Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 168gr | Norma Diamond 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, 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% | 45,498 psi | 88% | 1893 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,557 psi | 90% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,295 psi | 88% | 1962 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,769 psi | 77% | 1903 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,339 psi | 88% | 1929 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,341 psi | 57% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,584 psi | 85% | 1909 fps | 98% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,658 psi | 89% | 1893 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,874 psi | 85% | 1880 fps | 98% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,311 psi | 90% | 1896 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,136 psi | 88% | 1969 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,109 psi | 57% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,280 psi | 86% | 1909 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,874 psi | 85% | 1880 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,598 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,904 psi | 87% | 1781 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,064 psi | 89% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,542 psi | 88% | 1936 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,754 psi | 75% | 1837 fps | 95.6% |
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% | 37,304 psi | 72% | 1781 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,292 psi | 80% | 1772 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 17.6 gr | 80% | 26,368 psi | 51% | 1660 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,143 psi | 68% | 1834 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 19.6 gr | 86% | 33,794 psi | 66% | 1759 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,379 psi | 42% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,112 psi | 64% | 1745 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,678 psi | 65% | 1719 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,597 psi | 81% | 1847 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,025 psi | 64% | 1713 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,025 psi | 64% | 1791 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,350 psi | 41% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 18.3 gr | 80% | 32,489 psi | 63% | 1732 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,597 psi | 81% | 1847 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,770 psi | 79% | 1821 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,995 psi | 60% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,754 psi | 75% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,760 psi | 52% | 1647 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,709 psi | 71% | 1808 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 | 168gr | Norma Diamond. Norma 200 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,969 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,165 fps to 1,969 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 57–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 168.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:13.5 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 | 168gr | Norma Diamond 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.