Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .303 Savage with .308 | 100gr | Barnes X FN bullet and 6 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2207, Vihtavuori N120 and SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2.
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: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,374 psi | 88% | 2717 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,760 psi | 71% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,808 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,934 psi | 69% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,765 psi | 86% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,838 psi | 89% | 2690 fps | 98.1% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2207 | 27.9 gr | 90% | 30,182 psi | 77% | 2605 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,189 psi | 52% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,195 psi | 72% | 2457 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,392 psi | 50% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 21.8 gr | 80% | 26,934 psi | 69% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | 26.7 gr | 86% | 27,267 psi | 70% | 2487 fps | 95.3% |
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 6 powders for .303 Savage loaded with the .308 | 100gr | Barnes X FN. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,717 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,762 fps to 2,717 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 6 of the 6 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (270 MPa), the top charges use 69–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. The 100.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:15.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. ADI AR 2207, Vihtavuori N120, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 rank at the top here: for .303 Savage with the .308 | 100gr | Barnes X FN 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.