Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 166gr | Copper Bear bullet and 48 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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% | 42,583 psi | 89% | 2343 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2336 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2375 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,772 psi | 89% | 2434 fps | 99% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,409 psi | 89% | 2264 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,801 psi | 89% | 2270 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2388 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,510 psi | 87% | 2346 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,466 psi | 87% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,453 psi | 89% | 2418 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,931 psi | 90% | 2297 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2306 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2405 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,350 psi | 86% | 2365 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2385 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,402 psi | 70% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,105 psi | 88% | 2438 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,843 psi | 87% | 2297 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,510 psi | 87% | 2346 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2379 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2395 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,640 psi | 85% | 2349 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2379 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2395 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,330 psi | 70% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,321 psi | 86% | 2343 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2438 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2349 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,060 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2395 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,640 psi | 85% | 2349 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,207 psi | 90% | 2392 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2320 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2277 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,800 psi | 87% | 2306 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,495 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,366 psi | 89% | 2320 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2323 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,002 psi | 86% | 2372 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2375 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,102 psi | 82% | 2320 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,307 psi | 86% | 2339 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2369 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,206 psi | 88% | 2415 fps | 97% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,676 psi | 66% | 2136 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,779 psi | 71% | 2198 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,976 psi | 52% | 2044 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,272 psi | 70% | 2231 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,878 psi | 62% | 2182 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,740 psi | 83% | 2218 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,089 psi | 84% | 2221 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,463 psi | 78% | 2293 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,957 psi | 81% | 2297 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 61% | 2152 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,190 psi | 84% | 2375 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 76% | 2241 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 79% | 2211 fps | 98.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,349 psi | 82% | 2379 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,434 psi | 78% | 2224 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,347 psi | 76% | 2310 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,534 psi | 72% | 2231 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,780 psi | 73% | 2244 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,889 psi | 52% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,746 psi | 58% | 2123 fps | 96% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 78% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,957 psi | 81% | 2297 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,737 psi | 75% | 2241 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,097 psi | 67% | 2218 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,479 psi | 80% | 2310 fps | 95% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,435 psi | 80% | 2290 fps | 95% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,720 psi | 66% | 2178 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,961 psi | 52% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,360 psi | 72% | 2208 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,464 psi | 80% | 2382 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,518 psi | 68% | 2146 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,798 psi | 81% | 2290 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,097 psi | 67% | 2218 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,479 psi | 80% | 2310 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 79% | 2300 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,361 psi | 76% | 2234 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,372 psi | 68% | 2106 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,934 psi | 58% | 2024 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,943 psi | 81% | 2323 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 63% | 2077 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,592 psi | 72% | 2159 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,168 psi | 63% | 2080 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,657 psi | 54% | 2041 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,240 psi | 63% | 2123 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,999 psi | 77% | 2280 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,030 psi | 82% | 2297 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,576 psi | 68% | 2195 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,478 psi | 78% | 2326 fps | 95.6% |
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 48 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 166gr | Copper Bear . IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,438 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,480 fps to 2,438 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 48 of the 48 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 166.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:13.0 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. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.