308 load for 16" bolt gun???

[KS]

Hey guys!
Not new to the board but have been away for awhile and had to re-register.  I need some help.

not my gun, just tryin' to help out.

Specs:
Rem trued/blueprinted short action
Heavy Krieger cut/crowned to 16" 
1-12" twist
factory HS Precision (VS stock)
action/barrel bedded

As long as I have been reloading I have NEVER reloaded for a 308 this short. I'm thinking something in the 125gr-150gr. bullet with a fast powder might be the ticket.

Intended use will be maybe short range hog hunting/coyote hunting.

Not sure what optics will be used on it yet.

I would really like to hear some suggestions (short of glueing 8" of barrel back on it) on how to approach this project.

thanks guys,

Keith

[jd45]

As I understand it, 150gr to 180gr bullets will give tightest groups with a 1 in 12 barrel. Lighter ones require a slower twist, & heavier ones a faster twist, for best accuracy. Sorry, but I can't advize as to what powder to use in a 16" tube. Good luck, JD45

[jd45]

KS, go to Page 4 on this forum for a thread started by Ebjonnes, June 9th, 2006, entitled, "Short Barrel Velocity". May be some help there for ya, JD45

[KS]

thanks guys!
Keith

[singleVI]

Might try looking at TC Encore pistol data?

[JJ Kelly]

In the 24" barrel with Federal factory 168gr I get 2680 fps. In my 16"
barrel FAL's I get 2520 fps with same load also consider that FAL's are
semi-auto bleeding off gas. Reloading for the bolt gun I use Varget, BLC-2,
Rl-15 and have tried H322 which is fast. In the Seirra load manual there
is info with 15" barrel for TC's; not much difference. Barnes manual shows
with 150 gr bullet 39 to 43 grs of IMR-3031. The Ken Waters book shows
the following with H-322: 130gr bullet 43grs/ 150gr bullet 42grs/ 168gr
bullet 41grs/ 180gr bullet 37grs. Hope that gives you a better idea.

[anachronism]

Use standard reloading data with medium rate powders. Don't try to compensate for the short barrel by using fast powders or lightweight bullets. Fast powders often only raise chamber pressures quickly, but little else, lightweight bullets lack momentum that could cost you penetration. Look at TC Encore handgun data if you need ideas.

[Larry L]

If the price of the powder doesn't scare you, try 45.0 grs VV N-135 under a Remington 150 Core-Lok. From pencil thin 18" barrels to 24" full bulls, this load shoots in a tight hole at 100 yds from a double arm load of 308's. It's a near max load (45.7grs) so you might wanna work up to it.

[shot1]

46 grs IMR 4895 and a 125 gr Nosler ballistic tip is wicked on deer size game. I get right at 3000 fps out of a 21 1/2" 308 Win. barrel so you should get between 2800 and 2900 fps from a 16" barrel. I shoot this bullet at 2850 fps in my 30X47 HBR rifle and it is a BANG FLOP on a deer. I shoot this bullet at 2670 fps in my 14" 30-30AI Contender pistol and it is a BANG FLOP on deer. Great bullet for deer size and extremely accurate.

[Lloyd Smale]

I load 150s pretty much exclusively in the 308. Ive got a 16 in a 18 inch and a 22in 308 and barrel lenght has little to do with powder selection. the powders that work well in a 22 work well in a 16. Some powders i like are 4895 3031 4064 ramshot tac ramshot hunter 748 blc2 414 and 380. I probably use 4895 the most in bolt guns and when loading progressive for the black guns i use more 414 then anything. But any of those powders will work fine in any lenght 308. For bullets its tough to give a recomendation as every gun has it own prefernce. One bullet though that surprisingly has done well for accuracy in all of my 30 cal rifles and is an excellent deer  bullet is the ww power point 150. I bought a couple thousand in bulk once cheap figureing on burning them up in the ar but they shot so well in all of my guns that i hord them now. Two other standouts would be the 150 bt and the seirra 150 flat base. No need for anything but a standard cup and core bullet in the 308. Stouter constructed bullets like bonded bullets or barnes bullets dont open up fast enough at 308 velocitys for me.

[DANNY-L]

Might try looking at TC Encore pistol data?

That was my first thought also.