Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 168gr | Barnes TAC-X bullet and 48 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% | 42,583 psi | 89% | 2336 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,669 psi | 85% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,841 psi | 81% | 2352 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,187 psi | 76% | 2323 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,307 psi | 86% | 2234 fps | 99% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,742 psi | 87% | 2238 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2349 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,134 psi | 88% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,785 psi | 85% | 2316 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2264 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2306 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,553 psi | 87% | 2398 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2375 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,018 psi | 90% | 2388 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,917 psi | 90% | 2270 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,097 psi | 67% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2431 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,757 psi | 89% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2339 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2333 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2339 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2369 fps | 96.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,134 psi | 90% | 2392 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,807 psi | 66% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,366 psi | 89% | 2352 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,974 psi | 88% | 2339 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2339 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,350 psi | 86% | 2352 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2326 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,394 psi | 86% | 2274 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,089 psi | 84% | 2267 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,453 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2313 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,683 psi | 85% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2280 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,060 psi | 86% | 2365 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2333 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,134 psi | 88% | 2343 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,047 psi | 88% | 2369 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2421 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% | 27,267 psi | 57% | 2041 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,893 psi | 65% | 2142 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 22,423 psi | 47% | 1995 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | 33.3 gr | 88% | 32,866 psi | 69% | 2224 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 29,689 psi | 62% | 2188 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,448 psi | 76% | 2149 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,840 psi | 77% | 2152 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,276 psi | 80% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,591 psi | 70% | 2208 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,421 psi | 82% | 2297 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 27.8 gr | 80% | 25,135 psi | 53% | 2054 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,720 psi | 66% | 2149 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,407 psi | 82% | 2234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 72% | 2136 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,695 psi | 79% | 2221 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,044 psi | 82% | 2356 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 64% | 2142 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,748 psi | 64% | 2152 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,306 psi | 84% | 2224 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,627 psi | 49% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 29.2 gr | 84% | 27,398 psi | 57% | 2116 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,997 psi | 71% | 2149 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,421 psi | 82% | 2297 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 75% | 2244 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,288 psi | 74% | 2231 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,373 psi | 70% | 2247 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 75% | 2211 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2326 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,372 psi | 66% | 2172 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,511 psi | 49% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,809 psi | 73% | 2211 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,053 psi | 65% | 2126 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 75% | 2244 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,373 psi | 70% | 2247 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,750 psi | 71% | 2208 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,576 psi | 68% | 2156 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,300 psi | 67% | 2103 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,501 psi | 62% | 2064 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,523 psi | 83% | 2326 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,312 psi | 61% | 2064 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,464 psi | 80% | 2198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,676 psi | 64% | 2077 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,614 psi | 56% | 1995 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 23,105 psi | 48% | 1975 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,994 psi | 63% | 2119 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,523 psi | 83% | 2297 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,605 psi | 68% | 2192 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,884 psi | 79% | 2323 fps | 95.6% |
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 82 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 168gr | Barnes TAC-X. Hodgdon LEVERevolution delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,431 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,447 fps to 2,431 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 82 of the 82 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 66–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 168.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2208 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 | 168gr | Barnes TAC-X they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2200, Accurate 2230, ADI AR 2206H burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.