The .256 Winchester Magnum was announced in 
1960, even though the revolver it was to 
accompany was having problems preventing it's 
commercial release.  The .256 suffered without 
the availability of a commercial firearm to 
chamber it.

    Three years later, Marlin adapted the Model 
62 rifle to it, and Ruger produced the "Hawkeye" 
single-shot pistol in .256 Winchester Magnum.  
The Universal Firearms M1 Carbine round out this 
odd trio, the only 3 firearms to be produced in 
.256 Winchester Magnum.  Unfortunately, 
production runs were small.

    The cartridge is derived from the .357 Magnum 
case necked-down to accept 1/4-inch bullets, and 
it's ballistics are worth noting.  Hodgon Manual 
No. 26 mentions that Winchester still offers 
factory 60-grain jacketed ammunition at over 
2,700 fps.

    As cases and dies are available, there is no 
reason the .256 Winchester Magnum cannot be 
reloaded to great satisfaction.