Thanks.... One pre-fit I'm looking at is a 1:9 twist at 24"... this should suffice for the 140s. I don't need the heavy heavies. mostly deer and steel. Was thinking a 1:8 at 26" but would rather save a little weight and sacrifice a little speed
At 24 inches, I would chamber it for 6.5-06, or 6.5 SAUM, or 6.5-284, or 270, or even 25-06. No critter would ever know the difference. Nor probably would a steel plate.
You, on the other hand, will experience substantially reduced recoil, muzzle blast, and barrel erosion. Plus a pound of powder will go further. To do what we buy a 264 to do, she needs at least 26 inches.
One in eight will never hurt you. But if you someday decide to try VLD bullets, the one in nine may not spin them fast enough.