Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .30-30 Ackley Improved with .308 | 171gr | Viper Bullets Bush Gold bullet and 43 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant AR-Comp, Lovex D073.6 and Shooters World Match Rifle.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,510 psi | 89% | 2195 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,813 psi | 86% | 2192 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,104 psi | 89% | 2254 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,871 psi | 86% | 2228 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,232 psi | 82% | 2228 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,537 psi | 85% | 2090 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,914 psi | 86% | 2096 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,653 psi | 85% | 2205 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,075 psi | 89% | 2205 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,741 psi | 88% | 2257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,842 psi | 86% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,306 psi | 87% | 2123 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,321 psi | 89% | 2169 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,480 psi | 87% | 2251 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,162 psi | 89% | 2228 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,495 psi | 89% | 2238 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,343 psi | 70% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,205 psi | 89% | 2283 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,408 psi | 89% | 2162 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,075 psi | 89% | 2205 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,234 psi | 87% | 2198 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,769 psi | 86% | 2188 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,234 psi | 87% | 2244 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,842 psi | 86% | 2165 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,465 psi | 85% | 2205 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,169 psi | 69% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,915 psi | 88% | 2205 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,176 psi | 89% | 2198 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,234 psi | 87% | 2198 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,234 psi | 87% | 2244 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,016 psi | 86% | 2205 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,277 psi | 87% | 2182 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,480 psi | 87% | 2139 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,162 psi | 89% | 2162 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,017 psi | 88% | 2228 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,292 psi | 89% | 2172 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,567 psi | 87% | 2142 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,871 psi | 86% | 2146 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,943 psi | 86% | 2221 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,045 psi | 86% | 2192 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,988 psi | 88% | 2198 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,843 psi | 88% | 2221 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,742 psi | 90% | 2267 fps | 97% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,500 psi | 61% | 1965 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 66% | 2021 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 22,698 psi | 49% | 1896 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,169 psi | 69% | 2090 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 27,760 psi | 60% | 2028 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,347 psi | 80% | 2054 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 81% | 2057 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,693 psi | 75% | 2116 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,479 psi | 83% | 2162 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 26.2 gr | 80% | 26,208 psi | 56% | 1978 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,098 psi | 71% | 2067 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,636 psi | 77% | 2047 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,738 psi | 79% | 2090 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,534 psi | 77% | 2165 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,836 psi | 69% | 2060 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,082 psi | 69% | 2067 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,772 psi | 51% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,614 psi | 57% | 1988 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,780 psi | 75% | 2057 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,479 psi | 83% | 2162 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,231 psi | 80% | 2149 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,519 psi | 74% | 2096 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 31.4 gr | 90% | 32,808 psi | 71% | 2116 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,289 psi | 80% | 2123 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,835 psi | 66% | 2047 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,772 psi | 51% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,634 psi | 72% | 2077 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,676 psi | 66% | 2005 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,231 psi | 80% | 2149 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | 31.4 gr | 90% | 32,808 psi | 71% | 2116 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,186 psi | 76% | 2123 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,431 psi | 72% | 2064 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,531 psi | 68% | 1982 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,805 psi | 62% | 1942 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,435 psi | 83% | 2185 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,892 psi | 62% | 1949 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,676 psi | 68% | 1991 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,528 psi | 59% | 1916 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,858 psi | 49% | 1867 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,225 psi | 63% | 1991 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,290 psi | 83% | 2156 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,691 psi | 68% | 2057 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,753 psi | 79% | 2178 fps | 95.6% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 43 powders for .30-30 Ackley Improved loaded with the .308 | 171gr | Viper Bullets Bush Gold. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,283 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,388 fps to 2,283 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 69–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 171.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:15.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Hodgdon TrailBoss reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Alliant AR-Comp, Lovex D073.6, Shooters World Match Rifle rank at the top here: for .30-30 Ackley Improved with the .308 | 171gr | Viper Bullets Bush Gold they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.