Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 170gr | Lapua Lock Base 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 Vihtavuori N120.
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% | 45,527 psi | 88% | 1877 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,383 psi | 90% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,890 psi | 89% | 1952 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,726 psi | 77% | 1890 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,890 psi | 89% | 1919 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,733 psi | 58% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,497 psi | 84% | 1893 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,527 psi | 88% | 1877 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,237 psi | 86% | 1867 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,122 psi | 90% | 1880 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,136 psi | 88% | 1952 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,964 psi | 56% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,150 psi | 86% | 1893 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,237 psi | 86% | 1867 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,499 psi | 90% | 1880 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,310 psi | 88% | 1772 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,456 psi | 90% | 1831 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,122 psi | 90% | 1926 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,262 psi | 76% | 1831 fps | 95.9% |
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% | 37,217 psi | 72% | 1765 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 80% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 17.4 gr | 80% | 26,266 psi | 51% | 1644 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,085 psi | 68% | 1818 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,692 psi | 65% | 1742 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,654 psi | 42% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,996 psi | 64% | 1729 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,924 psi | 66% | 1709 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,350 psi | 80% | 1827 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,779 psi | 64% | 1696 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,996 psi | 64% | 1778 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,176 psi | 41% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 18.1 gr | 80% | 32,343 psi | 63% | 1716 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,350 psi | 80% | 1827 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,191 psi | 80% | 1814 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,198 psi | 61% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 76% | 1742 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | 17.4 gr | 80% | 26,585 psi | 52% | 1631 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,680 psi | 71% | 1795 fps | 95.1% |
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 | 170gr | Lapua Lock Base. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,952 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,161 fps to 1,952 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 170.0 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, ReloadSwiss RS 36, Vihtavuori N120 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with the .308 | 170gr | Lapua Lock Base 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.