Anyone have insights on the .256 Win.?
I have been "entrusted" to restore and maintain a fine collection of vintage TC gear. My youngest son Benjamin has some keen interest. It includes the .256 10" barrel and I've no experience with it.
I do have a .25 American barrel (.25 Herrett) but the .256 is even smaller capacity. I'm wondering how some modern pistol powders might work for a 80 gr. FNC bullet. I also load for .256 Falcon and .25-35 Win. But that spectrum is way on the other end. What game animals do you shoot with a .256 Win. anyway?!
We have procured a period scope and mount to set up this cool vintage kit and begin testing.
Please include a Ruger Hawkeye , , ,
. . . in your development efforts against those single-barrel thingies. 
I'd love to own one and tinker. Mostly they
hover around the $2k mark for shooter grade guns. Were all of them 8-1/2" barrels?
I have learned to never say never
when it comes to what Ruger has done.
That being said, I do believe all the .256 Hawkeyes were 8 1/2"
One work reported only 3300 Ruger's produced
The mods do not look that extensive compared to the normal Blackhawk. I wonder why they never did try it again. The best article on loading, at least a more positive work was by our dear Mr. Taffin. There are several topics on the old Leverguns forum but I'm having trouble getting them to pull up.
https://gunsmagazine.com/our-experts/the-256-winchester-magnum/
Bad press problems
Gunriters of the day gave the Hawkeye very poor reviews, to the extent that they just didn't sell. Bill Ruger pulled them off the market and destroyed a bazillion of the remaining frames in spite. Thus their scarcity and high prices today. 