Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 165gr | Barnes MRX BT bullet and 47 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 Accurate 2520.
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% | 41,684 psi | 87% | 2343 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2385 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,797 psi | 79% | 2356 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2425 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,230 psi | 74% | 2323 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2280 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,002 psi | 86% | 2244 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2316 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2405 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,205 psi | 86% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,162 psi | 86% | 2283 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,263 psi | 86% | 2277 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,105 psi | 88% | 2320 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,698 psi | 85% | 2402 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,669 psi | 87% | 2379 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,482 psi | 89% | 2398 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2277 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,068 psi | 67% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,510 psi | 87% | 2438 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2349 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2385 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,207 psi | 90% | 2441 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2372 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,235 psi | 88% | 2398 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,749 psi | 66% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,510 psi | 87% | 2356 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2343 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2365 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2349 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,207 psi | 90% | 2441 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,047 psi | 90% | 2096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,538 psi | 85% | 2356 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,031 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2320 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,276 psi | 82% | 2274 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,568 psi | 87% | 2382 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,553 psi | 87% | 2320 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,496 psi | 89% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,973 psi | 86% | 2290 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,074 psi | 84% | 2372 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,162 psi | 86% | 2372 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2425 fps | 96.6% |
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% | 26,614 psi | 56% | 2044 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,460 psi | 68% | 2195 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 23,322 psi | 49% | 2041 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | 34 gr | 90% | 34,563 psi | 72% | 2277 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 28,906 psi | 60% | 2188 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,795 psi | 75% | 2152 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,216 psi | 76% | 2156 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,463 psi | 78% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,909 psi | 69% | 2211 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 27.7 gr | 80% | 24,598 psi | 51% | 2054 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,980 psi | 65% | 2152 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,667 psi | 81% | 2241 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,721 psi | 70% | 2139 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,624 psi | 83% | 2274 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,203 psi | 80% | 2359 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,008 psi | 63% | 2146 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,300 psi | 67% | 2205 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,552 psi | 83% | 2231 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,598 psi | 49% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 29.1 gr | 84% | 26,789 psi | 56% | 2116 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,330 psi | 70% | 2152 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,070 psi | 73% | 2244 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,101 psi | 78% | 2283 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,099 psi | 73% | 2300 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,911 psi | 73% | 2218 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,726 psi | 83% | 2326 fps | 95% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,721 psi | 68% | 2218 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,134 psi | 48% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,303 psi | 76% | 2260 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,358 psi | 68% | 2172 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,219 psi | 84% | 2329 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,070 psi | 73% | 2244 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,099 psi | 73% | 2300 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2067 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,040 psi | 69% | 2211 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 67% | 2159 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,618 psi | 66% | 2106 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,906 psi | 60% | 2064 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,711 psi | 81% | 2333 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,703 psi | 60% | 2067 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,652 psi | 79% | 2205 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 63% | 2083 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,078 psi | 54% | 1998 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 24,279 psi | 51% | 2028 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,256 psi | 65% | 2162 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,894 psi | 67% | 2192 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,115 psi | 78% | 2326 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 47 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 165gr | Barnes MRX BT. Lovex D073.6 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,441 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,460 fps to 2,441 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 47 of the 47 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 165.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:12.0 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, Accurate 2520 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 165gr | Barnes MRX BT 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.