Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .308 Win. with .308 | 155gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 82 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Winchester 748 and Somchem S321.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,882 psi | 90% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,808 psi | 86% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,853 psi | 89% | 2736 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,259 psi | 90% | 2746 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,070 psi | 90% | 2723 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,354 psi | 77% | 2644 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,126 psi | 85% | 2720 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,062 psi | 72% | 2621 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,343 psi | 85% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,822 psi | 86% | 2595 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,053 psi | 85% | 2713 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,488 psi | 86% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,563 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,302 psi | 90% | 2733 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,808 psi | 86% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,634 psi | 86% | 2782 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,787 psi | 73% | 2621 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,286 psi | 87% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,124 psi | 80% | 2687 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,171 psi | 88% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,330 psi | 89% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,720 psi | 84% | 2717 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,859 psi | 71% | 2618 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,027 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,127 psi | 87% | 2759 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,404 psi | 90% | 2841 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,547 psi | 86% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,794 psi | 88% | 2730 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,505 psi | 89% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,401 psi | 85% | 2726 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,443 psi | 82% | 2743 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,735 psi | 54% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,330 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 98% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,446 psi | 87% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,414 psi | 80% | 2638 fps | 96% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,012 psi | 90% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,345 psi | 89% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,240 psi | 82% | 2723 fps | 97% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,302 psi | 90% | 2733 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,184 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,070 psi | 90% | 2726 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,083 psi | 87% | 2746 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,228 psi | 87% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,591 psi | 87% | 2657 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,007 psi | 78% | 2638 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,272 psi | 87% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,779 psi | 88% | 2713 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,171 psi | 88% | 2733 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,123 psi | 78% | 2677 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,790 psi | 79% | 2694 fps | 96.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,650 psi | 89% | 2759 fps | 97.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,113 psi | 88% | 2690 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,750 psi | 54% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,635 psi | 89% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,242 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,589 psi | 84% | 2792 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,090 psi | 70% | 2651 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,838 psi | 89% | 2713 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,705 psi | 83% | 2657 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,184 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,083 psi | 87% | 2746 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,007 psi | 78% | 2638 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,895 psi | 86% | 2654 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,924 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,940 psi | 90% | 2740 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,621 psi | 89% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,939 psi | 88% | 2736 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,156 psi | 88% | 2641 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,484 psi | 76% | 2539 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,141 psi | 87% | 2723 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,430 psi | 85% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,909 psi | 86% | 2703 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,576 psi | 86% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,823 psi | 88% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,489 psi | 87% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,659 psi | 79% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,256 psi | 83% | 2664 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,972 psi | 66% | 2510 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,663 psi | 86% | 2687 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,414 psi | 80% | 2657 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,127 psi | 88% | 2779 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,025 psi | 86% | 2743 fps | 97.9% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,224 psi | 78% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,241 psi | 52% | 2297 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,384 psi | 79% | 2635 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,862 psi | 78% | 2635 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,286 psi | 55% | 2362 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,250 psi | 39% | 2159 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,169 psi | 52% | 2352 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,921 psi | 48% | 2326 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,277 psi | 67% | 2402 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 68% | 2408 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,250 psi | 70% | 2562 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,844 psi | 71% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,927 psi | 63% | 2477 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,202 psi | 62% | 2438 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,485 psi | 47% | 2310 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 36.5 gr | 84% | 39,465 psi | 66% | 2562 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,261 psi | 64% | 2516 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,984 psi | 60% | 2408 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,005 psi | 75% | 2635 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,874 psi | 73% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 64% | 2392 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,601 psi | 79% | 2667 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,492 psi | 62% | 2516 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,157 psi | 58% | 2352 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,550 psi | 61% | 2487 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,369 psi | 79% | 2726 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,563 psi | 57% | 2408 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,085 psi | 58% | 2421 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,454 psi | 74% | 2490 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,697 psi | 66% | 2523 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,640 psi | 68% | 2585 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,149 psi | 40% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,510 psi | 69% | 2536 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,311 psi | 45% | 2280 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,266 psi | 75% | 2585 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,710 psi | 63% | 2398 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,154 psi | 83% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,033 psi | 71% | 2615 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,202 psi | 62% | 2438 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,249 psi | 69% | 2526 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,418 psi | 59% | 2408 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,879 psi | 53% | 2382 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,211 psi | 82% | 2480 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,947 psi | 73% | 2516 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,492 psi | 61% | 2444 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,524 psi | 67% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,580 psi | 64% | 2470 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,747 psi | 49% | 2297 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,034 psi | 73% | 2625 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,759 psi | 74% | 2641 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,743 psi | 73% | 2598 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,555 psi | 72% | 2536 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,018 psi | 40% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,154 psi | 83% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,563 psi | 57% | 2385 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,282 psi | 79% | 2740 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,927 psi | 61% | 2536 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,980 psi | 51% | 2290 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,899 psi | 65% | 2470 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,249 psi | 69% | 2526 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,879 psi | 53% | 2382 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,492 psi | 61% | 2444 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,305 psi | 65% | 2444 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,918 psi | 75% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,537 psi | 64% | 2484 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,738 psi | 61% | 2415 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,482 psi | 72% | 2585 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,153 psi | 50% | 2224 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,441 psi | 46% | 2178 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | 39.3 gr | 84% | 36,956 psi | 61% | 2461 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 49% | 2224 fps | 96.1% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,426 psi | 75% | 2602 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,975 psi | 71% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,461 psi | 57% | 2326 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 50% | 2241 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,932 psi | 41% | 2185 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,166 psi | 47% | 2238 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,128 psi | 58% | 2415 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,985 psi | 61% | 2431 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,618 psi | 51% | 2316 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | 39.1 gr | 86% | 35,331 psi | 59% | 2457 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,827 psi | 66% | 2533 fps | 95.1% |
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 82 powders for .308 Win. loaded with the .308 | 155gr | Merlin Virtus. Hodgdon CFE223 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,841 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,601 fps to 2,841 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 82 of the 82 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (415 MPa), the top charges use 54–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 155.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:12.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 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. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Winchester 748, Somchem S321 rank at the top here: for .308 Win. with the .308 | 155gr | Merlin Virtus 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.