Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .303 Savage with .308 | 123gr | Lapua FMJ bullet and 18 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% | 34,969 psi | 89% | 2470 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,156 psi | 85% | 2434 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,678 psi | 86% | 2497 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,968 psi | 87% | 2510 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,722 psi | 89% | 2480 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,114 psi | 90% | 2497 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,766 psi | 89% | 2415 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,259 psi | 90% | 2431 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,255 psi | 77% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,313 psi | 77% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,910 psi | 87% | 2402 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,287 psi | 88% | 2415 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,911 psi | 89% | 2474 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,331 psi | 90% | 2487 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,776 psi | 76% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,805 psi | 76% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,244 psi | 90% | 2441 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,417 psi | 85% | 2408 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% | 29,051 psi | 74% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,225 psi | 75% | 2339 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 31,575 psi | 81% | 2444 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,211 psi | 77% | 2411 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,779 psi | 84% | 2438 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,214 psi | 85% | 2451 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,850 psi | 79% | 2323 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,270 psi | 80% | 2339 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 9.4 gr | 80% | 22,234 psi | 57% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 9.4 gr | 80% | 22,336 psi | 57% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,385 psi | 78% | 2313 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,458 psi | 78% | 2320 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,603 psi | 78% | 2372 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,009 psi | 79% | 2385 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 9.5 gr | 80% | 21,669 psi | 55% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 9.5 gr | 80% | 21,756 psi | 56% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 75% | 2306 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 75% | 2316 fps | 99% |
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 18 powders for .303 Savage loaded with the .308 | 123gr | Lapua FMJ. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,510 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,617 fps to 2,510 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 18 of the 18 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (270 MPa), the top charges use 76–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, 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 | 123gr | Lapua FMJ 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.