Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .306 | 160gr | Peregrine Plainsmaster (VLR-4) bullet and 44 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Accurate 2520, SNPE Vectan SP 10 and ADI AR 2219.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2310 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2382 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2375 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,563 psi | 74% | 2346 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2457 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,214 psi | 69% | 2310 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,408 psi | 87% | 2277 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,843 psi | 87% | 2280 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,582 psi | 85% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,886 psi | 85% | 2392 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,539 psi | 87% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2329 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2313 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2349 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,453 psi | 89% | 2418 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,018 psi | 90% | 2313 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,459 psi | 66% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2477 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,076 psi | 90% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2385 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,654 psi | 85% | 2428 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,917 psi | 90% | 2434 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,488 psi | 66% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,279 psi | 88% | 2395 fps | 96.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,640 psi | 87% | 2379 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2385 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,654 psi | 85% | 2428 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2110 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,495 psi | 87% | 2402 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,626 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2316 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,318 psi | 78% | 2260 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2356 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,669 psi | 87% | 2326 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,712 psi | 85% | 2323 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,710 psi | 79% | 2359 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,828 psi | 85% | 2375 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,131 psi | 82% | 2359 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2461 fps | 96.2% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,987 psi | 84% | 2260 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,280 psi | 53% | 2034 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,404 psi | 74% | 2280 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 23,540 psi | 49% | 2073 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2520 | 34.1 gr | 92% | 34,983 psi | 73% | 2310 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 31,024 psi | 65% | 2264 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,519 psi | 72% | 2152 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,217 psi | 78% | 2198 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,795 psi | 75% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 29 gr | 80% | 31,285 psi | 65% | 2198 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,511 psi | 49% | 2041 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 62% | 2146 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 78% | 2241 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,532 psi | 68% | 2139 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,016 psi | 84% | 2306 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,719 psi | 64% | 2185 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,244 psi | 74% | 2290 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,159 psi | 80% | 2231 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,264 psi | 49% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,892 psi | 60% | 2195 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,952 psi | 67% | 2149 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,839 psi | 75% | 2287 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,524 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,534 psi | 74% | 2333 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,315 psi | 70% | 2218 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,156 psi | 69% | 2254 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,105 psi | 48% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,869 psi | 77% | 2297 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,809 psi | 73% | 2251 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,839 psi | 75% | 2287 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,534 psi | 74% | 2333 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,494 psi | 83% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 30.8 gr | 82% | 33,750 psi | 71% | 2254 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,487 psi | 64% | 2152 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,301 psi | 72% | 2185 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 31,067 psi | 65% | 2136 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,198 psi | 65% | 2149 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,013 psi | 75% | 2208 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,703 psi | 60% | 2077 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,643 psi | 56% | 2034 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,194 psi | 55% | 2103 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,779 psi | 71% | 2241 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,505 psi | 72% | 2270 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,277 psi | 84% | 2408 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 44 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .306 | 160gr | Peregrine Plainsmaster (VLR-4). IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,477 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,467 fps to 2,477 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 44 of the 44 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 66–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 160.0 gr projectile in 0.306" calls for a 1:10.5 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. Accurate 2520, SNPE Vectan SP 10, ADI AR 2219 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .306 | 160gr | Peregrine Plainsmaster (VLR-4) 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.