Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 165gr | Barnes BND SPIT-FIRE bullet and 43 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% | 42,047 psi | 88% | 2326 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2365 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,290 psi | 80% | 2343 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2398 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,694 psi | 75% | 2310 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,105 psi | 90% | 2260 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,930 psi | 86% | 2221 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,583 psi | 89% | 2303 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2379 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,685 psi | 89% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,553 psi | 87% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,176 psi | 86% | 2254 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,989 psi | 88% | 2297 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2362 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2372 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,945 psi | 88% | 2251 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,358 psi | 68% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2415 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,105 psi | 88% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,698 psi | 85% | 2326 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,757 psi | 89% | 2359 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2418 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2329 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2375 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,111 psi | 67% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,394 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 96.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,321 psi | 86% | 2323 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,698 psi | 85% | 2326 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2418 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2083 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,393 psi | 84% | 2333 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2310 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2260 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,276 psi | 82% | 2251 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,959 psi | 88% | 2303 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2270 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,772 psi | 89% | 2310 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,030 psi | 84% | 2349 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2359 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,031 psi | 86% | 2349 fps | 97.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2398 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% | 27,151 psi | 57% | 2034 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,982 psi | 69% | 2182 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 24,004 psi | 50% | 2037 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,650 psi | 72% | 2257 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 29,588 psi | 62% | 2182 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,998 psi | 75% | 2136 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,405 psi | 76% | 2139 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,681 psi | 79% | 2224 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,996 psi | 69% | 2192 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 27 gr | 80% | 25,048 psi | 52% | 2044 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,343 psi | 65% | 2139 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 82% | 2228 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,866 psi | 71% | 2123 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,523 psi | 83% | 2251 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 27.9 gr | 80% | 30,385 psi | 63% | 2133 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,576 psi | 68% | 2188 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,740 psi | 83% | 2215 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,699 psi | 50% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 29 gr | 86% | 28,805 psi | 60% | 2149 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,417 psi | 70% | 2136 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,375 psi | 74% | 2228 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,289 psi | 78% | 2267 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,230 psi | 74% | 2280 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,563 psi | 74% | 2208 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,011 psi | 69% | 2205 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,656 psi | 49% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,506 psi | 76% | 2244 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,837 psi | 69% | 2159 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,375 psi | 74% | 2228 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,230 psi | 74% | 2280 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,973 psi | 86% | 2051 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,228 psi | 69% | 2195 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,082 psi | 67% | 2142 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,968 psi | 71% | 2133 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,777 psi | 64% | 2087 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,864 psi | 64% | 2093 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,826 psi | 79% | 2188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,400 psi | 64% | 2070 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,469 psi | 55% | 1985 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 24,598 psi | 51% | 2014 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,328 psi | 65% | 2142 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,113 psi | 71% | 2218 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,581 psi | 83% | 2349 fps | 95.5% |
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 43 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 165gr | Barnes BND SPIT-FIRE. Lovex D073.6 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,418 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,447 fps to 2,418 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 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 165.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:11.0 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 | 165gr | Barnes BND SPIT-FIRE 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.