Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .303 Savage with .308 | 110gr | Barnes TAC-X bullet and 8 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 ReloadSwiss RS 14.
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>> | 92% | 35,157 psi | 90% | 2618 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,427 psi | 73% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,721 psi | 86% | 2477 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,606 psi | 88% | 2507 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,717 psi | 71% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,403 psi | 88% | 2536 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,360 psi | 88% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,518 psi | 86% | 2546 fps | 98.7% |
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 | 26.2 gr | 84% | 27,630 psi | 71% | 2425 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,755 psi | 53% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,720 psi | 81% | 2428 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 78% | 2415 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 9.2 gr | 80% | 20,320 psi | 52% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,372 psi | 83% | 2490 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,196 psi | 75% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | 24.9 gr | 80% | 24,642 psi | 63% | 2303 fps | 95.4% |
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 8 powders for .303 Savage loaded with the .308 | 110gr | Barnes TAC-X. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,618 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,686 fps to 2,618 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 8 of the 8 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (270 MPa), the top charges use 71–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 110.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:15.5 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, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .303 Savage with the .308 | 110gr | Barnes TAC-X 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.