Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 150gr | Norma Kalahari bullet and 41 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant AR-Comp, Hodgdon H335 and IMR 3031.
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>> | 94% | 41,234 psi | 86% | 2461 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,279 psi | 88% | 2497 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,782 psi | 79% | 2477 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2539 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,215 psi | 74% | 2441 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,685 psi | 89% | 2395 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,120 psi | 90% | 2402 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,134 psi | 88% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2520 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,422 psi | 84% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2493 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,104 psi | 86% | 2408 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2431 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2493 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,887 psi | 88% | 2513 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,539 psi | 87% | 2388 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,010 psi | 67% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2552 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,669 psi | 87% | 2431 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2516 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2497 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2556 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,453 psi | 89% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2516 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,705 psi | 66% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,901 psi | 85% | 2467 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,988 psi | 86% | 2461 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2516 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2556 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,830 psi | 89% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2523 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2493 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,076 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,899 psi | 81% | 2382 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,278 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,931 psi | 90% | 2444 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2448 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,566 psi | 83% | 2487 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2497 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,625 psi | 85% | 2484 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% | 26,672 psi | 56% | 2149 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,722 psi | 73% | 2352 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 25,338 psi | 53% | 2198 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,709 psi | 77% | 2434 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,156 psi | 69% | 2395 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,476 psi | 74% | 2260 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,087 psi | 80% | 2306 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,202 psi | 78% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,663 psi | 68% | 2320 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 29 gr | 80% | 24,816 psi | 52% | 2162 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,951 psi | 65% | 2264 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,711 psi | 81% | 2365 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,576 psi | 70% | 2247 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,807 psi | 66% | 2297 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 33.6 gr | 84% | 34,330 psi | 72% | 2362 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,160 psi | 82% | 2343 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,627 psi | 49% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 31.8 gr | 88% | 30,182 psi | 63% | 2313 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,982 psi | 69% | 2264 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,536 psi | 78% | 2411 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,479 psi | 82% | 2444 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,130 psi | 78% | 2457 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,157 psi | 73% | 2343 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,795 psi | 73% | 2375 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,511 psi | 49% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,522 psi | 80% | 2421 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,492 psi | 76% | 2372 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,536 psi | 78% | 2411 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,130 psi | 78% | 2457 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 85% | 2188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,215 psi | 74% | 2372 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,662 psi | 66% | 2267 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,636 psi | 74% | 2303 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,561 psi | 68% | 2254 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,518 psi | 68% | 2260 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,391 psi | 78% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 63% | 2188 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,688 psi | 58% | 2142 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,311 psi | 57% | 2215 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,938 psi | 69% | 2310 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,926 psi | 75% | 2392 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 41 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 150gr | Norma Kalahari. Lovex D073.6 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,556 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,549 fps to 2,556 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 41 of the 41 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 150.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:12.5 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. Alliant AR-Comp, Hodgdon H335, IMR 3031 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 150gr | Norma Kalahari 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.