Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 146gr | MEN FMJ BT Mdly bullet and 17 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7 and ReloadSwiss RS 36.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,353 psi | 88% | 2067 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,497 psi | 84% | 1978 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,832 psi | 89% | 2156 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,614 psi | 89% | 2113 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,283 psi | 57% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,279 psi | 84% | 2087 fps | 97.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,382 psi | 88% | 2073 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,947 psi | 85% | 2064 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,977 psi | 89% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,252 psi | 88% | 2152 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,877 psi | 56% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,295 psi | 86% | 2093 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,947 psi | 85% | 2064 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,903 psi | 85% | 2044 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,889 psi | 87% | 1962 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,021 psi | 89% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,064 psi | 89% | 2129 fps | 100% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,798 psi | 77% | 1988 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,930 psi | 79% | 1942 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 20.3 gr | 82% | 27,920 psi | 54% | 1850 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 23.1 gr | 90% | 38,189 psi | 74% | 2001 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,321 psi | 41% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,753 psi | 71% | 1978 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,678 psi | 65% | 1886 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,394 psi | 80% | 2021 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,750 psi | 64% | 1877 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,041 psi | 68% | 1995 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,190 psi | 41% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 20.6 gr | 80% | 32,416 psi | 63% | 1896 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,394 psi | 80% | 2021 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,915 psi | 79% | 1998 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,082 psi | 60% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,421 psi | 75% | 1929 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,600 psi | 52% | 1798 fps | 96.4% |
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 17 powders for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian loaded with the .308 | 146gr | MEN FMJ BT Mdly. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,156 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,296 fps to 2,156 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 56–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. The 146.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:16.5 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. ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7, ReloadSwiss RS 36 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with the .308 | 146gr | MEN FMJ BT Mdly 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.