Start by using the Hornady 170 gr data but watch for the COAL.

 

Hornady has the data on it's web site

http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/ftx_load_data/308_marlin_express_ftx.pdf

 

looks like Hodgden has listed 150 grain 38 and 170 grain 36 grains but they don't list varget for 160 grain Hornady FTX bullet

That's cuz they're pushing the 8208. Which btw, with it's temperature stability, makes a great hunting powder for the northern states.

 

I think Varget is also temperature stable too. The Hornady load data above is for the 30/30 bullet in the 308 Marlin express so it will be seated deeper in the case to get to the crimp groove. Therefore, you should be able to increase the powder charge more with the regular 308 marlin express bullet cause it will crimp in the groove much further out of the case than the 30/30 bullet so you should have lower pressures since case volume will be larger with the bullet moved forward more.

 

Seat it further out but will it cycle and chamber thru the action?

 

I think Varget is also temperature stable too. The Hornady load data above is for the 30/30 bullet in the 308 Marlin express so it will be seated deeper in the case to get to the crimp groove. Therefore, you should be able to increase the powder charge more with the regular 308 marlin express bullet cause it will crimp in the groove much further out of the case than the 30/30 bullet so you should have lower pressures since case volume will be larger with the bullet moved forward more.

That Hornady load data is for the 308MX 160gr NOT the 30-30 FTX bullet. The data is for the #30395 bullet which is the 308MX 160gr FTX

 

the 30395 bullet is the 30/30 bullet the 308 marlin express bullet is the 30396 with the crimping groove further back toward te base of the bullet.

 

I stand corrected.

I do know that the data I obtained from Hornady before this was published on the web site and before any of the FTX bullets were available was worked up using the 308MX FTX bullet, not the 30-30 bullet. I had spoke with one of the Techs and he faxed me the load sheet with the 308MX data and included the 160 gr data, which is the same as the data on the web site.

 

You guys are gagging gnats here :

Mr. VTDW posted this data from Hornady in the reloading stickies area back in 2007:
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,21899.0.html

The top sheet is data from the 308MX bullet!. One thing I find interesting is that they used more Varget w/the 170gr FP than the 160gr 308MX FTX bullet.

I tried Varget and it worked OK w/some other bullets. After shooting some decent for me 200yd groups w/Reloader 15, I gave my Varget away...

-chris

 

tnx 308 mx i will copy those loads and try them with varget that is a great help

 

You guys are gagging gnats here :

Mr. VTDW posted this data from Hornady in the reloading stickies area back in 2007:
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,21899.0.html

The top sheet is data from the 308MX bullet!. One thing I find interesting is that they used more Varget w/the 170gr FP than the 160gr 308MX FTX bullet.

I tried Varget and it worked OK w/some other bullets. After shooting some decent for me 200yd groups w/Reloader 15, I gave my Varget away...

-chris

That is the sheet I emailed to VTDW ;D

 

Indeed Big Dawg!!! It was a Sticky until some idjit did away with it. :

 

Indeed Big Dawg!!! It was a Sticky until some idjit did away with it. :

It is again ;D

 

Those were the very first published loads and not on the Internet. Nowadays the info is instantly available and that is why I never put it back up.

 

Here's the reload data for Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders for bullets from 125 gr to170 gr.

You can right click and "save as" to your own computer

 

I may be gagging at gnats but most reloaders are a bit anal.
I started with the loading data today and worked up to 38.5 at which point I got flattened primers.
Win Lge rfl prmr'; hornady brass; FTX M308 160 grain Hornady bullet crimped. Trimmed to length.
had a 3 shot group at 38.5 that was about 1 1/4 inchs at 100 yards.
This load is slightly compressed. temp about 82 deg F
I will either go with the flattened primers at 38.5 or drop of a tenth of a grain. I did not try any hotter
a load.

 

The gagging gnats comment was poking fun at VTDW and Big Med 'cause they moved the sticky to the reloading section. As you can see it is back!

I had worked up to 39.3 grs of Varget w/some 165gr PSPs and CCI 200s. Of course I never shot them above 60 F. Your loads may be exhibiting high pressure signs, please be cautious grasssnake!

-chris

 

I played careful (chicken reloader) and backed off a tenth of a grain. Will try Hornady 160 gn FTX M308 crimped in Hornady brass, Win lge rfl prmr
and 38.4 grains this time in MXLR .308 marlin express. I am not worrying as long as there is just a little flattening of primers.
The brass looks just fine at the base.
Also they eject easily.

 

Hornady has the data on it's web site

http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/ftx_load_data/308_marlin_express_ftx.pdf

Yes Hornady lists .308ME data using Varget powder with 160 gr. FTX projectile meant for the 30 30 win. 160 gr. FTX projectiles not the 308ME. 160 gr. FTX projectiles.

 

YOu ain't gonna believe this. I have settled on a load with not quite as flat a primer.
Varget 38.4 grains hornady leverevolution 160 grain bullet Win lge rfl prmr Hornady brass
Marlin MXLR bench rest tripod and sand bags 95 yards bullet crimped
I shot a group that measured 0.426 5 shot group. probably will not repeat this as my right eye has been operated on for glaucoma and also
has "cellophane macula" but I am still trying to shoot even though the cross hairs are kind of curved instead of straight across
Leupold 3x9 40 mm centennial scope
Disclaimer: you should start lower and work up to this load.
i think I started at 36 grains when I got up higher i started going up two tenths of a grain at a time and watching the flattening of the primers
The 38.5 grain load was kind of flat in my particular rifle.
This is the end of the quest for me on this topic.

 

Got a hold of IMR 8208 XBR has anyone try it yet. the data below is off www.hodgdon.com which I'm going to attempt max chrage. My goal is to max-out this data if it can work safely in my rifle. I know this data was listed before the 308 ME 160 gr. FTX projectile was available, so the 30 30 160gr. ftx was used, the 308 ME projectile work with less pressure than the 30 30 ME projectile and isn't seated as deep. The case will have a greater powder capacity using 308ME projectiles and maybe will handle 40 grain charge.

http://www.hornady.com/store/images/T/30395-01.jpg
30 Cal .308 160 gr FTX® (308 Marlin Express)
http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Cal-.308-160-gr-FTX-308-Marlin-Express/

OAL Charge Velocity
160 GR. HDY FTX IMR IMR 8208 XBR .308" 2.580" 35.0 2456
Charge Velocity
42,500 PSI 37.8 2570 46,700 PSI

 

Hi There .. I had a similar problem ...

try this:

Cartridge:
308 Marlin Express

Load Type:
Rifle


Starting Loads


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maximum Loads


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Bullet Weight (Gr.)
Manufacturer
Powder
Bullet Diam.
C.O.L.
Grs.
Vel. (ft/s)
Pressure
Grs.
Vel. (ft/s)
Pressure




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


125 GR. SIE HP FN
Hodgdon
Varget
.308"
2.300"
39.0
2525
37,500 PSI
42.3C
2700
42,800 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
IMR
IMR 4320
.308"
2.300"
39.0
2476
36,900 PSI
42.0
2682
44,900 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
IMR
IMR 4064
.308"
2.300"
38.5
2481
36,500 PSI
41.5C
2684
43,000 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
Winchester
748
.308"
2.300"
39.0
2420
29,800 PSI
44.0
2751
42,100 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
Hodgdon
BL-C(2)
.308"
2.300"
42.0
2543
34,900 PSI
46.0
2808
46,200 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
IMR
IMR 4895
.308"
2.300"
38.0
2428
34,800 PSI
42.0
2717
45,600 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
Hodgdon
H335
.308"
2.300"
39.0
2647
38,700 PSI
42.4
2820
45,400 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
Hodgdon
H4895
.308"
2.300"
38.0
2527
35,900 PSI
42.0
2788
45,000 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
IMR
IMR 8208 XBR
.308"
2.300"
37.0
2682
39,200 PSI
41.0
2868
44,900 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
IMR
IMR 3031
.308"
2.300"
35.0
2446
34,600 PSI
38.8
2725
45,700 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
Hodgdon
Benchmark
.308"
2.300"
34.0
2504
39,500 PSI
37.6
2680
45,200 PSI



125 GR. SIE HP FN
Hodgdon
H322
.308"
2.300"
34.0
2555
41,400 PSI
37.0
2704
46,200 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
Hodgdon
Varget
.308"
2.420"
39.0
2502
37,500 PSI
42.5
2730
46,400 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
IMR
IMR 4320
.308"
2.420"
38.0
2487
40,400 PSI
42.8
2670
45,900 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
IMR
IMR 4064
.308"
2.420"
38.0
2441
36,400 PSI
41,5C
2686
45,400 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
Winchester
748
.308"
2.420"
40.0
2531
35,800 PSI
43.0
2677
40,500 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
Hodgdon
BL-C(2)
.308"
2.420"
42.0
2589
37,900 PSI
46.0
2799
45,600 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
IMR
IMR 4895
.308"
2.420"
38.0
2414
35,700 PSI
41.7
2700
46,500 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
Hodgdon
H335
.308"
2.420"
38.0
2569
37,800 PSI
41.5
2772
45,700 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
Hodgdon
H4895
.308"
2.420"
38.0
2551
38,600 PSI
41.7
2762
46,000 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
IMR
IMR 8208 XBR
.308"
2.420"
36.0
2627
40,700 PSI
40.0
2808
45,700 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
IMR
IMR 3031
.308"
2.420"
35.0
2433
35,000 PSI
38.5
2700
45,800 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
Hodgdon
Benchmark
.308"
2.420"
33.0
2428
38,800 PSI
36.5
2635
46,300 PSI



130 GR. SPR FP
Hodgdon
H322
.308"
2.420"
32.0
2388
36,500 PSI
35.3
2617
45,800 PSi



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
Hodgdon
Varget
.308"
2.350"
36.0
2268
39,500 PSI
39.5C
2458
46,500 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
IMR
IMR 4320
.308"
2.350"
36.0
2266
40,000 PSI
39.3
2433
45,900 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
IMR
IMR 4064
.308"
2.350"
36.0
2291
39,900 PSI
39.0C
2404
42,500 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
Winchester
748
.308"
2.350"
36.0
2245
35,300 PSI
40.0
2471
43,600 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
Hodgdon
BL-C(2)
.308"
2.350"
38.0
2282
36,600 PSI
41.0
2479
45,300 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
IMR
IMR 4895
.308"
2.350"
36.0
2140
35,400 PSI
39.0C
2452
45,600 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
Hodgdon
H335
.308"
2.350"
35.0
2303
36,900 PSI
38.0
2490
44,400 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
Hodgdon
H4895
.308"
2.350"
35.0
2279
38,800 PSI
38.3C
2498
46,800 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
IMR
IMR 8208 XBR
.308"
2.350"
34.0
2403
40,700 PSI
37.4C
2558
46,100 PSI



150 GR. BAR TSX FN
IMR
IMR 3031
.308"
2.350"
33.0
2238
37,600 PSI
36.0C
2437
46,100 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
Hodgdon
Varget
.308"
2.430"
38.0
2405
39,100 PSI
41.5C
2572
46,100 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
IMR
IMR 4320
.308"
2.430"
37.0
2300
37,200 PSI
41.0C
2533
46,400 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
IMR
IMR 4064
.308"
2.430"
37.0
2328
36,100 PSI
41.0C
2574
45,700 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
Winchester
748
.308"
2.430"
39.0
2368
34,700 PSI
42.0
2560
42,100 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
Hodgdon
BL-C(2)
.308"
2.430"
40.0
2373
34,000 PSI
43.0
2544
41,200 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
IMR
IMR 4895
.308"
2.430"
37.0
2301
35,400 PSI
41.0C
2575
46,500 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
Hodgdon
H335
.308"
2.430"
37.0
2430
38,500 PSI
40.0C
2611
46,800 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
Hodgdon
H4895
.308"
2.430"
37.0
2443
40,000 PSI
40.5
2607
45,900 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
IMR
IMR 8208 XBR
.308"
2.430"
36.0
2537
42,600 PSI
39.5
2665
46,300 PSI



150 GR. HDY RN
IMR
IMR 3031
.308"
2.430"
34.0
2320
36,000 PSI
37.3C
2545
46,200 PSI



160 GR. HDY FTX
IMR
IMR 8208 XBR
.308"
2.580"
35.0
2456
42,500 PSI
37.8
2570
46,700 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
Hodgdon
Varget
.308"
2.400"
36.0
2255
40,500 PSI
39.3C
2394
46,300 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
IMR
IMR 4320
.308"
2.400"
36.0
2169
36,600 PSI
39.4
2383
45,800 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
IMR
IMR 4064
.308"
2.400"
36.0
2202
36,400 PSI
39.3C
2416
46,100 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
Winchester
748
.308"
2.400 "
37.0
2228
35,100 PSI
40.0
2432
45,400 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
Hodgdon
BL-C(2)
.308"
2.400"
37.0
2200
34,300 PSI
40.6
2420
44,800 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
IMR
IMR 4895
.308"
2.400"
35.0
2170
36,200 PSI
39.0C
2409
46,300 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
Hodgdon
H335
.308"
2.400"
34.5
2219
36,200 PSI
37.5
2409
46,300 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
Hodgdon
H4895
.308"
2.400"
35.0
2289
41,000 PSI
38.6C
2439
46,300 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
IMR
IMR 8208 XBR
.308"
2.400"
33.0
2288
38,300 PSI
37.0
2473
46,600 PSI



170 GR. HDY FP
IMR
IMR 3031
.308"
2.400"
32.0
2157
36,100 PSI
35.6C
2372
45,800 PSI




Top of Form



Bottom of Form

NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM LOADS

 

I know this is a couple of months old now - but does anybody know when they are actually going to update their site with the real 308MX data. I dropped them an email asking, but have not had a reply yet. Thanks for the other data, though.

 

These types of information can be published and translated into many languages to allow distribution of information around...

 

PFC Avery...I salute you.

WILL: 12B40