Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 180gr | Sierra GameKing bullet and 58 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 2520.
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% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,481 psi | 87% | 2274 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,872 psi | 85% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,539 psi | 87% | 2313 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,567 psi | 85% | 2323 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2195 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2205 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2313 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,959 psi | 86% | 2280 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2283 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,598 psi | 89% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,177 psi | 88% | 2356 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,814 psi | 85% | 2316 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,278 psi | 86% | 2195 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2365 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2247 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2343 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2303 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,859 psi | 90% | 2320 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2323 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2379 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,156 psi | 69% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,481 psi | 87% | 2283 fps | 96% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,844 psi | 90% | 2228 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,134 psi | 90% | 2362 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2283 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2274 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,221 psi | 88% | 2336 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2290 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,162 psi | 86% | 2270 fps | 97% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,031 psi | 86% | 2290 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,040 psi | 69% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,235 psi | 88% | 2283 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,858 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2283 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,611 psi | 87% | 2270 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,943 psi | 83% | 2306 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,221 psi | 88% | 2336 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2290 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2244 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2287 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2257 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,510 psi | 87% | 2211 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2244 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,409 psi | 89% | 2313 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2251 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,568 psi | 87% | 2316 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2208 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2215 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2303 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,553 psi | 87% | 2277 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,030 psi | 84% | 2267 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2283 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2310 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2359 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2329 fps | 96.4% |
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% | 31,705 psi | 66% | 2073 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,881 psi | 71% | 2139 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,265 psi | 51% | 1972 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | 31.5 gr | 80% | 29,356 psi | 61% | 2080 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,092 psi | 55% | 2028 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,437 psi | 84% | 2156 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,814 psi | 85% | 2165 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,624 psi | 83% | 2264 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,189 psi | 80% | 2234 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,070 psi | 73% | 2156 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,964 psi | 61% | 2087 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,318 psi | 78% | 2267 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,289 psi | 76% | 2231 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,405 psi | 76% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,696 psi | 81% | 2152 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,623 psi | 79% | 2274 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,286 psi | 70% | 2073 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,316 psi | 72% | 2201 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,027 psi | 73% | 2172 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,331 psi | 74% | 2188 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,521 psi | 78% | 2234 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,029 psi | 79% | 2283 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,584 psi | 51% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,827 psi | 81% | 2238 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | 28.9 gr | 80% | 27,775 psi | 58% | 2067 fps | 97.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,898 psi | 79% | 2152 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,321 psi | 84% | 2313 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,070 psi | 73% | 2156 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,634 psi | 70% | 2133 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,327 psi | 63% | 2113 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,505 psi | 72% | 2165 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,608 psi | 76% | 2188 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,166 psi | 59% | 2034 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,598 psi | 51% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 73% | 2149 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,751 psi | 73% | 2244 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,865 psi | 67% | 2073 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,635 psi | 72% | 2142 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,246 psi | 78% | 2257 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,327 psi | 63% | 2113 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,505 psi | 72% | 2165 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,970 psi | 77% | 2156 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,798 psi | 81% | 2241 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,043 psi | 77% | 2175 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 64% | 2008 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,353 psi | 55% | 1932 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,751 psi | 73% | 2175 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,008 psi | 63% | 2014 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,856 psi | 81% | 2270 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,882 psi | 73% | 2093 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,385 psi | 63% | 2021 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,469 psi | 53% | 1982 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,847 psi | 56% | 1982 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,185 psi | 69% | 2139 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,664 psi | 72% | 2146 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,109 psi | 61% | 2054 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | 32.9 gr | 84% | 33,475 psi | 70% | 2175 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,842 psi | 83% | 2287 fps | 95.7% |
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 58 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 180gr | Sierra GameKing. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,392 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,421 fps to 2,392 fps. Bofors RP3 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 58 of the 58 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 180.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:12.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Bofors RP3, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 2520 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 180gr | Sierra GameKing 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.