Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 146gr | MEN FMJ BT Mdly bullet and 40 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 Lovex D073.6.
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% | 42,119 psi | 88% | 2552 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2595 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,785 psi | 87% | 2618 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2635 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,870 psi | 81% | 2585 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,699 psi | 89% | 2477 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,120 psi | 90% | 2484 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,278 psi | 86% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2467 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,989 psi | 88% | 2516 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2585 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2598 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,634 psi | 68% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,989 psi | 88% | 2654 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,887 psi | 88% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2549 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,033 psi | 90% | 2589 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,930 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,844 psi | 90% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,482 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,358 psi | 68% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,408 psi | 87% | 2556 fps | 96.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,872 psi | 87% | 2552 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2549 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,930 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,524 psi | 85% | 2556 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2539 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,872 psi | 85% | 2480 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 2513 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,872 psi | 87% | 2523 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,409 psi | 89% | 2480 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,886 psi | 85% | 2487 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,873 psi | 90% | 2533 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,178 psi | 90% | 2625 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,091 psi | 90% | 2589 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,466 psi | 87% | 2575 fps | 97.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,482 psi | 89% | 2635 fps | 96.3% |
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% | 29,008 psi | 61% | 2274 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,331 psi | 74% | 2438 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 24,627 psi | 51% | 2234 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,157 psi | 73% | 2477 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,097 psi | 67% | 2438 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,768 psi | 79% | 2382 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,145 psi | 80% | 2388 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,972 psi | 84% | 2480 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 73% | 2451 fps | 97% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 31.8 gr | 80% | 26,513 psi | 55% | 2280 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,315 psi | 70% | 2388 fps | 99% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,853 psi | 75% | 2369 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,320 psi | 82% | 2464 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,256 psi | 67% | 2382 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,476 psi | 72% | 2438 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,004 psi | 50% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 33.4 gr | 84% | 28,848 psi | 60% | 2352 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,186 psi | 74% | 2385 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,985 psi | 79% | 2497 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,695 psi | 79% | 2487 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 39 gr | 92% | 35,694 psi | 75% | 2500 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,811 psi | 79% | 2464 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,112 psi | 69% | 2411 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,888 psi | 50% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,347 psi | 76% | 2454 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,954 psi | 73% | 2411 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,985 psi | 79% | 2497 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,694 psi | 75% | 2500 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,563 psi | 74% | 2454 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,910 psi | 71% | 2392 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,098 psi | 71% | 2343 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,879 psi | 65% | 2290 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,009 psi | 65% | 2297 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,118 psi | 84% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,097 psi | 67% | 2306 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,905 psi | 58% | 2215 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,281 psi | 55% | 2254 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,517 psi | 66% | 2349 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,360 psi | 72% | 2431 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,682 psi | 83% | 2579 fps | 95.4% |
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 | 146gr | MEN FMJ BT Mdly. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,654 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,621 fps to 2,654 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 68–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 146.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:16.5 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, Lovex D073.6 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 146gr | MEN FMJ BT Mdly 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.