I wasn't looking for it, but I had an opportunity to purchase a 1916 256 Newton presentation rifle at a price I couldn't pass up. This rifle has border engraving, floor plate presentation engraving and a Leupold Classic 4X scope with bases.
I was able to source RCBS reloading dies and 270 brass. I have a large inventory of 6.5 mm bullets.
I'm looking forward to load development with this old girl. I will post pictures when I have the rifle in hand.
Another obsolete caliber to add to my growing herd.

As long as one can get or make brass obsolete calibers and rifles can be a lot of fun.

I enjoy shooting the oddball calibers. My collection includes 6.5x53R, 8x57J, 9mm Mannlicher,9.5mm Mannlicher and 280 Ross.

I have a couple 256 Newtons built on mauser actions. I shoot 120's in them 95% of the time.
Slow burning powders are the way to go. IMR 4831, R19 and slower. Even IMR 7828 works well.

Thanks for the info theback40. I've been looking at published loads on LoadData to see which of my available powders would work.

You can use starting loads for the 6.5-06 to begin with. There is only 3 grains or so difference in capacity.

I'll post more pics once I have the rifle in hand. He's a picture of the engraved floor plate.

She looks like a beauty.


I think we will all be waiting to hear the range reports.

I know I will as I have a 6.5/06 AI in the plannig stages.

Thanks Hasher. It will be interesting to see how load development goes. I have a chronograph to give data. I'm not going to push this old girl to the limits.

Nor should you.

Somewhere around 85% sounds about right to my brain.

I am also curious as to twist rate.


All of the Newton cartridges were simply ahead of their time

I was hoping that I would have the rifle in hand before the weekend, but it wasn't meant to be. I formed some cases from 279 brass this week. Once the rifle arrives, I'll make sure that they chamber without an issue.

If you have Brass and Bullets is the Rifle then Not obsolete

I don't think so. I don't mind the challenge of forming brass to get this rifle back shooting. Some people don't like the extra work that is involved.

I had time to pick up the Newton after work today. She's a beautiful and trim rifle. Very few handling marks on the wood. I'll need to remove the butt plate to check serial number but everything else is number matching.
I'm really not a scope kind of guy but I will use the scope for load development. The bolt peep sight is icing on the cake for me.
I'll try to post some pics whenever I have a chance to do a photo shoot.

Pics:

More:

and more:

Beautiful, hope the load development works out for you

Very nice love those narrow forends

Got the Newton to the range this AM. She liked 50.5 grains of H4831SC and Hornady 129 gr spire points. Registered 2837 fps with a standard deviation of .95

That is a lovely, trim classic right. I am jealous.


Glad you found a load so quickly.

Thanks Hasher. I'm always impressed with how light and agile these old rifles are. Most of the modern rifles feel bloated to me.

I went to the range yesterday with my son and his friend. I took the Newton along with a ladder of IMR4064 as well as loads of the H4381SC.
The 4064 shot respectable groups but the H4831SC load is a tack driver! My son's friend (30 years-old) shot 3 shots into one ragged hole.
I think it was an eye-opening experience for him.

A 25cal that shoots like that is fantastic.

quote:

Originally posted by fjrdoc:
Got the Newton to the range this AM. She liked 505 grains of H4831SC and Hornady 129 gr spire points. Registered 2837 fps with a standard deviation of .95

Oops, at 505 grains you won't get many loads out of a tin of powder
I know 50.5 grains

Very nice rifle and H4831 seems to be the one to perform.

Thanks for catching the typo eagle27. You must have "eagle eyes".

What a sweet rifle and lucky find. Is it a sin to covet thy neighbor's rifle?

Nothing is obsolete to the man with time and a reloading bench. Cool cartridges never die, only men do.

That cartridge looks like an anti-aircraft round! I got some good laughs from the video.
Took the Newton to the range yesterday and finished fire-forming the rest of my brass. She hit the 200-yard gong 7 out of 7 times. It's almost too easy.
I also worked on getting the bolt-mounted peep dialed in. I replaced the original with a Patridge style from Skinner sights. The Patridge style works better for my eyes, and I use them on all my aperture equipped rifles.
I also had some excellent results with 180 gr hollow-point home-cast rounds that I shot in my pre-war Simson Suhl 8x57J.