Rechamber to .256 Win Mag?

[awp101]

If one wanted to rechamber a lever action to .256 Win Mag, what caliber base rifle would you start with?

Just one of those oddball questions that pop into my head more often than I care to admit...

[Guncase]

The easiest way would be to re-barrel a .357 '92 copy.

[mescalero1]

1894, .256 Win. Mag., scout scope, Ching sling ( Marlin )
Man could go through life like that.

[Pete44ru]

[If one wanted to rechamber a lever action to .256 Win Mag, what caliber base rifle would you start with?]

Since a rechamber means just that, the donor rifle would have to be a .25 cal.

The only candidate would be a .25-20 Model 92.

Then, of course there's the work that'll be needed on the guides and magazine - IF the mag throat (in the front action wall) is large enough to accept the passage of the .357-sized shell heads, i.e.

BTW - I mailed out that post front sight yesterday. I hope it works out OK for ya !

.

[Terry Murbach]

THE MARLIN 1894 MODERN VERSION IN 25-20 WORKS PERFECTLY FOR SUCH A CONVERSION.

[Pete44ru]

[The only candidate would be a .25-20 Model 92.]

[THE MARLIN 1894 MODERN VERSION IN 25-20 WORKS PERFECTLY ]

I stand corrected .

Thanks, Terry - I didn't realize the modern Marlin 1894's were made in .25-20. Duh.

.

[awp101]

Many thanks gentlemen! Now for the questions generated by the answers...

I think the rebarrel from .357 makes more sense because the only thing I'm finding on .25-20 Marlin 1894s starts at $1600 I can't access much from the work computer, so I may be missing something. If that's not the case and they DO bring a premium, a .357 1894 is much easier on the wallet AND I'm a bigger fan of the Marlin 1894 than the Win 92 (I know, add it to the list of things that makes me such a bad person ).

Who produces Marlin 1894 barrels in .256? Green Mountain?

Thanks Pete, I'll keep an eye out!

[Doc Hudson]

This might be a foolish question/comment, but considering the work necessary on the cartridge guides and cartridge lifter, would it not be easier and cheaper to rebarrel a .357 Magnum carbine with a .25 caliber barrel and a .256 WinMag chamber?

[Hobie]

I think Steve Young has done such. IIRC he rebarreled a .357 Mag Rossi 92. I've seen the Marlin 1894CL .25-20s for much less than $1800. Just look around. I imagine that there's no reason one couldn't rebarrel a Marlin 1894C as well.

[Noah Zark]

THE MARLIN 1894 MODERN VERSION IN 25-20 WORKS PERFECTLY FOR SUCH A CONVERSION.

It sure does, providing you can find one. Even then, one that's reasonably priced.

Andrew: Just find a .357 lever donor rifle and have it rebarreled by a good 'smith. Should not be more than $250-$350 depending on who does it.

Noah

[awp101]

Andrew: Just find a .357 lever donor rifle and have it rebarreled by a good 'smith. Should not be more than $250-$350 depending on who does it.

That seems to be the best plan. Now what about sourcing the barrel?

[Noah Zark]

Andrew: Just find a .357 lever donor rifle and have it rebarreled by a good 'smith. Should not be more than $250-$350 depending on who does it.

That seems to be the best plan. Now what about sourcing the barrel?

How about an even better plan:

Brownells Stock No. 770-100-252
.25-20 Centerfire Barrel Liner .257" Groove Dia, .435" OD, 1:14 twist
$103.96

Have a smith reline the .357 barrel with a .25-20 barrel liner, then cut a .256 Win Mag chamber.

I had the same thing done to my 310 Martini Cadet that Navy Arms had rechambered to 32-20. The barrel needed .317-.318 diameter bullets, and I had no source at that time (late 80s). In 1992 I had Bill Gostomski of Mt Savage, MD reline the Cadet with a 32-20 liner and the whole job cost me $185 including bead blast blueing. The liner itself at the time was $75. The Cadet is a tackdriver using standard 100 gr .312 bullets. You've seen photos of my Cadet at another board, I recall your comments.

Given the liner is now $104, I still think you could have the job done for $250-$300. Given the liner is 0.435" OD, the smith need only to punch out the .357 bore to accomodate the liner for soldering or epoxying, the two common methods of joining the liner to the barrel.

Noah

[Guncase]

Great plan Noah. That would be alot quicker than fitting a new barrel because it would eliminate all the extra machine work like cutting sight dovetails, magazine hangers ect.

[awp101]

Thanks Noah! I'd briefly considered a reline but given that I can't find any barrels (Numrich, Midway, Brownells) but that may be the best option overall given that I hadn't considered the work Guncase brought up.

Perhaps a PM is in order to NKJ...

1-14 twist. What bullet weight would work best? As long as I'm planning....