Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 165gr | Geco STAR bullet and 50 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Winchester 748 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>> | 92% | 40,886 psi | 85% | 2346 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,742 psi | 87% | 2382 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,929 psi | 83% | 2405 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,713 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,202 psi | 78% | 2375 fps | 98% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,640 psi | 87% | 2274 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2283 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,887 psi | 88% | 2398 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2454 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,568 psi | 87% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,496 psi | 89% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,366 psi | 89% | 2310 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2356 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2451 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,466 psi | 85% | 2375 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2392 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,198 psi | 67% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2480 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2392 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,495 psi | 87% | 2379 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,366 psi | 89% | 2444 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,568 psi | 87% | 2395 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,655 psi | 87% | 2379 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2395 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,894 psi | 67% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2402 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,496 psi | 89% | 2382 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,742 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2392 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,366 psi | 89% | 2444 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,568 psi | 87% | 2395 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,134 psi | 88% | 2402 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,627 psi | 89% | 2375 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,279 psi | 88% | 2323 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,669 psi | 85% | 2313 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,018 psi | 90% | 2425 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,625 psi | 85% | 2320 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,278 psi | 86% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,424 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,684 psi | 87% | 2326 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,843 psi | 87% | 2415 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,843 psi | 87% | 2382 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2415 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2421 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% | 27,731 psi | 58% | 2083 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,763 psi | 66% | 2195 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,047 psi | 48% | 2041 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | 34.4 gr | 88% | 33,576 psi | 70% | 2270 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,572 psi | 60% | 2192 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,927 psi | 77% | 2192 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 78% | 2195 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 81% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,200 psi | 71% | 2254 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,147 psi | 84% | 2346 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,527 psi | 53% | 2096 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,285 psi | 67% | 2195 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,958 psi | 83% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,824 psi | 73% | 2178 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,522 psi | 80% | 2274 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,217 psi | 78% | 2356 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,270 psi | 65% | 2192 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,212 psi | 65% | 2195 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,641 psi | 49% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 29.4 gr | 82% | 26,034 psi | 54% | 2110 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,316 psi | 72% | 2188 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,147 psi | 84% | 2346 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 76% | 2290 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,013 psi | 75% | 2280 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,345 psi | 72% | 2300 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,102 psi | 82% | 2349 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 76% | 2257 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,856 psi | 81% | 2329 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,023 psi | 63% | 2172 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,525 psi | 49% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,375 psi | 74% | 2257 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,459 psi | 66% | 2165 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,943 psi | 81% | 2323 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 76% | 2290 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,345 psi | 72% | 2300 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,102 psi | 82% | 2349 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,287 psi | 72% | 2254 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,098 psi | 69% | 2198 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,937 psi | 65% | 2106 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,166 psi | 59% | 2064 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,118 psi | 84% | 2372 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,137 psi | 59% | 2067 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,117 psi | 82% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,198 psi | 65% | 2123 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,079 psi | 57% | 2037 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 23,685 psi | 49% | 2024 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,414 psi | 64% | 2159 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,248 psi | 84% | 2346 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,980 psi | 65% | 2188 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | 35 gr | 90% | 36,230 psi | 76% | 2326 fps | 95.1% |
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 50 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 165gr | Geco STAR. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,480 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,473 fps to 2,480 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 50 of the 50 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 1:13.0 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. IMR 3031, Winchester 748, Accurate 2520 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 165gr | Geco STAR 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.