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Universal 256 Ferret

Printed From: The Carbine Collector's Club
Category: The Club
Forum Name: Wanted+
Forum Description: Carbine wish lists
URL: http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6029
Printed Date: Mar 29 2024 at 3:20am
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Topic: Universal 256 Ferret
Posted By: salessi
Subject: Universal 256 Ferret
Date Posted: Feb 09 2022 at 7:15pm
I know it’s a crazy request but does anyone know where I can find a magazine or 2 for the universal 256 ferret? Thank you



Replies:
Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 8:16am
That is quite a reach. Have not seen a 256 Ferret/44-magnum magazine for sale in….well, never. Too bad the 256 did not have a rebated rim. The 256 is a necked-down 357-magnum I think. There have been attempts to convert carbines to 357 using a pistol magazine. Use of a single-stack pistol magazine that would accept the 357-magnum round inserted into a 30-caliber magazine shell might be the only option, but any time one tries to feed a rimmed cartridge from a stacked magazine, feeding becomes very problematic. I have done that very thing with a 9mm conversion and it might be your only option. Good Luck!


Posted By: salessi
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 8:24am
Thank you very much for that option, you are correct in it being a necked down 357. I came across the rifle, of course without a magazine & have been looking everywhere but no luck at this point. Thought it would be a neat rifle to restore but without a magazine, it’s kinda useless. Thanks again! 


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 10:33am
You can usually find that seller at a gun show that shows-up with a box of magazines that nobody knows what they fit. I have shopped those boxes before and found some pretty interesting and useful jewels. Maybe the first step is to shop for a single-stack mag that will accept the round (even if only a few) and will fit inside a 30-caliber mag shell ….then go from there. A discarded or damaged shell can be found. From that point, it’s a matter of trial-n-error to fit the assembly in a fashion that will feed and secure the mag inside the shell. I have used washers as spacers then silver-soldered it all in place. That did actually work for me after a fashion until I partnered with a fellow forum member that came up with a better idea, but it did work.


Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 10:48am
there are some pictures of what they look like on the Ferret page

http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_Universal256.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_Universal256.html

some of the mags in the carbines pictured appear to be steel?


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Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 12:10pm
OAL of the Ferret would make it very difficult to find a pistol mag it would fit, but there could be something out there. Might be possible to make a steel 30 caliber work with some feed lip reforming and maybe replace/modify the follower to single-stack. Might do some playing with a 357 round, I have those. Followers can be built from a product like Delrin. My buddy 03man knows how to do that.


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 12:39pm
30-caliber magazine might be the best candidate. Have to stack the top round with the rim in front of the preceding round and maybe only hold three, but three is better than none. This pix shows two 357-mag rounds stacked in a 30-caliber magazine. I am thinking there is enough room to slide sections of sheet-metal into the inside on either side of the shell at the feed lips and reform some lips. A new single-feed flat follower is fairly easy to build. Of course, one would have to be able to braze or silver-solder things in place. One might have to tweak the opening in the front of the mag as well. The Sten Gun magazine actually has double feed-lips, so it's not a new concept. I suggest a single feed as that is what the original Ferret magazines are and they are much better feeders than the double stacked USGI.

If this were mine, I would be compelled to try this. Don't know why, ammo is about as scarce as chicken lips, but I am old and bored.







Posted By: salessi
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 1:07pm
I definitely appreciate all the input & suggestions. After I track down some ammo, I’ll have to see if I can make a magazine that will work. Thank you again! 


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 2:11pm
Who knows yet. You might be able to get 256 to feed out of a 30-caliber magazine. This has to be one of those labor-of-love projects. The 256 probably flies better at range and maybe more accurate, but a 7.62 x 33 loaded with a light projectile can easily duplicate the 256 performance and energy-wise, outperform it.


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 10 2022 at 4:09pm
All else failing, you could convert it to 30-caliber with a barrel change, say a USGI used or import marked, which do occasionally show up at reasonable prices. I have found them for $75-$80 for shooters. The bolt might still work, but the extractor likely requires replacement. You would have no rear sight, but the receiver was tapped for a scope-mount. You could maybe get by with no more than a couple hundred dollars or less and wind up with a shooting 30-caliber carbine. Or sell it to me real cheap….😁.


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 12 2022 at 8:49am
I was surfing around and found a Marlin 62 256-magnum magazine for sale on ebay. Marlin chambered the 62 in 30-carbine as well as 256 and the seller states this mag is for 256 or 30-carbine. So, size-wize the shell might could be adapted to a 30-carbine trigger housing. Probably too much of a reach, just tossing it out there. 


Posted By: sleeplessnashadow
Date Posted: Feb 22 2022 at 12:37pm
Took me awhile to remember this source for the .256 Win Mag/Vulcan .44 mag magazines...

https://www.triplek.com/product/universal-vulcan-no-440-rifle/" rel="nofollow - https://www.triplek.com/product/universal-vulcan-no-440-rifle/

Not cheap and I can't guarantee the quality,

Jim


Posted By: salessi
Date Posted: Feb 22 2022 at 1:33pm
Thank you, someone else also sent me that link thinking they may work but weren’t sure. It’s funny because they show in stock, I ordered one to try & then was told it’s on back order so I’m not sure if I’ll get one or not. Thank you again 


Posted By: gglithox
Date Posted: Mar 06 2022 at 12:40pm
Here ya go, two Universal .256 mags just listed on GB. See link.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/926433012%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/926433012


Posted By: salessi
Date Posted: Mar 06 2022 at 1:22pm
Thank you very much! 


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Mar 06 2022 at 1:49pm
That seller has some ammo, brass and even a complete rifle posted as well. Don’t see these often. If you’re into it for real, better jump on the mags, brass and ammo.


Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Mar 20 2022 at 12:21pm
Originally posted by gglithox gglithox wrote:

Here ya go, two Universal .256 mags just listed on GB. See link.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/926433012%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/926433012


Congratulations to Wodash for winning, At the $755 for two magazines I would hope they are going to be reversed engineered as evidently two people were interested in this price.


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Posted By: gglithox
Date Posted: Apr 01 2022 at 3:09pm
There's another Universal .256 magazine on GB. It will be interesting to see where this one goes.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/928825296" rel="nofollow - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/928825296



Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Apr 01 2022 at 6:34pm
Start bid about $150. Would need to keep that one in the safe. Pretty sure I could build something that would work. 


Posted By: distrflman
Date Posted: Jun 26 2022 at 10:43pm
I know someone with a rifle and ammo for sale if anyone is interested. I can put you in touch with him.


Posted By: gglithox
Date Posted: Sep 10 2022 at 9:24am
Two more Universal 256 Ferret magazines for sale on GB. 
Full disclosure, this is my listing on GB.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/946949751" rel="nofollow - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/946949751


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 12 2023 at 6:36am
I think I have just purchased a .256 Universal magazine? Seller listed it as a 30, but I am sure it’s for the Ferret. I will let you know when I get it and it will be much less than the usual asking price.


Posted By: sleeplessnashadow
Date Posted: Feb 12 2023 at 9:42am
The mags by Universal Firearms ....

.256 Win Mag/Vulcan .44 Mag followers are flat
.30 caliber carbine followers are grooved



.256 Win Mag/Vulcan .44 Mag sides are straight vertical
30 caliber carbine sides widen midway



.256 Win Mag/Vulcan .44 Mag Universal Firearms name is vertical
.30 caliber carbine Universal Firearms name is horizontal



Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 12 2023 at 9:56am
The 256 magazines look more robust than the 30’s, especially the thickness on the rear wall where the 30’s tend to crack. Jim…I think you have or have owned a 44 magnum and can confirm that?

I plan to see if 9mm or TOK will feed from it. Both are slightly larger in diameter than the 256. If it doesn’t, I will pass it along.



Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 12 2023 at 10:32am
PS…….I also think it has a metal insert installed under the rear of the feed lips?


Posted By: sleeplessnashadow
Date Posted: Feb 12 2023 at 10:59am
I have 4 of the Universal Firearms mags for my Vulcan .44 mag. None have a metal insert. They are 100% plastic.

What I don't have handy is one of their plastic .30 carbine mags. So the rear wall I can't comment on at the moment.



Inside the .256 WinMag/.44 mag mags there are ribs on either side to keep the cartridges in a single stack instead of offset like the carbine mags. I have replaced the carbine follower with the 256/44 flat follower in a GI mag but the cartridges sit offset so it jams. Needs a thin space filler inside both sides. If this makes sense.

More in the next post in a moment.

Jim


Posted By: sleeplessnashadow
Date Posted: Feb 12 2023 at 11:13am
Some of the Universal mags have a gray base plate instead of a black base plate. I see no other difference between the two.

I have a metal magazine for the 256 WinMag/44 Mag cartridges Only markings are shown below. I don't know who made it.







Triple K used to sell magazines for the Vulcan. They still have them listed. They were a copy of the plastic Universal magazines and had a gray plastic base plate.

Jim


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 13 2023 at 9:53am
I have fooled with a lot of magazines for various calibers and plenty of the Universal polymers, mostly the 5-rounders. The weakness in those is the thin rear web that cracks and worn feed lips. I have found ways to fix both these problems. I have never held a Universal 256 Winchester magazine, so I know little about it. The pictures gave me an impression that they might have added a metal insert? The 5-round 30-calibers do not have an insert.

The capacity of the 256/44 magazine intrigued me. I plan to try it with other calibers that are slightly larger in diameter. If it doesn’t work, I plan to offer to pass it along to the OP at my cost, which was very reasonable as compared to what these things sell for…..when you do find them.


Posted By: sleeplessnashadow
Date Posted: Feb 13 2023 at 10:03am
March 1-11 I'll have access to several plastic Universal mags in both .30 and .256/Win at Larry's. I'll try to remember to take pics.


Posted By: floydthecat
Date Posted: Feb 13 2023 at 10:12am
Some of us out here would be very interested in both of those at a fair price. The 30’s, though limited in capacity and durability, are very good feeders of any bullet profile. 


Posted By: sleeplessnashadow
Date Posted: Mar 29 2023 at 10:55pm


For those unfamiliar with these two magazines the Universal Firearms .30 carbine magazines in the first two pics (3 mags) are the silver ones. In the pics that follow the first two those with a round spring. The black mags in the first two pics (2 mags) are the Universal Firearms mag used in both the Universal Ferret .256 Winchester Magnum and Universal Vulcan .44 magnum carbines. These have the oblong spring.

The rear of the .256/.44 mags appears thicker than the .30 cal mags but it's a lip inside the top. Not thicker all the way down. That lip gives the .256/.44 mags a bit more strength than the .30 carbine mags.

The reason for the lip is the shorter length of the .256/.44 cartridges.

Overall cartridge lengths:

.256 WinMag
     1.590 in (40.4 mm)
.44 magnum
     1.61 in (41 mm)
.30 carbine
      1.680 in (42.7 mm)

(click on an image to see a larger version)

http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/LR/univmag01.jpg" rel="nofollow">

http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/LR/univmag02.jpg" rel="nofollow">

http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/LR/univmag03.jpg" rel="nofollow">

http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/LR/univmag04.jpg" rel="nofollow">

I didn't get the vertical angle inside each mag to match but you can see the lip inside the top of the Vulcan/Ferret mag.

http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/LR/univmag05.jpg" rel="nofollow">





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