Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 160gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal bullet and 19 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2207, ReloadSwiss RS 36 and Alliant Reloder-7.
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% | 45,774 psi | 89% | 1975 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,772 psi | 85% | 1880 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,122 psi | 90% | 2054 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,089 psi | 78% | 1988 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,832 psi | 89% | 2014 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,124 psi | 57% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,874 psi | 85% | 1995 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,571 psi | 89% | 1972 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,237 psi | 86% | 1965 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,787 psi | 85% | 1946 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,962 psi | 87% | 2051 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,718 psi | 56% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,179 psi | 86% | 1988 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,237 psi | 86% | 1965 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,743 psi | 85% | 1942 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,179 psi | 88% | 1864 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,006 psi | 89% | 1923 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,398 psi | 90% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,030 psi | 76% | 1919 fps | 95.8% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,420 psi | 73% | 1860 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,075 psi | 80% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 18.9 gr | 80% | 26,005 psi | 51% | 1722 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,157 psi | 68% | 1909 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 21.5 gr | 88% | 35,520 psi | 69% | 1867 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,176 psi | 41% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,924 psi | 64% | 1818 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 65% | 1795 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,539 psi | 81% | 1926 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,474 psi | 63% | 1778 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,938 psi | 64% | 1867 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,581 psi | 40% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 19.7 gr | 80% | 32,474 psi | 63% | 1808 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,539 psi | 81% | 1926 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 80% | 1903 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,922 psi | 60% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,479 psi | 75% | 1831 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,382 psi | 51% | 1709 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,579 psi | 71% | 1883 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 19 powders for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian loaded with the .308 | 160gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,054 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,224 fps to 2,054 fps. Alliant Reloder-10x gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 of the 19 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 160.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:15.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-10x, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 4198 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, ReloadSwiss RS 36, Alliant Reloder-7 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with the .308 | 160gr | Reichenberg HDB Universal they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.