Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 125gr | Barnes X S bullet and 27 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant AR-Comp, IMR 3031 and Hodgdon H322.
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: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2730 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,813 psi | 83% | 2753 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,973 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2782 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,481 psi | 87% | 2799 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2762 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,134 psi | 88% | 2671 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,481 psi | 87% | 2638 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,032 psi | 88% | 2756 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,801 psi | 89% | 2772 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2648 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,692 psi | 68% | 1745 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2825 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2700 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2707 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2779 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,460 psi | 68% | 1781 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,147 psi | 86% | 2707 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,769 psi | 83% | 2628 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2694 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,539 psi | 87% | 2667 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,772 psi | 89% | 2700 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,582 psi | 85% | 2749 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,163 psi | 90% | 2753 fps | 96.5% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,342 psi | 63% | 2451 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,486 psi | 62% | 2510 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,492 psi | 76% | 2507 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 80% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,247 psi | 80% | 2674 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 31.8 gr | 80% | 26,223 psi | 55% | 2398 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,401 psi | 68% | 2520 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,769 psi | 83% | 2625 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,519 psi | 72% | 2487 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 35.3 gr | 86% | 37,101 psi | 78% | 2648 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,074 psi | 84% | 2717 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,958 psi | 83% | 2595 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,279 psi | 51% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 36.6 gr | 92% | 35,404 psi | 74% | 2667 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,939 psi | 71% | 2513 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,101 psi | 78% | 2612 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,132 psi | 84% | 2723 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,192 psi | 51% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,664 psi | 72% | 2562 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,521 psi | 78% | 2582 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,985 psi | 79% | 2602 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,392 psi | 80% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,314 psi | 65% | 2434 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,547 psi | 68% | 2477 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,560 psi | 64% | 2510 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,493 psi | 80% | 2657 fps | 95.1% |
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 27 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 125gr | Barnes X S. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,825 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,745 fps to 2,825 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 27 of the 27 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 68–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 125.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:15.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, 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. Alliant AR-Comp, IMR 3031, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 125gr | Barnes X S 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.