Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Marlin Express with .338 | 250gr | Swift A-Frame bullet and 67 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Hodgdon BL-C2 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% | 41,350 psi | 89% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,479 psi | 85% | 2057 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,552 psi | 85% | 2090 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,566 psi | 85% | 2096 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,711 psi | 86% | 2119 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,480 psi | 87% | 2100 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,466 psi | 89% | 2096 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,190 psi | 87% | 2070 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,654 psi | 88% | 2110 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,437 psi | 87% | 2136 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,887 psi | 90% | 2149 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,713 psi | 90% | 2060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,524 psi | 87% | 2119 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,784 psi | 86% | 2169 fps | 96.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,959 psi | 90% | 2136 fps | 95.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,249 psi | 89% | 2152 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,335 psi | 87% | 2031 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,190 psi | 87% | 2126 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,684 psi | 90% | 2182 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,408 psi | 87% | 2083 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,770 psi | 88% | 2096 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,727 psi | 88% | 2110 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,162 psi | 89% | 2162 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,518 psi | 72% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,959 psi | 90% | 2113 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,321 psi | 89% | 2149 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,698 psi | 88% | 2080 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,408 psi | 89% | 2149 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,190 psi | 87% | 2070 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,945 psi | 90% | 2100 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,625 psi | 88% | 2123 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,407 psi | 85% | 2014 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,900 psi | 86% | 2083 fps | 98% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,697 psi | 86% | 2064 fps | 98% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,945 psi | 90% | 2116 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,711 psi | 86% | 2113 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,610 psi | 85% | 2119 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,408 psi | 89% | 2126 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,394 psi | 89% | 2070 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,707 psi | 73% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,987 psi | 86% | 2064 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,421 psi | 85% | 2156 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,914 psi | 86% | 2182 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,060 psi | 88% | 2064 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,711 psi | 86% | 2057 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,147 psi | 89% | 2142 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,625 psi | 88% | 2123 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,900 psi | 86% | 2083 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,843 psi | 88% | 2149 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,510 psi | 89% | 2116 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,901 psi | 90% | 2034 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,959 psi | 88% | 2037 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,234 psi | 87% | 2096 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,104 psi | 89% | 2044 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,016 psi | 86% | 2083 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,030 psi | 86% | 2110 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,547 psi | 70% | 2041 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,740 psi | 86% | 1991 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,669 psi | 90% | 2034 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,422 psi | 87% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,653 psi | 85% | 2064 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,886 psi | 88% | 2100 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,118 psi | 86% | 2067 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,466 psi | 87% | 2093 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,219 psi | 87% | 2083 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,089 psi | 89% | 2139 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,364 psi | 87% | 2116 fps | 97.4% |
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% | 34,447 psi | 74% | 1946 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,927 psi | 80% | 2018 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,789 psi | 58% | 1864 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,285 psi | 70% | 1969 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,382 psi | 55% | 1844 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,795 psi | 77% | 2018 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,885 psi | 84% | 2054 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,504 psi | 72% | 1952 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,647 psi | 68% | 1965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,058 psi | 82% | 2096 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,851 psi | 71% | 1991 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,276 psi | 85% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,985 psi | 82% | 2077 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,027 psi | 75% | 2077 fps | 95% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,407 psi | 85% | 2096 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,792 psi | 69% | 1988 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 77% | 1952 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 36.3 gr | 80% | 30,777 psi | 66% | 1955 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,102 psi | 84% | 2136 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 81% | 2041 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,159 psi | 82% | 2057 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,678 psi | 73% | 1985 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 37.4 gr | 84% | 32,097 psi | 69% | 1991 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,005 psi | 54% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,983 psi | 75% | 1991 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,110 psi | 65% | 1952 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,201 psi | 78% | 2001 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,214 psi | 74% | 2021 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,504 psi | 72% | 1952 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,463 psi | 79% | 2011 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,051 psi | 63% | 1916 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,143 psi | 76% | 1939 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,299 psi | 67% | 1929 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,908 psi | 67% | 1903 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,661 psi | 66% | 1919 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,070 psi | 76% | 2031 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,173 psi | 80% | 2077 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,419 psi | 78% | 2041 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,492 psi | 79% | 1988 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,019 psi | 54% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,434 psi | 81% | 2021 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,898 psi | 80% | 2110 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 38.4 gr | 86% | 29,066 psi | 63% | 1952 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,519 psi | 74% | 1955 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,401 psi | 68% | 1906 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,720 psi | 68% | 1978 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,051 psi | 63% | 1916 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,299 psi | 67% | 1929 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,216 psi | 78% | 2067 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,434 psi | 79% | 2031 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,895 psi | 71% | 1886 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,629 psi | 57% | 1781 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,302 psi | 76% | 2011 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 69% | 1893 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,128 psi | 76% | 1998 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,272 psi | 72% | 1988 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 30,545 psi | 66% | 1995 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,434 psi | 81% | 1959 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,750 psi | 71% | 1896 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,731 psi | 60% | 1870 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,008 psi | 63% | 1870 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,892 psi | 64% | 1906 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,982 psi | 71% | 1942 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,760 psi | 60% | 1860 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,462 psi | 76% | 2001 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 69% | 1972 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,243 psi | 72% | 1988 fps | 95.3% |
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 67 powders for .338 Marlin Express loaded with the .338 | 250gr | Swift A-Frame. Hodgdon CFE223 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,182 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,299 fps to 2,182 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 67 of the 67 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 70–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 250.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:15.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Somchem S365 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, Hodgdon BL-C2, Hodgdon LEVERevolution rank at the top here: for .338 Marlin Express with the .338 | 250gr | Swift A-Frame 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.