[CPAjeff]

Uh oh





The butt stock protective pads on my Lead Sled are worn out causing the toe of the old Newton to chip. Looks like it had been cracked for some time. I looked all over for the piece of wood at the range but can't find it. Then there's a crack at the butt plate screw, dangit. My sheep guide will be proud I brought a gun with some character on my hunt.

I've shot over 250 rounds since my last report, about half of those being load developments. Man, I sure feel like I can kill a good ram with any one of those 250 rounds.

Will it shoot MOA? Got me. Between the wind and my lousy eyesight I can't say, but it'll sure kill a ram.

Will I be able to hit a ram in the chest with the old relic using iron sights at 250 yards? Yes, every shot.

So far 6.5mm 130gr Accubonds, 125gr Partitions, and 120gr Sierra Pro Hunters at 85% to 95% of published maximum charges are accurate bullets with no signs of over pressure. All brass is neck sized. I know my guide recommended not bringing any ballistic tips, but I have faith in the ol' Newton.

Fixed it for you!

I am starting to agree with Losts' thinking - the Newton would be a perfect sheep gun.

 

[DallanC]

Uh oh

The butt stock protective pads on my Lead Sled are worn out causing the toe of the old Newton to chip. Looks like it had been cracked for some time. I looked all over for the piece of wood at the range but can't find it. Then there's a crack at the butt plate screw, dangit.

Did you try looking where the pads are worn in the sled itself? The chip might be stuck in there somewhere.

Might want to remove the butt-plate, drill a couple tiny holes that bisect the crack and inject some epoxy or other glue to stabilize the existing crack.

Sure is a purty rifle. You don't see wood like that much with the newer rifles.

-DallanC

 

[LostLouisianian]

I am wondering when the last sheep was killed in WY with a Newton....maybe never.

 

[wyogoob]

I am wondering when the last sheep was killed in WY with a Newton....maybe never.

I'm going up the North Shoshone in Teddy Roosevelt's footprints. I know Teddy's favorite gun was a Model 1895 in .405. I'm bettin he had a Newton as a backup though. :grin:

 

[wyogoob]

Did you try looking where the pads are worn in the sled itself? The chip might be stuck in there somewhere.

Might want to remove the butt-plate, drill a couple tiny holes that bisect the crack and inject some epoxy or other glue to stabilize the existing crack.

Sure is a purty rifle. You don't see wood like that much with the newer rifles.

-DallanC

Yeah, thanks.

I looked at the Lead Sled but not real close. I'll look again.

.

 

[wyogoob]

I am wondering when the last sheep was killed in WY with a Newton....maybe never.

Funny you say that.

One year, 1990 or so, I was backpack deer hunting, sleeping on the ground, no tent, and just a 1-pound biker's sleeping bag up on Middle Ridge between the Greys and the Little Greys rivers. I found an empty 256 Newton casing up there.

.

 

[CPAjeff]

Didn't the guide say to bring two "rifles?" The Newton could be one, the 300 WSM could be the other, and the pistol/cannon thing you have could be your sidearm! ;-)

 

[wyogoob]

Didn't the guide say to bring two "rifles?" The Newton could be one, the 300 WSM could be the other, and the pistol/cannon thing you have could be your sidearm! ;-)

Yes, as far as I know I will have two rifles and the Thunderboomer.....400 to 500 rounds of ammo and my reloading press.

Hey, I've reloaded some "special" bullets with my 100-year old Newton hand reloader. Wouldn't it be cool to...uh...nevermind.

 

[CPAjeff]

Yes, as far as I know I will have two rifles and the Thunderboomer.....400 to 500 rounds of ammo and my reloading press.

Hey, I've reloaded some "special" bullets with my 100-year old Newton hand reloader. Wouldn't it be cool to...uh...nevermind.

So you're saying there's a chance....

 

[wyogoob]

I put this post in firearms but I meant to put it in the Reloading section.

An update:

I took the 100 year-old 256 Newton on the Bighorn Sheep hunt. A horse and I went "Western" and the gun got crushed cracking the stock severely. I kept the relic in a gun sock and in the scabbard up until the guide and I wrapped electrical tape around the broken stock. He wasn't very happy that I was carrying a rifle without a scope and "recommended" that I switch to my (scoped) back-up rifle. So I ended up missing a nice ram with a scoped rifle. I'm thinking it woulda been much cooler to miss it with an open-sighted 100 year-old rifle. That's not funny.

The rifle has come a long way since I first tried out these starting loads:




To these that have 5 grains more powder than those original start loads and push a 130 grain 6.5 bullet at 3,200 fps with no signs of over-pressure:


I have reloaded and shot over 300 rounds thru the 100 yr old 256 Newton. It's been quite a ride. The rifle is a pleasure to shoot and a reliable hunting rifle up to 250 yards if I do my part. :smile:

I have to admit for awhile I was a little scared to shoot the thing and during the early "trouble-shooting stage" I didn't get my head behind the bolt and when I finally did, I'm sure I closed my eyes when I pulled the trigger. :smile:

The best I can tell the barrel was fouled about from 6" to 9" from the chamber. After hours and hours of cleaning the lead and copper out the gun shoots fine. With 125 grain to 130 grain projectiles this old 256 Newton will rival numbers that the 6.5-284 puts out and with less powder.

I can't thank everyone enough that helped out, offered advice, with what at first looked like a piece of junk.

I've shot 4 antelope with the gun in the last 14 months:

doe at 55 yards, bang flop

buck at 188 yards, bang flop

doe at 210 yards angling away from me with a 30 mph crosswind

doe at 260 yards, bang flop

Upcoming 256 Newton reloading projects:
> Build a 140 grain hunting bullet for the 2017 elk hunt.
> "Bang the gong" at 600 yards with 140 grain 256 Newton reloads.

Stay tuned.