Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 135gr | Sierra VarmintKing bullet and 17 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 36, ADI AR 2207 and Vihtavuori N120.
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>> | 82% | 46,398 psi | 90% | 2172 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,208 psi | 88% | 2090 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,932 psi | 85% | 2224 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,845 psi | 85% | 2175 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,080 psi | 56% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,308 psi | 82% | 2156 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,164 psi | 86% | 2146 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,223 psi | 88% | 2172 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,744 psi | 87% | 2156 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,482 psi | 84% | 2218 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,601 psi | 56% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,295 psi | 88% | 2198 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,223 psi | 88% | 2172 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,266 psi | 88% | 2149 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,079 psi | 89% | 2070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,657 psi | 87% | 2110 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,193 psi | 86% | 2198 fps | 99.8% |
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% | 43,279 psi | 84% | 2126 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,321 psi | 78% | 2021 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 21.4 gr | 84% | 28,485 psi | 55% | 1942 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,088 psi | 76% | 2100 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,364 psi | 41% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,030 psi | 78% | 2119 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,663 psi | 63% | 1949 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,292 psi | 78% | 2090 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,792 psi | 62% | 1942 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,174 psi | 74% | 2136 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,798 psi | 40% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 21.8 gr | 82% | 33,475 psi | 65% | 1998 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,292 psi | 78% | 2090 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,784 psi | 77% | 2067 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,008 psi | 58% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,449 psi | 73% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | 20.4 gr | 80% | 25,672 psi | 50% | 1850 fps | 95% |
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 17 powders for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian loaded with the .308 | 135gr | Sierra VarmintKing. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,224 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,358 fps to 2,224 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 17 of the 17 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (355 MPa), the top charges use 56–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 135.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:17.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 4198, Norma 200 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, ADI AR 2207, Vihtavuori N120 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with the .308 | 135gr | Sierra VarmintKing 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.