Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 53 R Fin. with .308 | 120gr | SAKO Powerhead Blade bullet and 62 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon H335, Winchester 748 and Somchem S321.
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: 27"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,952 psi | 90% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,631 psi | 86% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,676 psi | 90% | 3143 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,381 psi | 77% | 3064 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,126 psi | 90% | 3192 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,277 psi | 71% | 3022 fps | 98% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,762 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,168 psi | 87% | 3012 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2206Hᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,937 psi | 90% | 3179 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,762 psi | 86% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,169 psi | 89% | 3166 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,155 psi | 90% | 3153 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,153 psi | 85% | 3169 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,022 psi | 85% | 3202 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,153 psi | 87% | 3114 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,024 psi | 88% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,386 psi | 89% | 3041 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,894 psi | 90% | 3097 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,428 psi | 86% | 3169 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,196 psi | 85% | 3133 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,501 psi | 88% | 3153 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,792 psi | 90% | 3054 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,155 psi | 90% | 3196 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,576 psi | 58% | 1919 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,198 psi | 89% | 3150 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,718 psi | 86% | 3209 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,662 psi | 90% | 3087 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,531 psi | 89% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,155 psi | 90% | 3153 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,184 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,923 psi | 90% | 3146 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,486 psi | 86% | 3163 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,588 psi | 88% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,961 psi | 78% | 3038 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,487 psi | 87% | 3094 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,821 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 97% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,458 psi | 87% | 3153 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,430 psi | 57% | 1965 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,372 psi | 89% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,124 psi | 85% | 3104 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,662 psi | 90% | 3136 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,920 psi | 83% | 3068 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,184 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,486 psi | 86% | 3163 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,961 psi | 78% | 3038 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,704 psi | 86% | 3058 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,357 psi | 89% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,444 psi | 89% | 3163 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,183 psi | 89% | 3123 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,937 psi | 88% | 3054 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,815 psi | 76% | 2940 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,747 psi | 86% | 3136 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,385 psi | 86% | 3051 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,849 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,053 psi | 88% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,110 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,367 psi | 78% | 3068 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,920 psi | 83% | 3074 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,428 psi | 86% | 3094 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,353 psi | 80% | 3064 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,487 psi | 87% | 3192 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,660 psi | 86% | 3146 fps | 95.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 27"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,831 psi | 79% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 52% | 2661 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,692 psi | 60% | 2792 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 25,077 psi | 44% | 2612 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,955 psi | 64% | 2894 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,966 psi | 55% | 2795 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,174 psi | 67% | 2792 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,537 psi | 68% | 2795 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,095 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,393 psi | 71% | 2907 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,505 psi | 63% | 2864 fps | 97% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,264 psi | 75% | 2982 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,006 psi | 48% | 2677 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,962 psi | 79% | 3140 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,837 psi | 60% | 2799 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,785 psi | 74% | 2910 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,535 psi | 65% | 2772 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,190 psi | 71% | 2887 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,537 psi | 70% | 2989 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,576 psi | 58% | 2785 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 42.3 gr | 80% | 32,967 psi | 58% | 2795 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,090 psi | 74% | 2890 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,281 psi | 80% | 3084 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,859 psi | 42% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,094 psi | 83% | 3091 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,167 psi | 52% | 2749 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,621 psi | 63% | 2795 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,587 psi | 84% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,264 psi | 75% | 2982 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,624 psi | 68% | 2917 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,406 psi | 68% | 2900 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,724 psi | 65% | 2923 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,717 psi | 83% | 2913 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,191 psi | 73% | 2979 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,406 psi | 68% | 2884 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,758 psi | 77% | 3015 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,794 psi | 60% | 2822 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,859 psi | 42% | 1759 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,543 psi | 84% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,927 psi | 65% | 2867 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,549 psi | 63% | 2822 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,961 psi | 78% | 3009 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,624 psi | 68% | 2917 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,724 psi | 65% | 2923 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,191 psi | 73% | 2979 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,629 psi | 81% | 3002 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,047 psi | 76% | 2687 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,187 psi | 64% | 2871 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,360 psi | 61% | 2799 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,447 psi | 61% | 2736 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,444 psi | 56% | 2680 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S321 | 47.9 gr | 90% | 42,627 psi | 75% | 3015 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,473 psi | 56% | 2684 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,495 psi | 72% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,561 psi | 58% | 2703 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,239 psi | 50% | 2595 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,672 psi | 47% | 2638 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,010 psi | 57% | 2746 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,380 psi | 75% | 2979 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,099 psi | 62% | 2841 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | 47.6 gr | 92% | 40,567 psi | 72% | 3012 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,643 psi | 81% | 3091 fps | 95.2% |
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 62 powders for 7.62 x 53 R Fin. loaded with the .308 | 120gr | SAKO Powerhead Blade. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,209 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,919 fps to 3,209 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 62 of the 62 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (390 MPa), the top charges use 57–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.308" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2206H 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 H335, Winchester 748, Somchem S321 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 53 R Fin. with the .308 | 120gr | SAKO Powerhead Blade they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.