Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 165gr | Speer Deep Curl Soft Point bullet and 51 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 Hodgdon BL-C2.
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% | 41,713 psi | 87% | 2369 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2408 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2448 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,307 psi | 86% | 2454 fps | 99% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2290 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2300 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,959 psi | 88% | 2415 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,828 psi | 85% | 2375 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2434 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2444 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,380 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2451 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,162 psi | 86% | 2336 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2477 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2398 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2411 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,880 psi | 69% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,336 psi | 86% | 2464 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,828 psi | 85% | 2375 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2408 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2428 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2425 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2369 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,482 psi | 89% | 2408 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2428 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,025 psi | 69% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,698 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,582 psi | 85% | 2474 fps | 96.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,104 psi | 86% | 2369 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2402 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2428 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2425 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2421 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,917 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,598 psi | 89% | 2343 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2336 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,785 psi | 85% | 2402 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,408 psi | 87% | 2346 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,047 psi | 90% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,380 psi | 89% | 2408 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,566 psi | 81% | 2352 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,857 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2398 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,553 psi | 87% | 2448 fps | 97.1% |
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% | 30,603 psi | 64% | 2156 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,663 psi | 68% | 2221 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,974 psi | 48% | 2034 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,242 psi | 67% | 2254 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,355 psi | 59% | 2188 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,407 psi | 82% | 2251 fps | 99% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,784 psi | 83% | 2257 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,709 psi | 77% | 2320 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,290 psi | 80% | 2326 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,963 psi | 58% | 2169 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,421 psi | 82% | 2405 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,998 psi | 73% | 2257 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,521 psi | 78% | 2241 fps | 98.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,334 psi | 80% | 2402 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,608 psi | 76% | 2251 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 36.4 gr | 88% | 35,244 psi | 74% | 2329 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,808 psi | 71% | 2260 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,866 psi | 71% | 2267 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,337 psi | 51% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 30.1 gr | 80% | 26,847 psi | 56% | 2142 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,753 psi | 77% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,290 psi | 80% | 2326 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 83% | 2362 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,548 psi | 72% | 2260 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,141 psi | 69% | 2283 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,681 psi | 79% | 2336 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,595 psi | 83% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,347 psi | 78% | 2313 fps | 95% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,690 psi | 64% | 2198 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,308 psi | 51% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,533 psi | 70% | 2231 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,087 psi | 80% | 2421 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,850 psi | 64% | 2159 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,724 psi | 79% | 2313 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 83% | 2362 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,141 psi | 69% | 2283 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,681 psi | 79% | 2336 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 78% | 2323 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,621 psi | 74% | 2260 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,560 psi | 66% | 2133 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,050 psi | 57% | 2047 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,232 psi | 80% | 2352 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 60% | 2090 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,634 psi | 70% | 2182 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,254 psi | 61% | 2100 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,410 psi | 51% | 2051 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,225 psi | 61% | 2142 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,129 psi | 75% | 2303 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,261 psi | 80% | 2323 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,836 psi | 67% | 2218 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | 35.8 gr | 88% | 36,564 psi | 76% | 2349 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 51 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 165gr | Speer Deep Curl Soft Point. Hodgdon BL-C2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,477 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,499 fps to 2,477 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 51 of the 51 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 69–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 165.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:14.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4064, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5, Bofors RP3 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, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 165gr | Speer Deep Curl Soft Point 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.