Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 165gr | RWS Speed Tip Professional bullet and 44 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% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2352 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,494 psi | 83% | 2372 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2385 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,782 psi | 77% | 2339 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2244 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,858 psi | 87% | 2251 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,162 psi | 86% | 2362 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,060 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,800 psi | 87% | 2277 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2320 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2415 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,699 psi | 89% | 2388 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2402 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2280 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,227 psi | 67% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,656 psi | 89% | 2448 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,178 psi | 90% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2352 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,263 psi | 86% | 2349 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,365 psi | 86% | 2402 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2316 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2362 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,358 psi | 68% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2365 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2356 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2352 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,365 psi | 86% | 2402 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2365 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,959 psi | 88% | 2339 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,669 psi | 87% | 2283 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,263 psi | 84% | 2280 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,366 psi | 89% | 2385 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2329 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,249 psi | 86% | 2251 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2297 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,002 psi | 86% | 2290 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2382 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,147 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,279 psi | 88% | 2382 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,538 psi | 85% | 2382 fps | 96% |
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% | 27,775 psi | 58% | 2060 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,808 psi | 71% | 2211 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,293 psi | 49% | 2021 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | 33.1 gr | 88% | 33,301 psi | 70% | 2241 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,414 psi | 64% | 2208 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,622 psi | 77% | 2159 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,014 psi | 77% | 2162 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,479 psi | 80% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 71% | 2221 fps | 97% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 27.6 gr | 80% | 25,556 psi | 53% | 2067 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,097 psi | 67% | 2162 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 83% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,563 psi | 72% | 2146 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,292 psi | 84% | 2277 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,030 psi | 82% | 2362 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,980 psi | 65% | 2156 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,301 psi | 70% | 2215 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,408 psi | 84% | 2238 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,757 psi | 50% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 29 gr | 84% | 27,789 psi | 58% | 2133 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,156 psi | 71% | 2159 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 76% | 2257 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,450 psi | 80% | 2297 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,808 psi | 71% | 2264 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,260 psi | 76% | 2231 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,792 psi | 66% | 2188 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,699 psi | 50% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,099 psi | 73% | 2224 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,779 psi | 71% | 2188 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 76% | 2257 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,808 psi | 71% | 2264 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,055 psi | 71% | 2221 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,779 psi | 68% | 2165 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,663 psi | 68% | 2119 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,820 psi | 62% | 2073 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,842 psi | 83% | 2343 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,776 psi | 62% | 2080 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,653 psi | 81% | 2211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,067 psi | 65% | 2093 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,977 psi | 56% | 2008 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 25,353 psi | 53% | 2044 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,271 psi | 67% | 2175 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,982 psi | 69% | 2208 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,145 psi | 80% | 2336 fps | 95.3% |
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 44 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 165gr | RWS Speed Tip Professional. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,448 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,453 fps to 2,448 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 44 of the 44 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 1:12.0 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 | RWS Speed Tip Professional 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.