Hello all, new to the sight. I am thinking about building a hot 6.5 on a blueprinted 700 action with a 28" stainless fluted barrel. Can't decide what twist to use for 140 gr bullets driven about 3400 ft. Hope to build a long range hunting rifle out of this rig. Which cart would you guys reccomend, the STW, the Thor or is there another cart I should consider.

Welcome to the site. Have you ruled out a 6.5 Ultra Mag? For a dedicated 140-grain rifle, I'd go with 1:8" twist. If there was a likelyhood of shooting lighter bullets, I'd probably prefer a 1:9.

littledevil, Go over to www.wildcatshooting.com and look up Butch Keen. He's one of the 1000 yard shooters from Williamsport, PA and he's just finished building his "new toy for next year"....a 6.5 version of the WSM case. Boyd Heaton from that site also, shoots his 6.5 version of the WSSM but it isn't going to get the velocities you're looking for but does shoot quite small 1000 yard groups with the 142's!!! GHD

Waterfowler I'm afraid the ultra mag case would be too over bore. I think the STW case is about all the powder you could burn and still get decent barrel life out of this rig. I had thought about a cart based on the 300 Whetherby round but the STW case is cheaper. I know we a talking about a custom rig, but I have to save a few dollars where I can.

littledevil, have you talked to Mark at Kailua Custom? He has a lot of experience with the 6.5's. I expect you read the story about the Thor on his website? I traded emails with him about twist for a similar project. Initially I am going to chamber in .264 WM because I have dies, brass and my gunsmith has the reamer. If it doesn't satisfy I will rechamber to 6.5 STW or Thor. Anyway I asked Mark about using a 10" twist and he said it would work for 140's. The slower twist uses less energy to spin the bullet so theoretically you have more energy to push the bullet faster. In practice who knows? Anyway I was set to order a 10" twist barrel but I ended up with a 9" twist since I didn't order a new barrel. I am sure you know the 9" twist is standard in the .264 WM. The only reason to use a 8" twist is if you want to shoot the 155 Sierra Match or other heavy VLD bullets.

6.5 stw is pretty much the same as the 6.5x300weatherby... I have 2 6.5x300weatherby's now.. I have used the 7stw brass instead of the 300weatherby there really is no difference at all.. If your going for a long range gun go with a 30" bbl and a 8 twist.. I can get 34-3500fps with 142's in mine...

GHD Butch didnt build that on the WSM he built it on the 300SAUM case.. Butch and I designed that round he just had it built first lol..