Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 168gr | Berger VLD Target bullet and 50 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon BL-C2, Alliant AR-Comp and Lovex D073.6.
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>> | 92% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2349 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2343 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,699 psi | 89% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,930 psi | 86% | 2379 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,697 psi | 83% | 2388 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,178 psi | 90% | 2274 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2238 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,931 psi | 90% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2352 fps | 99% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,858 psi | 87% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2267 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2316 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,843 psi | 87% | 2411 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,177 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,047 psi | 90% | 2444 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,677 psi | 68% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,453 psi | 89% | 2441 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,321 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2339 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,611 psi | 87% | 2405 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2359 fps | 96% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,060 psi | 86% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,886 psi | 85% | 2336 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,134 psi | 90% | 2398 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,474 psi | 68% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,018 psi | 88% | 2356 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2346 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,988 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,321 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,611 psi | 87% | 2405 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2359 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2356 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,785 psi | 87% | 2333 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2280 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,380 psi | 89% | 2316 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2382 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2323 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,047 psi | 90% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,669 psi | 87% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2287 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,234 psi | 86% | 2375 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,857 psi | 85% | 2339 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2428 fps | 97.3% |
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% | 29,544 psi | 62% | 2096 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,473 psi | 66% | 2156 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,988 psi | 46% | 1975 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,489 psi | 70% | 2241 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,993 psi | 61% | 2169 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,319 psi | 80% | 2192 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,711 psi | 81% | 2195 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,669 psi | 85% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,795 psi | 75% | 2260 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,537 psi | 83% | 2310 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 28.7 gr | 80% | 27,021 psi | 56% | 2106 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,040 psi | 71% | 2198 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,318 psi | 76% | 2178 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,594 psi | 79% | 2228 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 35.6 gr | 90% | 36,535 psi | 76% | 2313 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,822 psi | 69% | 2198 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,793 psi | 69% | 2205 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,306 psi | 84% | 2392 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,120 psi | 50% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,947 psi | 54% | 2080 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,708 psi | 75% | 2188 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,537 psi | 83% | 2310 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 80% | 2297 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,563 psi | 74% | 2241 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 33.7 gr | 88% | 31,894 psi | 67% | 2218 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,682 psi | 81% | 2316 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,363 psi | 80% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,551 psi | 81% | 2293 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,834 psi | 62% | 2139 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,076 psi | 50% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,606 psi | 72% | 2215 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,604 psi | 66% | 2136 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,609 psi | 81% | 2290 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 80% | 2297 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,894 psi | 67% | 2218 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,682 psi | 81% | 2316 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,984 psi | 75% | 2260 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,650 psi | 72% | 2205 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,589 psi | 64% | 2073 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 27,891 psi | 58% | 2031 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,782 psi | 77% | 2283 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 58% | 2031 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,814 psi | 85% | 2238 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,764 psi | 68% | 2126 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,485 psi | 60% | 2044 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,714 psi | 50% | 1995 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,197 psi | 63% | 2129 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,581 psi | 83% | 2306 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,777 psi | 64% | 2159 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,476 psi | 74% | 2283 fps | 95.1% |
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 50 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 168gr | Berger VLD Target. Hodgdon LEVERevolution delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,444 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,463 fps to 2,444 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 50 of the 50 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 68–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 168.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:13.0 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. Hodgdon BL-C2, Alliant AR-Comp, Lovex D073.6 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 168gr | Berger VLD Target 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.