A couple of days ago I recieved my grandfathers marlin 62 in 256 win mag. Right now it is with a gunsmith being worked over to restore it (it was left in a garage for a few years after my grandfathers mind started failing. I was planning on reloading for my .308 and now that I've seen how much factory ammo for a 256 costs, I'll definitely have to load for it. My grandfather would squirrel hunt with the rifle and I was told he would aim for the tip of thier nose to keep from destroying them. I've also heard that he may have shot his only deer with it as well. I can't wait to get this thing back and shoot it.

Cody

the marlin is a sweet little rifle.... i had a .256 on a t/c 10" bull bbl.... i made brass from .357 mag, but it got to be lots of work for what i could have bought brass for.... this back in 1984, before the internet acess i have now.... i rechambered to a .256/225 win... jimmy mitchel in breckenridge tx had the reamer and rcbs made dies...it is a good jackrabbit pistol...

Reloading for the .256 is going to be a major adventure for the new reloader, but it'll be worth it. For starters, you can load down to small game levels, so you are not limited to head shots. With cast bullets, that would bring the cost down to under a dime a pop. When you actually start loading, shoot me a PM, and I'll set you up with suitable cast bullets for the cost of the shipping.

You are probably going to have to form your own brass from .357 Magnum. Factory brass is hard to come by, and brass life is reputed to be short. Don't buy the very expensive case forming die set. You can get by with the regular .256 set and either a .30 Mauser or .30 Luger sizing die.

I envy you. I'm a .25 caliber fanatic and the .256 is the last cartridge to elude me. It should be a very fun gun. Don't think I would go hunting deer with one on purpose, but I have no doubt that it will do the job under ideal circumstances.

I prefer target shooting to hunting since I know I can actually hit something at the range. I have my 308win to hunt with and a 17hmr for small game. I want to shoot the 256 mostly for the sentimental value. I'm not looking at loading massive amounts of ammo for it or loading really hot rounds either.

I have a Martini Cadet I chambered in 256 Win. I have no trouble forming cases from 357 mag brass with one pass in the 256 FL die. However, I've found that if the 357 cases have been fired a lot of them will split at the neck during forming unless they are annelled first. Otherwise, it's just a pretty straight forward reloading process.
Great little round the 256 and I always wanted one of the Marlin 62's in that cal. You're lucky to have one and your Grandfather obviously had good taste in firearms. Enjoy!

I've owned a couple Marlin 62s in 256 Win Mag and 1 in 30 Carbine. The triggers and safeties tend to be a little stiff, but the Marlin 62 is a handy little rifle and the 256 Win Mag is a nice cartridge for shooting turkey and varmints. I don't think that is really a good deer cartridge, but if you get close and shoot them in the head, any cartridge can kill a deer.

The Winchester/Olin factory ammo was loaded with a 60 grain hollow point bullet that was designed for varmint shooting. For turkeys, I loaded the 86 grain Remington softpoint that was designed for the 25-20.

Rather than make cases from 357 Mag brass, I'd suggest buying it pre-formed on Ebay. There is currently an Ebay auction open for 200 pieces of this re-formed brass, #230124232133.

Jeff