Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Marlin Express with .309 | 170gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal 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 Hodgdon BL-C2.
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>> | 92% | 41,626 psi | 87% | 2320 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2362 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,336 psi | 86% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,656 psi | 89% | 2402 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,479 psi | 80% | 2362 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2254 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2260 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,047 psi | 88% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,583 psi | 89% | 2375 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2290 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2297 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,669 psi | 85% | 2385 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,423 psi | 87% | 2356 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2375 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2421 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,532 psi | 68% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,669 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,887 psi | 88% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,292 psi | 84% | 2323 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,656 psi | 89% | 2362 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2379 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,699 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,409 psi | 89% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,409 psi | 89% | 2359 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,256 psi | 67% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,263 psi | 86% | 2336 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2323 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,496 psi | 89% | 2349 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,292 psi | 84% | 2323 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2379 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,699 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,207 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,031 psi | 86% | 2313 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2303 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2297 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,205 psi | 86% | 2359 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2300 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,177 psi | 88% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2310 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,076 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2362 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,292 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2352 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,206 psi | 88% | 2408 fps | 97.3% |
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% | 28,442 psi | 59% | 2067 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,385 psi | 63% | 2129 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 22,263 psi | 47% | 1988 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,198 psi | 67% | 2208 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 27,688 psi | 58% | 2139 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,623 psi | 79% | 2172 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,014 psi | 79% | 2175 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,784 psi | 83% | 2254 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,664 psi | 72% | 2231 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,754 psi | 81% | 2287 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,136 psi | 55% | 2083 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,054 psi | 69% | 2175 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,578 psi | 74% | 2159 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,811 psi | 77% | 2208 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 35.4 gr | 90% | 35,389 psi | 74% | 2287 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,734 psi | 66% | 2169 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,995 psi | 67% | 2182 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,595 psi | 83% | 2372 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,888 psi | 50% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 28.6 gr | 80% | 25,048 psi | 52% | 2054 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,983 psi | 73% | 2165 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,754 psi | 81% | 2287 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 78% | 2274 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,490 psi | 72% | 2218 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,924 psi | 69% | 2238 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,492 psi | 78% | 2287 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 78% | 2238 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,536 psi | 78% | 2270 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,792 psi | 64% | 2159 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,801 psi | 50% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,794 psi | 71% | 2192 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,313 psi | 63% | 2110 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,637 psi | 79% | 2264 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 78% | 2274 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,924 psi | 69% | 2238 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,492 psi | 78% | 2287 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,157 psi | 73% | 2238 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,866 psi | 71% | 2182 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,704 psi | 62% | 2047 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 27,093 psi | 57% | 2008 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,464 psi | 80% | 2310 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,805 psi | 60% | 2054 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,972 psi | 84% | 2218 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,879 psi | 67% | 2103 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,673 psi | 58% | 2021 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,771 psi | 48% | 1969 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,341 psi | 61% | 2103 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,450 psi | 80% | 2280 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,778 psi | 66% | 2175 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | 34.1 gr | 88% | 34,722 psi | 73% | 2264 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 .309 | 170gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal. Hodgdon LEVERevolution delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,421 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,457 fps to 2,421 fps. Accurate 2495 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 67–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 170.0 gr projectile in 0.309" calls for a 1:12.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, 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. IMR 3031, Winchester 748, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for .308 Marlin Express with the .309 | 170gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal 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.