Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 171gr | Viper Bullets Bush Gold bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon BL-C2, Lovex D073.6 and Shooters World Match Rifle.
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% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,307 psi | 86% | 2349 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,814 psi | 85% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2388 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2444 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2274 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,683 psi | 85% | 2352 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2362 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,453 psi | 89% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2434 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,959 psi | 86% | 2395 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,162 psi | 86% | 2267 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2441 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2323 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,105 psi | 88% | 2421 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,424 psi | 89% | 2382 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2398 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,206 psi | 88% | 2395 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2454 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,025 psi | 69% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,033 psi | 90% | 2451 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2362 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,930 psi | 86% | 2343 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2411 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2369 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,336 psi | 86% | 2349 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2369 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,199 psi | 69% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2359 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,974 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,583 psi | 89% | 2352 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,394 psi | 86% | 2343 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2411 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2369 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,206 psi | 88% | 2323 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2356 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,626 psi | 87% | 2329 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,539 psi | 87% | 2287 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2320 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2388 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,917 psi | 90% | 2329 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,365 psi | 86% | 2388 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,684 psi | 87% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,176 psi | 86% | 2293 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,220 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,755 psi | 83% | 2336 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,018 psi | 88% | 2352 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,279 psi | 88% | 2382 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,091 psi | 90% | 2434 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2405 fps | 96.1% |
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% | 31,575 psi | 66% | 2139 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,692 psi | 70% | 2205 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,120 psi | 50% | 2031 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,488 psi | 66% | 2198 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 27,789 psi | 58% | 2136 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,292 psi | 84% | 2228 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,058 psi | 80% | 2306 fps | 99% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,217 psi | 78% | 2270 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,776 psi | 60% | 2152 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,494 psi | 83% | 2385 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,406 psi | 80% | 2346 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,318 psi | 76% | 2241 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 80% | 2221 fps | 99.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,405 psi | 78% | 2343 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,491 psi | 74% | 2192 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 35.7 gr | 86% | 34,403 psi | 72% | 2274 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,751 psi | 73% | 2241 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,099 psi | 73% | 2254 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,900 psi | 83% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,884 psi | 79% | 2352 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,468 psi | 51% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,630 psi | 58% | 2129 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,652 psi | 79% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,248 psi | 84% | 2388 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,217 psi | 78% | 2270 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,359 psi | 70% | 2198 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 33.7 gr | 84% | 30,037 psi | 63% | 2175 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,738 psi | 77% | 2280 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,318 psi | 76% | 2254 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,224 psi | 59% | 2100 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,453 psi | 51% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,737 psi | 73% | 2221 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,738 psi | 77% | 2359 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,734 psi | 66% | 2139 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,695 psi | 77% | 2254 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | 33.7 gr | 84% | 30,037 psi | 63% | 2175 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,738 psi | 77% | 2280 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,233 psi | 82% | 2270 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,479 psi | 80% | 2310 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,941 psi | 77% | 2247 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,560 psi | 64% | 2073 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,223 psi | 55% | 1991 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,970 psi | 77% | 2290 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 62% | 2077 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,711 psi | 81% | 2339 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 73% | 2165 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,313 psi | 63% | 2087 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,411 psi | 53% | 2044 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,413 psi | 59% | 2087 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,143 psi | 73% | 2247 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,130 psi | 78% | 2267 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,906 psi | 60% | 2113 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,156 psi | 69% | 2241 fps | 95% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,682 psi | 83% | 2359 fps | 95.3% |
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 54 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 171gr | Viper Bullets Bush Gold. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,470 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,473 fps to 2,470 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 54 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 69–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 171.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:15.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4064, Bofors RP3, 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, Lovex D073.6, Shooters World Match Rifle rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 171gr | Viper Bullets Bush Gold 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.