Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 165gr | Barnes X BT bullet and 40 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Alliant AR-Comp and Lovex D073.6.
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>> | 90% | 42,163 psi | 88% | 2320 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2359 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2398 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,830 psi | 89% | 2395 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,366 psi | 89% | 2415 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2241 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2247 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,235 psi | 88% | 2365 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,031 psi | 86% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,583 psi | 89% | 2277 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2280 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2421 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,466 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,388 psi | 70% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,684 psi | 87% | 2415 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,249 psi | 86% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2359 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2372 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,120 psi | 90% | 2356 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,134 psi | 88% | 2369 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,373 psi | 70% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2320 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2352 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2372 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2369 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2339 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,178 psi | 90% | 2293 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,162 psi | 86% | 2283 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,163 psi | 88% | 2300 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2297 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,424 psi | 89% | 2300 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,699 psi | 89% | 2385 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,060 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,655 psi | 87% | 2388 fps | 96.4% |
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% | 31,850 psi | 67% | 2123 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,852 psi | 71% | 2185 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,295 psi | 53% | 2034 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,360 psi | 74% | 2260 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,878 psi | 62% | 2162 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,769 psi | 83% | 2201 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,089 psi | 84% | 2205 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,231 psi | 78% | 2274 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 28 gr | 80% | 29,037 psi | 61% | 2136 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,085 psi | 75% | 2221 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,652 psi | 79% | 2192 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,160 psi | 82% | 2241 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,276 psi | 80% | 2333 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,345 psi | 72% | 2211 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,505 psi | 72% | 2221 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,048 psi | 52% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 28 gr | 80% | 27,949 psi | 58% | 2110 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 78% | 2205 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,956 psi | 79% | 2267 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 32.8 gr | 88% | 33,852 psi | 71% | 2241 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,451 psi | 85% | 2329 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,799 psi | 85% | 2316 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,676 psi | 66% | 2162 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,801 psi | 52% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,274 psi | 76% | 2231 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,677 psi | 68% | 2129 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,901 psi | 85% | 2310 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,852 psi | 71% | 2241 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,451 psi | 85% | 2329 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,681 psi | 79% | 2277 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 76% | 2218 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,547 psi | 68% | 2093 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,573 psi | 62% | 2051 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,095 psi | 63% | 2060 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,693 psi | 72% | 2146 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,269 psi | 63% | 2064 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,875 psi | 54% | 2028 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,024 psi | 67% | 2149 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,460 psi | 68% | 2175 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,392 psi | 82% | 2346 fps | 95.7% |
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 40 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 165gr | Barnes X BT. Hodgdon BL-C2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,421 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,467 fps to 2,421 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 40 of the 40 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 70–90 %, 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 4064, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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, Alliant AR-Comp, Lovex D073.6 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 165gr | Barnes X 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.