Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 146.6gr | Sax KDG-S bullet and 40 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon H322, SNPE Vectan SP 10 and Alliant AR-Comp.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2428 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,365 psi | 86% | 2497 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,699 psi | 89% | 2539 fps | 97% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,838 psi | 73% | 2461 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,380 psi | 89% | 2575 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2395 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2402 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,583 psi | 89% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,466 psi | 85% | 2516 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2536 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,423 psi | 87% | 2451 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,423 psi | 87% | 2431 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,901 psi | 88% | 2539 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,598 psi | 89% | 2559 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2441 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,589 psi | 66% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2507 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,914 psi | 83% | 2543 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2556 fps | 97.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,169 psi | 65% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2513 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,828 psi | 85% | 2493 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2507 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,914 psi | 83% | 2543 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,814 psi | 85% | 2520 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,901 psi | 85% | 2490 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,002 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,043 psi | 77% | 2379 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2477 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2451 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,785 psi | 85% | 2444 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,801 psi | 89% | 2487 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,333 psi | 78% | 2480 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,176 psi | 84% | 2490 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,566 psi | 81% | 2477 fps | 95.9% |
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% | 39,465 psi | 82% | 2379 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,614 psi | 56% | 2185 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,043 psi | 77% | 2438 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,411 psi | 55% | 2264 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,970 psi | 77% | 2474 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,866 psi | 71% | 2257 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,986 psi | 81% | 2356 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,172 psi | 73% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,127 psi | 69% | 2362 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 28.9 gr | 80% | 23,221 psi | 49% | 2139 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,196 psi | 61% | 2260 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,666 psi | 77% | 2362 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,937 psi | 67% | 2244 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 31.3 gr | 84% | 32,256 psi | 67% | 2339 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,231 psi | 78% | 2454 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,449 psi | 78% | 2343 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,192 psi | 48% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,153 psi | 63% | 2346 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,647 psi | 66% | 2267 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,927 psi | 79% | 2451 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,449 psi | 78% | 2497 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,779 psi | 68% | 2329 fps | 99% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,838 psi | 73% | 2411 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,669 psi | 47% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,827 psi | 81% | 2461 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,230 psi | 76% | 2402 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,927 psi | 79% | 2451 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,449 psi | 78% | 2497 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 81% | 2198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 33.5 gr | 84% | 35,563 psi | 74% | 2415 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,936 psi | 63% | 2257 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,868 psi | 75% | 2339 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,764 psi | 68% | 2290 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,416 psi | 68% | 2293 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,375 psi | 74% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,181 psi | 59% | 2182 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,702 psi | 58% | 2175 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 27,137 psi | 57% | 2244 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,331 psi | 74% | 2395 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,042 psi | 75% | 2425 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 40 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 146.6gr | Sax KDG-S. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,592 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,562 fps to 2,592 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 40 of the 40 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 65–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. The 146.6 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:12.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 3031 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. Hodgdon H322, SNPE Vectan SP 10, Alliant AR-Comp rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 146.6gr | Sax KDG-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.