Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .303 Savage with .308 | 120gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal bullet and 9 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 14 and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,504 psi | 86% | 2493 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,185 psi | 87% | 2562 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,317 psi | 90% | 2549 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,689 psi | 76% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,606 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,215 psi | 90% | 2539 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,066 psi | 74% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,156 psi | 87% | 2297 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,808 psi | 86% | 2467 fps | 99.6% |
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 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,775 psi | 71% | 2352 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 32,358 psi | 83% | 2516 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,330 psi | 85% | 2503 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 9.4 gr | 80% | 21,466 psi | 55% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,980 psi | 79% | 2379 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,806 psi | 79% | 2434 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 9.6 gr | 80% | 21,118 psi | 54% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,561 psi | 83% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,137 psi | 72% | 2329 fps | 98.4% |
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 9 powders for .303 Savage loaded with the .308 | 120gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,562 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,650 fps to 2,562 fps. Alliant AR-Comp gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 9 of the 9 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (270 MPa), the top charges use 74–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant AR-Comp, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .303 Savage with the .308 | 120gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal 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.