Load data for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian + .308 | 180gr | Norma ORYX

7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian cartridge drawing
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Load Specifications

Bullet Manufacturer:Norma
Bullet Weight:180 gr
Bullet Diameter:0.308"
Bullet Length:<<locked>>
Case Length (l3):1.523"
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):<<locked>>
Case Capacity:35.6 Grains of Water
Primer Size:Large Rifle (LR)
Barrel Length:16"
Max. allowed Pressure:51,488 psi
Recommended Twist Rate:1:14.0

Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with .308 | 180gr | Norma ORYX bullet and 20 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2207, Norma 200 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"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 1680<<locked>>90%44,092 psi86%1808 fps97.8%
ADI AR 2205<<locked>>82%45,049 psi87%1745 fps100%
ADI AR 2207<<locked>>96%45,179 psi88%1886 fps100%
Alliant AR-Compᴾ<<locked>>100%33,794 psi66%1768 fps96.2%
Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ<<locked>>100%41,553 psi81%1860 fps97.6%
Alliant Reloder-7<<locked>>94%44,556 psi87%1847 fps98.5%
Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ<<locked>>100%29,921 psi58%1125 fps100%
IMR 4198ᴾ<<locked>>100%44,962 psi87%1857 fps98.8%
IMR 4227<<locked>>88%44,338 psi86%1804 fps99.6%
Lovex D060<<locked>>82%45,281 psi88%1827 fps98.7%
Lovex S053<<locked>>90%45,658 psi89%1814 fps100%
Norma 200<<locked>>98%44,744 psi87%1890 fps98.8%
ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ<<locked>>100%29,182 psi57%1145 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 36<<locked>>90%46,340 psi90%1860 fps99.7%
Shooters World Buffalo Rifle<<locked>>82%45,281 psi88%1827 fps98.7%
Shooters World SOCOM<<locked>>82%45,455 psi88%1814 fps99.2%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2<<locked>>94%46,528 psi90%1722 fps100%
Vihtavuori N110<<locked>>84%45,078 psi88%1755 fps100%
Vihtavuori N120<<locked>>96%45,469 psi88%1857 fps100%
Vihtavuori N130ᴾ<<locked>>100%40,886 psi79%1801 fps97%

Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.

Start Load - Barrel Length: 16"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 1680<<locked>>82%34,171 psi66%1670 fps95.2%
ADI AR 2205<<locked>>80%42,641 psi83%1719 fps100%
ADI AR 220717.3 gr80%27,543 psi53%1621 fps97.2%
Alliant AR-Comp<<locked>>98%31,589 psi61%1729 fps95.2%
Alliant Reloder-10x<<locked>>92%32,764 psi64%1729 fps95%
Alliant Reloder-718.8 gr84%33,127 psi64%1683 fps95.7%
Hodgdon TrailBoss<<locked>>80%21,712 psi42%997 fps100%
IMR 4198<<locked>>88%32,648 psi63%1673 fps95.7%
IMR 4227<<locked>>80%34,911 psi68%1673 fps98.1%
Lovex D060<<locked>>80%42,888 psi83%1795 fps98.4%
Lovex S053<<locked>>80%34,214 psi66%1663 fps99.8%
Norma 20019.5 gr86%30,908 psi60%1686 fps95.3%
ReloadSwiss RS 14<<locked>>80%21,741 psi42%1030 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 36<<locked>>80%33,924 psi66%1690 fps97.7%
Shooters World Buffalo Rifle<<locked>>80%42,888 psi83%1795 fps98.4%
Shooters World SOCOM<<locked>>80%42,438 psi82%1775 fps98.8%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2<<locked>>80%32,416 psi63%1558 fps100%
Vihtavuori N110<<locked>>80%40,654 psi79%1706 fps100%
Vihtavuori N120<<locked>>80%27,905 psi54%1604 fps98.4%
Vihtavuori N130<<locked>>94%34,229 psi66%1706 fps95%

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.

<<locked>> you need an access license to unlock this data.

This overview compares 20 powders for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian loaded with the .308 | 180gr | Norma ORYX. Norma 200 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,890 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,125 fps to 1,890 fps. Alliant AR-Comp gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 of the 20 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 180.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:14.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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, Norma 200, Alliant Reloder-7 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (.308) Russian with the .308 | 180gr | Norma ORYX 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.

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