Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 115gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos bullet and 11 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N110, Lovex S053 and ADI AR 2205.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 16"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,845 psi | 85% | 2267 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,311 psi | 90% | 2238 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,961 psi | 85% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,282 psi | 53% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,398 psi | 90% | 2303 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,005 psi | 87% | 2228 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,282 psi | 90% | 2320 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,208 psi | 51% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,757 psi | 83% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,586 psi | 90% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,869 psi | 74% | 2231 fps | 96.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 16"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 70% | 2133 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2205 | 19.3 gr | 80% | 33,939 psi | 66% | 2031 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,596 psi | 79% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,885 psi | 39% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,350 psi | 80% | 2228 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,148 psi | 82% | 2188 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | 19.6 gr | 86% | 31,009 psi | 60% | 2051 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,218 psi | 37% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,932 psi | 48% | 1864 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 17.4 gr | 80% | 30,705 psi | 60% | 2031 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,446 psi | 65% | 2146 fps | 95.4% |
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 21 powders for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian loaded with the .308 | 115gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,326 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,430 fps to 2,326 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 21 of the 21 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (355 MPa), the top charges use 51–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 115.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:13.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7, 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. Vihtavuori N110, Lovex S053, ADI AR 2205 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with the .308 | 115gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 1680, Accurate 5744, Alliant Reloder-7 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.