:

I compliment your tastes in rifles and calibers!

cheers
seafire

Hi: I have used a .256 Newton Rifle for some years now...and have corresponded with Bob Jourdan who took a very nice Mountain Goat with his. He is an acommplished gunsmith & who writes for "Precison Shooting" Magazine...amyway...my pro imput....
Chas Newton claimed 3100 fps with a 123, then 129 gr bullet...Hornady makes the 129 gr. 6.5 bullet that both Bob & I use...he likes Accurate 3100 powder...I like H 4831SC...I use the 129 gr. Hornady bullet with 57 gr. H4831SC for 3125 fps with an original .256 Newton with its 24" barrel. My ctg OAL is 3.247" Bob Jourdan uses
XMR 3100, 53 gr. for 3054 fps with the same
bullet. Bob is more conservative than I am.
I recognize that...the cartridges designed by Chas Newton were very advanced...they only lacked more suitable powders...read "modern". His rifles with the buttress thread interrupted
thread had approx. 3X the lug bearing of modern
2 lug rifles...and by their design could be manufactured more precise. With judicious, read carefully progressive increased loads...his cartridges can reach full potential...and his original rifle actions are quite sound & safe as today's modern ones..
Best Regards, Tom
ps My .256 Newton was devastating on Wyoming Antelope, as Bob's was on Mountain Goat.

PS...P.O. Ackley called the .256 Newton "One of the finest cartridges in its class"
The Technical Editor of the American Rifleman...said expert riflemen of the day preferred it to both the .257 Roberts & the .270
Winchester...both statements are saying something!
In fact, the success & ability of the .256 Newton which is close to a 6.5-06...pushed Winchester to come with their own, the .270 which was the .-06 necked to .277 instead of .264 which they really couldn't copy,...and was probably the reason for such an odd bore....277.
Best Wishes, Tom

pps.. The .256 Newton is most easily formed from
.25-06 brass...as it is slightly necked up,
so no neck thickness problems (as would be
from a .270 or .30-06...)
shortened to length, then fire formed with
a regular load...in the .256 Newton Rifle
Chamber.

Best Wishes, Tom