Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 154gr | MEN SF bullet and 44 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Accurate 2520 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2470 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 2467 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,987 psi | 84% | 2490 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,394 psi | 86% | 2500 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,231 psi | 78% | 2457 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,640 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2365 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,336 psi | 86% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,495 psi | 87% | 2480 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,685 psi | 89% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,524 psi | 87% | 2454 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,685 psi | 89% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,177 psi | 88% | 2392 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2441 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2533 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2507 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2477 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,460 psi | 68% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2572 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2477 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,713 psi | 87% | 2467 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,713 psi | 87% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2484 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,198 psi | 67% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2480 fps | 96.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2474 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2477 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,047 psi | 88% | 2487 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2461 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2402 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,480 psi | 85% | 2392 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,698 psi | 85% | 2405 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,495 psi | 87% | 2369 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2411 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,336 psi | 86% | 2408 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,568 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,539 psi | 87% | 2464 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2500 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2507 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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,007 psi | 59% | 2162 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,142 psi | 71% | 2323 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,685 psi | 49% | 2126 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | 36.2 gr | 90% | 36,071 psi | 75% | 2402 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,850 psi | 64% | 2323 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,811 psi | 77% | 2270 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,202 psi | 78% | 2274 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,551 psi | 81% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,939 psi | 71% | 2329 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 29.5 gr | 80% | 25,686 psi | 54% | 2169 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,416 psi | 68% | 2277 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,914 psi | 83% | 2365 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,012 psi | 73% | 2260 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2392 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,508 psi | 83% | 2484 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,227 psi | 65% | 2267 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,402 psi | 70% | 2323 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,582 psi | 85% | 2352 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,859 psi | 50% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 31 gr | 84% | 27,934 psi | 58% | 2238 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 72% | 2274 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 76% | 2369 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,725 psi | 81% | 2411 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,330 psi | 72% | 2379 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,767 psi | 77% | 2349 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,127 psi | 71% | 2343 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,772 psi | 50% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,739 psi | 79% | 2388 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,924 psi | 71% | 2297 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 76% | 2369 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,330 psi | 72% | 2379 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,287 psi | 72% | 2333 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,054 psi | 69% | 2277 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,837 psi | 69% | 2224 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,052 psi | 63% | 2178 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,234 psi | 84% | 2461 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,197 psi | 63% | 2188 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,725 psi | 81% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,314 psi | 65% | 2201 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,209 psi | 57% | 2113 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 25,353 psi | 53% | 2142 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,503 psi | 68% | 2283 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,214 psi | 69% | 2313 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,551 psi | 81% | 2454 fps | 95% |
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 44 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 154gr | MEN SF. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,572 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,542 fps to 2,572 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 44 of the 44 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 67–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 154.0 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, Accurate 2520, Alliant AR-Comp rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 154gr | MEN SF 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.