Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 140gr | Barnes X BT bullet and 36 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Alliant AR-Comp 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,858 psi | 87% | 2546 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,772 psi | 89% | 2579 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2618 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2615 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,885 psi | 81% | 2582 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,974 psi | 88% | 2464 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,366 psi | 89% | 2467 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,959 psi | 88% | 2589 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,062 psi | 90% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2575 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,830 psi | 89% | 2503 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,988 psi | 86% | 2572 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2579 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,895 psi | 69% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,872 psi | 85% | 2631 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2510 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2589 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2635 fps | 96.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,018 psi | 90% | 2559 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,887 psi | 88% | 2592 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,735 psi | 68% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2552 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2589 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2635 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2595 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,627 psi | 89% | 2569 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2510 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,959 psi | 86% | 2497 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,582 psi | 87% | 2516 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,047 psi | 88% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,134 psi | 90% | 2526 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,800 psi | 87% | 2516 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2572 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,163 psi | 90% | 2608 fps | 96.8% |
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>> | 80% | 29,602 psi | 62% | 2280 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,869 psi | 79% | 2484 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 27,557 psi | 58% | 2303 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,624 psi | 83% | 2566 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,722 psi | 73% | 2490 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,434 psi | 78% | 2372 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,234 psi | 84% | 2425 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,769 psi | 83% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,940 psi | 73% | 2438 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 30.1 gr | 80% | 27,253 psi | 57% | 2287 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,634 psi | 70% | 2392 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,781 psi | 75% | 2365 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 31.8 gr | 82% | 34,156 psi | 71% | 2421 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,724 psi | 77% | 2484 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,540 psi | 51% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 32.3 gr | 86% | 30,879 psi | 65% | 2395 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,143 psi | 73% | 2382 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,553 psi | 85% | 2539 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,943 psi | 83% | 2585 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,464 psi | 80% | 2474 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,275 psi | 78% | 2500 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,555 psi | 51% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,927 psi | 79% | 2464 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,553 psi | 85% | 2539 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,943 psi | 83% | 2585 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,434 psi | 78% | 2490 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,939 psi | 71% | 2385 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,290 psi | 80% | 2425 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,635 psi | 72% | 2365 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,359 psi | 70% | 2343 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,798 psi | 83% | 2444 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,445 psi | 68% | 2310 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,413 psi | 59% | 2218 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 28,442 psi | 59% | 2303 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,578 psi | 74% | 2438 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,406 psi | 80% | 2513 fps | 95.5% |
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 36 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 140gr | Barnes X BT. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,657 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,624 fps to 2,657 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 36 of the 36 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 140.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:13.5 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. IMR 3031, Alliant AR-Comp, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 140gr | Barnes X BT 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.