Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 155gr | 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, IMR 3031 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>> | 94% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2434 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,553 psi | 85% | 2428 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,015 psi | 82% | 2457 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,163 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,419 psi | 76% | 2421 fps | 97% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2326 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,596 psi | 85% | 2444 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,466 psi | 87% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,466 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2405 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,989 psi | 88% | 2467 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,859 psi | 90% | 2490 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,598 psi | 89% | 2365 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,097 psi | 67% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,018 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,380 psi | 89% | 2402 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,249 psi | 86% | 2441 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2484 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2487 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,184 psi | 67% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,785 psi | 87% | 2441 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2434 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,249 psi | 86% | 2441 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2484 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2451 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,263 psi | 86% | 2421 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,813 psi | 83% | 2359 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2411 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,076 psi | 90% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,307 psi | 86% | 2375 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2421 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,625 psi | 85% | 2464 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2474 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2464 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2516 fps | 96.2% |
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% | 27,499 psi | 57% | 2133 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,301 psi | 70% | 2283 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 24,497 psi | 51% | 2136 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,215 psi | 74% | 2365 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 31,879 psi | 67% | 2329 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,071 psi | 75% | 2234 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,477 psi | 76% | 2238 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,956 psi | 79% | 2333 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,301 psi | 70% | 2297 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 28.8 gr | 80% | 25,324 psi | 53% | 2142 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,865 psi | 67% | 2247 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,436 psi | 82% | 2336 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,214 psi | 71% | 2224 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,089 psi | 84% | 2362 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 29.7 gr | 80% | 30,574 psi | 64% | 2231 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,114 psi | 73% | 2339 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 83% | 2316 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,656 psi | 49% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 30.9 gr | 86% | 29,051 psi | 61% | 2247 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,794 psi | 71% | 2241 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,839 psi | 75% | 2336 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,665 psi | 75% | 2388 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,926 psi | 75% | 2313 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,301 psi | 70% | 2306 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,554 psi | 49% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,869 psi | 77% | 2349 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,230 psi | 74% | 2306 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,839 psi | 75% | 2336 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,665 psi | 75% | 2388 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,663 psi | 70% | 2300 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,256 psi | 67% | 2241 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,214 psi | 71% | 2234 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,067 psi | 65% | 2185 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,357 psi | 66% | 2198 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,072 psi | 80% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,560 psi | 64% | 2165 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,600 psi | 56% | 2077 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,310 psi | 55% | 2152 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,807 psi | 66% | 2247 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,447 psi | 72% | 2323 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,147 psi | 84% | 2464 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 | 155gr | Norma Kalahari. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,530 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,519 fps to 2,530 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 67–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 155.0 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, IMR 3031, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 155gr | 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.