I need help with load data for a 16" barrel bolt gun in 308 Winchester. I came across some Hornady 180 grain SST bullets and am looking to get them to 2500-2600 FPS out of this 16" barrel safely. If it can be done please share your data. I really appreciate it. I have good brass and CCI LR primers already, I am looking for what powder and charge to start with for this short barrel.

2500 to 2600 might be pushing it out of a 16" barrel. I would work up a load with 4895 or 4064.

Stuff in the varget to 4895 burn rate looks to be your best bet for velocity, but I think you might be asking too much from a 16 inch barrel.

If 47-48 gr of 2000 MR won’t get you there then it’s not going to happen. I think 2550 is about what to expect
Oh...N550 is another but it costs more and may be more difficult to find.

There are a few that can get you in the 2500 ball park and I would not doubt what DStroud posted.

You can get a good idea from handgun load data for the 308 which is often done in a 15 inch barrel like in the Hodgdon reloading data center.

Don’t want a max load so 2400-2500 is fine with me just dont know what would be most efficient powder for the rifle

If by "most efficient" you mean most velocity per grain of powder look at IMR 3031

I wouldn't try and push that bullet that fast in that barrel.

BigDad, I believe the chart you shown is velocities for a 24 inch barrel. That is 8 inches longer than the length of the OP's barrel. Expect a loss of 20-25 fps per inch of barrel.
My 308 I tested recently with 178 ELD-M and Varget ran 2,725 fps with a 26 inch barrel, which is 10 inches more barrel.

Hodgdon data below for a 15 inch barrel handgun in 308 with 180gr bullet. Your 16 inch barrel might be 20-30 fps faster than these loads listed or may not as we all know different barrels shoot different but gives a good idea.

Thx for the assist. I have some CFE223 left and gonna try to work it up with that. I hear it acts a lot like BL-C(2)? Any tips for me with CFE223?

It should work and is listed for the rifle data Bigdad posted. Notice that in that data there are several powders that max is listed at about the same 45gr or a couple tenths or two of it also the starting load is higher for CFE-223 than the others that max out at about the same charge.


I run CFE223 in the 17 Remington and 6.5 Grendel. It is more temp sensitive so max loads for your rifle this time of year might be litteraly hot loads in the summer. In those two that I use CFE-223 in I get best accuracy a little under their listed max loads.

45 Varget was good for 2650 from my 20" barrel with 180 Interlock FBs. Should get you the velocity you want in 16" barrel.

I have the CFE223 from loading my Grendel. I can’t find any powder at all in my area.