Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 168gr | Barnes TSX BT 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% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2336 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,669 psi | 85% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,899 psi | 81% | 2352 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2369 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,260 psi | 76% | 2323 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,002 psi | 86% | 2228 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,408 psi | 87% | 2234 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2349 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,959 psi | 88% | 2343 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 2398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,785 psi | 85% | 2316 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,684 psi | 87% | 2264 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2306 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,626 psi | 87% | 2402 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% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2264 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,126 psi | 67% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2431 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,959 psi | 88% | 2343 fps | 95.8% |
| 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% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2388 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2339 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2369 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,207 psi | 90% | 2392 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,821 psi | 66% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,032 psi | 88% | 2346 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,974 psi | 88% | 2336 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2339 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2388 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,423 psi | 87% | 2352 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2326 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2274 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,726 psi | 83% | 2264 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2372 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2313 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,698 psi | 85% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,843 psi | 87% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2280 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2362 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,959 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,206 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% | 27,296 psi | 57% | 2044 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,922 psi | 65% | 2142 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 22,452 psi | 47% | 1998 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | 33.3 gr | 88% | 32,866 psi | 69% | 2224 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 29,733 psi | 62% | 2188 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,492 psi | 76% | 2149 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,883 psi | 77% | 2152 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,942 psi | 79% | 2228 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 70% | 2208 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,479 psi | 82% | 2297 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 27.8 gr | 80% | 25,150 psi | 53% | 2054 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,705 psi | 66% | 2149 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,465 psi | 82% | 2234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,403 psi | 72% | 2136 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,739 psi | 79% | 2221 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,725 psi | 81% | 2349 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,690 psi | 64% | 2142 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,777 psi | 64% | 2152 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,350 psi | 84% | 2228 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,641 psi | 49% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 29.1 gr | 84% | 27,137 psi | 57% | 2110 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,011 psi | 71% | 2149 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,479 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% | 33,402 psi | 70% | 2247 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,737 psi | 75% | 2215 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2326 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,430 psi | 66% | 2172 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,525 psi | 49% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,534 psi | 72% | 2205 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,779 psi | 68% | 2162 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 75% | 2244 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,402 psi | 70% | 2247 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,779 psi | 71% | 2208 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,561 psi | 68% | 2156 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,314 psi | 68% | 2106 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,486 psi | 62% | 2064 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,581 psi | 83% | 2329 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,356 psi | 61% | 2064 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,130 psi | 80% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,719 psi | 64% | 2080 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,643 psi | 56% | 1995 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 23,105 psi | 48% | 1975 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,747 psi | 62% | 2113 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,595 psi | 83% | 2297 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,358 psi | 68% | 2185 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,942 psi | 79% | 2326 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 48 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 168gr | Barnes TSX BT. IMR 3031 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 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 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, 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 | 168gr | Barnes TSX BT 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.