Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 168gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting bullet and 47 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 Alliant AR-Comp.
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% | 41,655 psi | 87% | 2316 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2352 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,031 psi | 86% | 2379 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2392 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,189 psi | 80% | 2349 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2244 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2251 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,482 psi | 89% | 2369 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2280 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,394 psi | 86% | 2283 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2421 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,959 psi | 86% | 2343 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,481 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,634 psi | 68% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2408 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,033 psi | 90% | 2362 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2356 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 98% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2362 fps | 96% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,279 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 96% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,032 psi | 88% | 2369 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,445 psi | 68% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,901 psi | 85% | 2323 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2313 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2343 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,033 psi | 90% | 2362 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2362 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2372 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2339 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2290 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2280 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,075 psi | 86% | 2349 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2293 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,235 psi | 88% | 2297 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2352 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,596 psi | 85% | 2339 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 96.7% |
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% | 28,587 psi | 60% | 2064 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,605 psi | 68% | 2172 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 22,785 psi | 48% | 1991 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,505 psi | 72% | 2251 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,689 psi | 62% | 2175 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,405 psi | 78% | 2159 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,797 psi | 79% | 2165 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,479 psi | 82% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,650 psi | 72% | 2224 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 27.9 gr | 80% | 26,223 psi | 55% | 2073 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,967 psi | 69% | 2169 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 85% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,578 psi | 74% | 2152 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,102 psi | 82% | 2241 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,869 psi | 79% | 2326 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,720 psi | 66% | 2159 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,097 psi | 67% | 2175 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,873 psi | 50% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 28.6 gr | 82% | 26,803 psi | 56% | 2093 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,940 psi | 73% | 2162 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,594 psi | 79% | 2267 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,985 psi | 77% | 2257 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,851 psi | 69% | 2228 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,711 psi | 83% | 2320 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,565 psi | 78% | 2238 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,813 psi | 83% | 2303 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,647 psi | 64% | 2149 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,859 psi | 50% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,897 psi | 75% | 2228 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,590 psi | 68% | 2149 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,885 psi | 83% | 2297 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,594 psi | 79% | 2267 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,851 psi | 69% | 2228 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,711 psi | 83% | 2320 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,186 psi | 74% | 2231 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,634 psi | 70% | 2169 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,676 psi | 66% | 2083 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,689 psi | 60% | 2037 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,305 psi | 80% | 2300 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,979 psi | 61% | 2047 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,639 psi | 83% | 2208 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 67% | 2093 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,688 psi | 58% | 2014 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 24,439 psi | 51% | 2008 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,053 psi | 65% | 2136 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,734 psi | 66% | 2165 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | 34 gr | 90% | 36,709 psi | 77% | 2297 fps | 95.2% |
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 47 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 168gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting. Hodgdon BL-C2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,421 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,453 fps to 2,421 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 47 of the 47 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 1:12.5 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. IMR 3031, Winchester 748, Alliant AR-Comp rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 168gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting 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.