Expected Velocity in a 16" 308

[SUIScide]

I'm in the process of getting my DPMS G2 set up for some hog eradication. I'll be shooting at night, suppressed (w/ an adjustable gas block turned way down, lol). All shots will be inside of 200 yards, and most much, much closer. I'm wanting to stick with the lighter bullet and fast powder for reduced recoil and faster follow up shots. I'll be using Benchmark powder with 125 g Ballistic tips or accubonds. A preliminary test of 45 grains of that powder yields 2842 fps from my 16" barrel. Is that a reasonable velocity? I'd love to have the velocity up around 3000 but don't want to get too crazy with pressure. Just wanting to see if anyone has any experience w/ this combo or one like it, Thanks.

 

[SkyScrapin]

I'm going down this path with a SCAR17 in the next month. My combo will be 125 and 135 SMKs - trialing Varget, 8208 and potentially H335. Like you, looking to meet or exceed 3k fps without pushing it to hard. Tagging along since I'm interested in 16" 30c semi-auto velocity.

 

[shootnrelease]

I have a 20" barrel (R25) and barely short of 3000 with 125 gr. ballistic tips... ARcomp has given my best accuracy. 8208 gave a little more speed...

 

[squirrel_slayer]

I haven't tried 125's but I got 2600 with 168 amax's with no pressure from a 16" lr308 with 2000mr.
I get 2545 with 175's with xbr and 175's from my 18.5" bolt

 

[5RWill]

If you're looking for velocity 2000MR will get you there although probably not the most stable powder, 8208 is a temp stable powder that will give you some extra velocity. I'd try RL16 too, extremely temp stable burn rate seems to be perfect for short barrels as QL says 99% burn rate for my 18" 6.5x47 with it and running 42.1gr i'm getting 123s to 2840fps with no pressure signs.

 

[SUIScide]

Hmmm. I'll probably bump the Benchmark up to 46/46.5 grains and call it good. Hodgdon lists 47.5 as max and 3070 fps - from an 24" barrel. I know a slower powder would net me more speed but I'd like to burn this Benchmark up. Even at 2840 fps it makes 800 flbs more energy than I get form my blackout with the same bullet. That should help with the Texas heart shots!