if you were to build a 6.5 rifle...

[IdahoCTD]

I run a 6.5-300wm and in a 28" barrel I get 3340fps using Nosler brass, Retumbo, and 140gr Amax's. In a 26" barrel 3200fps should be relatively easy. Cases are easy to form, one swipe through my 7-300wm die (a 7rm die would do it as well) and then through a backed out .264wm and your good to go. I use a generic Hornady 6.5mm seater. I shot a deer last year @ 1006yds with it and it claimed the life of two elk earlier this year. I'll probably build a slightly lighter version soon as well with a 26" barrel that's about .700 at the muzzle.

 

[RT2506]

I have a Rem 700 with a #4 Shilen barrel that is 27 3/4" long, all that the smith could get out of a 28" blank, 264 Win mag. I put it in a Hogue full bed stock with Leupold bases and rings and a Meopta Meostar 30mm 3-12X56 scope and a sling that just weighs 9 1/2 lbs. I could use a lighter scope and take a little weight off but this rifle carries well and is very accurate. You don't need a bull barrel or a rifle that will shoot 5 to 10 shot groups in 1/2 MOA on a hunting rifle. All it needs to do is put the first 1 or 2 shots were you want it.

Anything that will push a 6.5 140 gr bullet 3200 fps is going to be over bore. So if you have to fire form cases for a round you loose just that much barrel life. The 264 Win mag still makes a whole lot of sense to me.

I have not worked up any loads with 140 gr bullets because I don't need that heavy a bullet for the deer hunting I do but I use 130 Accubonds and with Retumbo I get 3350 fps average so I am sure that 3200 would be easy to get with 140s.

 

[jakelly]

I had many of the same parameters as you and I chose the 6.5 saum. I've had the 264 (ho-hum accuracy), 6.5-06 (2950 in a 24" is what it liked), and still love my 6.5-06 AI (loves 3100, but the load is hot hot barrel life<1500). However, the saum offers something the others don't 2-3x the barrel life with =< performance.