Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 125gr | Barnes TSX bullet and 13 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 36, Lovex S053 and Vihtavuori N110.
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: 16"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,934 psi | 89% | 2221 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,237 psi | 88% | 2149 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,218 psi | 76% | 2211 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,340 psi | 90% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,528 psi | 53% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,195 psi | 90% | 2231 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,122 psi | 90% | 2241 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,411 psi | 51% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,179 psi | 86% | 2238 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,310 psi | 88% | 2201 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,744 psi | 87% | 2126 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,730 psi | 89% | 2195 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,711 psi | 77% | 2192 fps | 98.4% |
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% | 37,521 psi | 73% | 2093 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,636 psi | 69% | 1998 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,721 psi | 64% | 2093 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,294 psi | 84% | 2234 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,624 psi | 38% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,551 psi | 75% | 2110 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | 18.4 gr | 80% | 26,948 psi | 52% | 1896 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,305 psi | 37% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 23 gr | 92% | 38,986 psi | 76% | 2156 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,569 psi | 83% | 2159 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,991 psi | 50% | 1821 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 17.6 gr | 80% | 32,068 psi | 62% | 1985 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,327 psi | 57% | 1995 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 13 powders for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian loaded with the .308 | 125gr | Barnes TSX. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,270 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,381 fps to 2,270 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 13 of the 13 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 125.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:14.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2207, 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 36, Lovex S053, Vihtavuori N110 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with the .308 | 125gr | Barnes TSX 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.