Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 165gr | Peregrine Bushmaster (VRG-3) bullet and 18 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% | 44,454 psi | 86% | 1909 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,455 psi | 88% | 1850 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,179 psi | 86% | 1978 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,551 psi | 75% | 1916 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,106 psi | 86% | 1942 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,153 psi | 57% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,728 psi | 83% | 1926 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,425 psi | 86% | 1906 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,832 psi | 89% | 1936 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,527 psi | 88% | 1919 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,439 psi | 84% | 1978 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,253 psi | 55% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,701 psi | 89% | 1959 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,832 psi | 89% | 1936 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,876 psi | 89% | 1916 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,324 psi | 86% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,788 psi | 87% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,527 psi | 86% | 1952 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>> | 86% | 36,390 psi | 71% | 1795 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,248 psi | 78% | 1788 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 17.9 gr | 80% | 25,237 psi | 49% | 1663 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,492 psi | 71% | 1883 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 20.4 gr | 88% | 34,664 psi | 67% | 1804 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,248 psi | 41% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,214 psi | 66% | 1795 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,692 psi | 63% | 1732 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 79% | 1860 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,937 psi | 62% | 1726 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,968 psi | 66% | 1837 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,682 psi | 40% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 18.6 gr | 80% | 31,343 psi | 61% | 1742 fps | 96.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 79% | 1860 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,089 psi | 78% | 1841 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 59% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,637 psi | 73% | 1772 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,686 psi | 50% | 1650 fps | 96.8% |
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 18 powders for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian loaded with the .308 | 165gr | Peregrine Bushmaster (VRG-3). ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,978 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,184 fps to 1,978 fps. Alliant Reloder-10x gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 18 of the 18 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (355 MPa), the top charges use 55–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. The 165.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:14.0 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, Alliant Reloder-7, ReloadSwiss RS 36 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with the .308 | 165gr | Peregrine Bushmaster (VRG-3) 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.