Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 180gr | Barnes X S bullet and 50 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 Accurate 2495.
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>> | 88% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2195 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2238 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2274 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,032 psi | 88% | 2290 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,263 psi | 86% | 2234 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,844 psi | 90% | 2241 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,018 psi | 90% | 2316 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,423 psi | 87% | 2270 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,279 psi | 88% | 2211 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,466 psi | 87% | 2149 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,785 psi | 85% | 2274 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,120 psi | 90% | 2201 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2300 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2257 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,857 psi | 85% | 2234 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,178 psi | 90% | 2280 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,591 psi | 70% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,104 psi | 86% | 2287 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,844 psi | 90% | 2241 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2238 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2297 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2254 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2238 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,611 psi | 87% | 2247 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,634 psi | 70% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,496 psi | 89% | 2234 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2339 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2208 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2231 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2297 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2254 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,830 psi | 89% | 2205 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,756 psi | 87% | 2238 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2215 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2169 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2201 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2267 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,466 psi | 87% | 2178 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,481 psi | 87% | 2172 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,887 psi | 88% | 2231 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,567 psi | 85% | 2221 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2238 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,873 psi | 90% | 2264 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,901 psi | 85% | 2264 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2287 fps | 95.8% |
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% | 33,156 psi | 69% | 2044 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,607 psi | 74% | 2113 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | 27.4 gr | 80% | 26,614 psi | 56% | 1965 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,879 psi | 65% | 2057 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,268 psi | 59% | 2018 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,899 psi | 81% | 2192 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,203 psi | 80% | 2159 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,168 psi | 63% | 2057 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,480 psi | 85% | 2270 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,131 psi | 82% | 2231 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,753 psi | 79% | 2136 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,233 psi | 82% | 2113 fps | 99.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,319 psi | 80% | 2231 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,419 psi | 76% | 2080 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,331 psi | 74% | 2165 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 75% | 2133 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,114 psi | 75% | 2149 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,785 psi | 85% | 2238 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,280 psi | 53% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 27.1 gr | 80% | 29,095 psi | 61% | 2041 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,667 psi | 81% | 2116 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,203 psi | 80% | 2159 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 73% | 2103 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,633 psi | 66% | 2087 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,811 psi | 79% | 2172 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,971 psi | 79% | 2156 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 62% | 2008 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,092 psi | 52% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 75% | 2113 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,594 psi | 79% | 2244 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,156 psi | 71% | 2057 fps | 96.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,043 psi | 79% | 2149 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,633 psi | 66% | 2087 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,811 psi | 79% | 2172 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,030 psi | 84% | 2156 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,465 psi | 82% | 2198 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,637 psi | 79% | 2133 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,792 psi | 66% | 1975 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,586 psi | 58% | 1906 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,971 psi | 79% | 2182 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,270 psi | 65% | 1985 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,868 psi | 75% | 2060 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,343 psi | 65% | 1988 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,905 psi | 56% | 1959 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,021 psi | 59% | 1952 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,071 psi | 75% | 2139 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,971 psi | 79% | 2152 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,313 psi | 63% | 2024 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | 30.8 gr | 84% | 34,243 psi | 72% | 2136 fps | 95% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,263 psi | 84% | 2238 fps | 95% |
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 | 180gr | Barnes X S. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,339 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,391 fps to 2,339 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 70–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 180.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, ReloadSwiss RS 60 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, Accurate 2495 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 180gr | Barnes X S 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.