Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 168gr | Speer Gold Dot bullet and 19 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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% | 46,499 psi | 90% | 1913 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,309 psi | 86% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,557 psi | 90% | 1985 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,872 psi | 79% | 1929 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,499 psi | 90% | 1949 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,675 psi | 58% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,063 psi | 86% | 1926 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,398 psi | 90% | 1909 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,628 psi | 87% | 1896 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,672 psi | 87% | 1883 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,267 psi | 90% | 1991 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,414 psi | 57% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,904 psi | 87% | 1923 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,628 psi | 87% | 1896 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,730 psi | 87% | 1883 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,745 psi | 89% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,498 psi | 86% | 1831 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,353 psi | 86% | 1929 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,682 psi | 77% | 1860 fps | 96.1% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 16"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,839 psi | 70% | 1765 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,032 psi | 82% | 1788 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,992 psi | 52% | 1680 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,172 psi | 70% | 1857 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,432 psi | 67% | 1778 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,799 psi | 42% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,678 psi | 65% | 1765 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 67% | 1739 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,308 psi | 82% | 1867 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,359 psi | 65% | 1726 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,894 psi | 62% | 1778 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,335 psi | 41% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,199 psi | 64% | 1752 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,308 psi | 82% | 1867 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,930 psi | 81% | 1847 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 62% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,711 psi | 77% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,369 psi | 53% | 1663 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,666 psi | 73% | 1831 fps | 95.5% |
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 | Speer Gold Dot. Norma 200 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,991 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,178 fps to 1,991 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 1:14.5 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. 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.