Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Marlin Express with .338 | 250gr | Sako Hammerhead bullet and 65 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 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>> | 84% | 40,973 psi | 88% | 2070 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,611 psi | 90% | 2113 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,711 psi | 86% | 2110 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,291 psi | 85% | 2113 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,798 psi | 86% | 2139 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,132 psi | 86% | 2119 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,104 psi | 89% | 2116 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,900 psi | 86% | 2090 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,596 psi | 87% | 2126 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,379 psi | 89% | 2215 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,567 psi | 87% | 2129 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,959 psi | 90% | 2172 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,350 psi | 87% | 2142 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,887 psi | 90% | 2238 fps | 97.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,655 psi | 90% | 2162 fps | 96.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,205 psi | 89% | 2175 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,798 psi | 86% | 2047 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,929 psi | 86% | 2146 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,365 psi | 89% | 2205 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,408 psi | 87% | 2129 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,665 psi | 77% | 2070 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,944 psi | 88% | 2185 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,127 psi | 74% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,698 psi | 90% | 2133 fps | 98% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,510 psi | 89% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,495 psi | 87% | 2100 fps | 96.7% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,249 psi | 89% | 2169 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,900 psi | 86% | 2090 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,539 psi | 90% | 2116 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,524 psi | 87% | 2142 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,263 psi | 89% | 2070 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,813 psi | 86% | 2106 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,698 psi | 90% | 2119 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,582 psi | 90% | 2133 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,581 psi | 85% | 2133 fps | 97.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,291 psi | 85% | 2142 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,089 psi | 89% | 2142 fps | 97.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,814 psi | 88% | 2087 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,316 psi | 74% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,742 psi | 90% | 2221 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,639 psi | 85% | 2208 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,785 psi | 88% | 2083 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,989 psi | 90% | 2119 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,118 psi | 89% | 2165 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,524 psi | 87% | 2142 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,813 psi | 86% | 2106 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,756 psi | 88% | 2175 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,133 psi | 89% | 2136 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,582 psi | 90% | 2054 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,466 psi | 87% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,813 psi | 86% | 2113 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,524 psi | 87% | 2057 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,595 psi | 85% | 2103 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,059 psi | 86% | 2133 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,330 psi | 74% | 2106 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,814 psi | 90% | 2044 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,437 psi | 89% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,567 psi | 87% | 2110 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,843 psi | 90% | 2116 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,712 psi | 88% | 2119 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,740 psi | 86% | 2083 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,451 psi | 87% | 2116 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,726 psi | 86% | 2106 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,886 psi | 88% | 2159 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,958 psi | 86% | 2136 fps | 97.7% |
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% | 36,289 psi | 78% | 1998 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,059 psi | 84% | 2070 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,718 psi | 62% | 1919 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,301 psi | 74% | 2028 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,238 psi | 59% | 1903 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,330 psi | 72% | 1991 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,332 psi | 78% | 2034 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,215 psi | 76% | 2008 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,446 psi | 72% | 2014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,943 psi | 84% | 2172 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,591 psi | 72% | 2005 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,763 psi | 66% | 1969 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,621 psi | 77% | 2060 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 43.4 gr | 92% | 34,679 psi | 75% | 2100 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,957 psi | 84% | 2113 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,718 psi | 64% | 1965 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,420 psi | 81% | 2008 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,576 psi | 70% | 2011 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,056 psi | 78% | 2106 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,460 psi | 72% | 2001 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,562 psi | 72% | 2028 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 38.5 gr | 82% | 31,691 psi | 68% | 2008 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,135 psi | 54% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,474 psi | 70% | 1965 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,068 psi | 69% | 2011 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,723 psi | 77% | 2018 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,142 psi | 74% | 2044 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,215 psi | 76% | 2008 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,725 psi | 83% | 2073 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,024 psi | 67% | 1975 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,577 psi | 75% | 1952 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,269 psi | 63% | 1906 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,648 psi | 70% | 1962 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,489 psi | 70% | 1975 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,779 psi | 71% | 2008 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,606 psi | 75% | 2057 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,939 psi | 73% | 2018 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,189 psi | 82% | 2041 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,425 psi | 55% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,535 psi | 79% | 2129 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 39.6 gr | 84% | 28,761 psi | 62% | 1972 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 78% | 2008 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,125 psi | 67% | 1923 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,894 psi | 69% | 2001 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,024 psi | 67% | 1975 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,269 psi | 63% | 1906 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,853 psi | 77% | 2087 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,997 psi | 73% | 2008 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,476 psi | 74% | 1939 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,978 psi | 60% | 1834 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,202 psi | 80% | 2067 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,924 psi | 73% | 1946 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,780 psi | 75% | 2018 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,125 psi | 67% | 1969 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,400 psi | 66% | 2021 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,218 psi | 85% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,403 psi | 74% | 1946 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,472 psi | 64% | 1923 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,661 psi | 66% | 1926 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,934 psi | 60% | 1883 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,969 psi | 75% | 2001 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 63% | 1916 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,041 psi | 76% | 2021 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,620 psi | 72% | 2031 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,982 psi | 71% | 2008 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 65 powders for .338 Marlin Express loaded with the .338 | 250gr | Sako Hammerhead. Alliant Reloder-17 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,238 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,329 fps to 2,238 fps. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 65 of the 65 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 74–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 250.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:6.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, 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, Alliant Reloder-17, Hodgdon LEVERevolution rank at the top here: for .338 Marlin Express with the .338 | 250gr | 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.