Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .308 | 205gr | Sierra GameKing bullet and 68 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Ramshot Big Game and Hodgdon LEVERevolution.
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>> | 86% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2073 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2119 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,945 psi | 88% | 2149 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,163 psi | 88% | 2159 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2172 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,757 psi | 89% | 2159 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2116 fps | 96% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,627 psi | 89% | 2133 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2136 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2205 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2169 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,785 psi | 87% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,685 psi | 89% | 2178 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2234 fps | 97.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2169 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,656 psi | 89% | 2090 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2188 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2205 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,757 psi | 89% | 2142 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,756 psi | 85% | 2119 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2169 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2182 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,649 psi | 70% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2133 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2142 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,931 psi | 90% | 2060 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2165 fps | 97% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,627 psi | 89% | 2133 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 2119 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2182 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,582 psi | 87% | 2073 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2142 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2123 fps | 98.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2136 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,858 psi | 87% | 2169 fps | 97.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2182 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,510 psi | 87% | 2149 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,176 psi | 86% | 2090 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,649 psi | 70% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,293 psi | 88% | 2123 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,800 psi | 87% | 2218 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2247 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2123 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2116 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,828 psi | 85% | 2159 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2182 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2142 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,409 psi | 89% | 2093 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,178 psi | 90% | 2208 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,163 psi | 88% | 2093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,307 psi | 86% | 2136 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2060 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2093 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,699 psi | 89% | 2156 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2096 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2149 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2165 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,974 psi | 88% | 2047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,669 psi | 87% | 2060 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,859 psi | 90% | 2146 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2123 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2159 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,540 psi | 89% | 2126 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,091 psi | 90% | 2156 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,972 psi | 84% | 2100 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2162 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2178 fps | 97.8% |
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% | 34,316 psi | 72% | 1965 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,796 psi | 77% | 2037 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,672 psi | 56% | 1883 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,184 psi | 67% | 1991 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,324 psi | 53% | 1860 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,694 psi | 75% | 2037 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,856 psi | 81% | 2077 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,214 psi | 69% | 1969 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,459 psi | 66% | 1985 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 79% | 2113 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,634 psi | 68% | 2008 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,204 psi | 82% | 2051 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,782 psi | 79% | 2096 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,260 psi | 78% | 2142 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,473 psi | 66% | 2001 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,708 psi | 75% | 1975 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,589 psi | 64% | 1972 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,943 psi | 81% | 2156 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,637 psi | 79% | 2060 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,029 psi | 79% | 2077 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,417 psi | 70% | 2001 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 32.3 gr | 86% | 34,069 psi | 71% | 2054 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,990 psi | 52% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,824 psi | 73% | 2011 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 63% | 1975 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,319 psi | 80% | 2060 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,669 psi | 85% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,156 psi | 71% | 2044 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,214 psi | 69% | 1969 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 76% | 2031 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,848 psi | 60% | 1932 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,956 psi | 77% | 1995 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,038 psi | 65% | 1942 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,821 psi | 64% | 1923 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 64% | 1939 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,795 psi | 73% | 2047 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | 34.4 gr | 90% | 36,999 psi | 77% | 2096 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,201 psi | 76% | 2057 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 76% | 2008 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,106 psi | 52% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,420 psi | 78% | 2044 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,291 psi | 82% | 2175 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 33.1 gr | 88% | 30,734 psi | 64% | 2014 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,287 psi | 72% | 1972 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,241 psi | 65% | 1926 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,721 psi | 70% | 2037 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,848 psi | 60% | 1932 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,038 psi | 65% | 1942 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,552 psi | 83% | 2051 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,101 psi | 80% | 2123 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,914 psi | 83% | 2057 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,376 psi | 76% | 2051 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,880 psi | 69% | 1909 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,614 psi | 56% | 1801 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,012 psi | 73% | 2028 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,111 psi | 67% | 1913 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,231 psi | 78% | 2060 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,069 psi | 69% | 2008 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,449 psi | 78% | 1978 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,706 psi | 68% | 1916 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,717 psi | 58% | 1890 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,834 psi | 60% | 1886 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,776 psi | 62% | 1923 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,837 psi | 69% | 1959 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,528 psi | 58% | 1873 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,753 psi | 79% | 2064 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,705 psi | 66% | 1991 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,098 psi | 69% | 2008 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 68 powders for .308 Marlin Express loaded with the .308 | 205gr | Sierra GameKing. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,247 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,316 fps to 2,247 fps. Alliant Reloder-17 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 68 of the 68 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 205.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:13.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-17, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Ramshot Big Game, Hodgdon LEVERevolution rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .308 | 205gr | 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.