Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 180gr | Sako Hammerhead bullet and 59 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LEVERevolution, IMR 3031 and Winchester 748.
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% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2303 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,917 psi | 90% | 2346 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2362 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2310 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2277 fps | 97% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,220 psi | 86% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2352 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,424 psi | 89% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2221 fps | 99.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2356 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2234 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,756 psi | 85% | 2333 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,002 psi | 86% | 2293 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,394 psi | 86% | 2306 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2310 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,901 psi | 88% | 2369 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,460 psi | 70% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,656 psi | 89% | 2320 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,785 psi | 87% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,307 psi | 86% | 2218 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,872 psi | 87% | 2352 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2277 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2306 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,627 psi | 89% | 2257 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2303 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,380 psi | 89% | 2323 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2356 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,235 psi | 88% | 2333 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,344 psi | 70% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2313 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,033 psi | 90% | 2431 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2274 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2303 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,147 psi | 86% | 2339 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2280 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2313 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,785 psi | 87% | 2316 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2241 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,234 psi | 86% | 2234 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,872 psi | 85% | 2300 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,626 psi | 87% | 2244 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,801 psi | 89% | 2349 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,931 psi | 90% | 2238 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,163 psi | 88% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,801 psi | 89% | 2310 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2297 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2270 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2297 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,655 psi | 87% | 2346 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,901 psi | 85% | 2320 fps | 96.3% |
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% | 32,532 psi | 68% | 2100 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,896 psi | 73% | 2169 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,092 psi | 52% | 1998 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,327 psi | 63% | 2113 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 25,498 psi | 53% | 2018 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,305 psi | 82% | 2264 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,013 psi | 75% | 2185 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 63% | 2119 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,998 psi | 75% | 2254 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,070 psi | 73% | 2218 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,405 psi | 78% | 2195 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,581 psi | 83% | 2178 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,564 psi | 76% | 2267 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,243 psi | 72% | 2106 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,228 psi | 69% | 2188 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,824 psi | 75% | 2201 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 76% | 2218 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,783 psi | 81% | 2270 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 36.2 gr | 90% | 36,927 psi | 77% | 2274 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,729 psi | 52% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,492 psi | 78% | 2224 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 3031 | 29.7 gr | 80% | 28,514 psi | 60% | 2096 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,870 psi | 81% | 2178 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,262 psi | 82% | 2306 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,013 psi | 75% | 2185 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,606 psi | 72% | 2165 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,225 psi | 61% | 2096 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,030 psi | 84% | 2211 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,723 psi | 75% | 2201 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,520 psi | 74% | 2178 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,138 psi | 61% | 2064 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,147 psi | 84% | 2313 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,610 psi | 83% | 2287 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,772 psi | 52% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,824 psi | 75% | 2182 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,446 psi | 70% | 2228 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,677 psi | 68% | 2103 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,621 psi | 74% | 2172 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,158 psi | 76% | 2251 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,225 psi | 61% | 2096 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,723 psi | 75% | 2201 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,913 psi | 79% | 2188 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 83% | 2270 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,029 psi | 79% | 2201 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,247 psi | 82% | 2270 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,401 psi | 66% | 2037 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,411 psi | 53% | 1916 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,431 psi | 70% | 2159 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 64% | 2041 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,782 psi | 79% | 2260 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,737 psi | 75% | 2119 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,169 psi | 65% | 2047 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,252 psi | 55% | 2011 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,470 psi | 57% | 2008 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,243 psi | 72% | 2172 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,955 psi | 75% | 2182 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,050 psi | 59% | 2037 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | 33 gr | 82% | 32,169 psi | 67% | 2159 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,392 psi | 80% | 2274 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 59 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 180gr | Sako Hammerhead. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,431 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,437 fps to 2,431 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 59 of the 59 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 1:15.0 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. Hodgdon LEVERevolution, IMR 3031, Winchester 748 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 180gr | Sako Hammerhead 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.