You should be able to do a better with the 6.5x68S than those factory ammo speeds. It will duplicate the .264 Mag.

The standard rate of twist at a normal 12" is pretty slow, even for 127's I'd think.

I found my old data - funny how the mind can play tricks - it was a 29" bl. I thought I was getting 3,200fps with the 129 Hornady, but it was with the 125gr. Nosler that I beat 3,200fps with safe pressures- from all I could ascertain.

129 Hornady SP OAL 3.440" test 28 May 1987

70.0gr. H870 - CCI250 - Base .5208 - .52125" 4-shot group .351"

72.0gr. H870 - CCI250 - base .5215 - .5219" - 2,9992fps 4 shot group .977" ESpread 25.7fps

74.0gr. H870 - CCI250 - base .5210 - .5220" - 3,072fps
4 shot group 1.000"
5 shot group 1,645"
ESpreaqd 10.6fps

If your rifle will shoot the 125 Nosler Partition, that is the bullet I'd use. With that bullet in my re-chambered model 96.

74.0gr. H870 with CCI250 ran 3,175fps 3.435"OAL - 1.1" group @ 100 meters. 40.3fps ESpread - Web expansion .521750 -.52225"

75.0gr. H870 with CCI250 ran 3,175fps(same speed & OAL)Web expansion .52175" - .52225" - 11.3fps ESpread -

76/0gr. H870 with CCI250 ran 3,241fps. The barrel was hot when I shot these - web expansion same .52150 - 52225 ESpread 51.0fps

The 'old' barrel was rough inside (though a good shooting barrel) so I bought a new barrel from Numrich, according to my book - 29" and brand new.

I barreled up my action and chambered it with the same reamer.

125 Nosler started too high with H4831 - 65.0gr. went 3,445fps with web at .52475" OVER MAX - try 60.0gr. and work from there.

Same bullet.

75.5gr.H870 CCI250 - OAL 3.260" - 3,291fps - 85.0fps ESpread
.52325" - .52425"
76.5gr.H870 CCI250 - OAL 3.275" - 3,320fps - 33.2fps ESpread
Web .5240" even all the way around
78/5gr.H870 CCI250 - OAL 3.375" - 3,393fps - 34.0fps ESpread
MAX - felt hot - Web still .5240" even all the way around

will edit as time allows.

OK - super is over- the rest of the story

-18C - 0F - 76.0gr. H870 CCI250 OAl - 3,275" still 125 Nosler Partition
group 1.990" - 3,249fps - 64.2fps ESpread -

Note - 140gr Speer - all bullets broke up in flight or disintegrated - when holes appears in the 100yard target, it was only the base 1/2 of the bullet. They did not like the 8" or slightly faster twist- obviously.

139gr. Norma 74.0gr. H870 CCI250 - 2,945fps - 1.945"

139gr. Norma 76.0gr. H870 CCI250 - ???????? - 2.800"

May 1988 - shortened the barrel from 29" to 28 1/2" to get rid of the threads and re-crown.

note - OAL of 3.4" will allow 2-shot operation plus unfired shell ejecting.

note- found vertical stringing on some loads - usually primer or powder related. Keith noted same and said a switch to Fed 215's solved that. Today, CCI250's are supposed to be the equivalence of the old Fed 215's.

Made a note that poor overall shooting for such a nice looking barrel was likely due to short OAL's (deep seating) trying for 2-shot operation - one in the chamber, one in mag. under the bolt.