I built quite a few 6.5/06 rifles in the early eighties and most used 9 inch twist since I mostly used Shilen barrels at the time and they didn't make an eight. I built some using 8 twist barrels from other makers and always felt that they were a little more consistent . The 8 twist became my "go to" twist for the 6.5/06 and all other 6.5's. The 6.5/06 would comfortably push 140's to just over 2900 fps. Guys who achieved over 3000 fps had to replace brass fairly often when primer pockets loosened. My 256 Newton might manage 2900, given the right powder, but 2850 is more like it; about 100 fps over my 6.5x55. GD
