.308 Win. Load Data & Reloading Guide

The average cost to reload one round of .308 Winchester typically ranges between €0.60 and €1.10 per round, depending on component choice and market conditions. The largest cost factor is usually the bullet, followed by primer and powder. One advantage of .308 Win is its extreme popularity and widespread availability, which means there is a broad selection of bullets, powders, primers, and brass from many manufacturers. This strong competition keeps component prices relatively competitive compared to more specialized calibers. When using once-fired brass and buying components in bulk, reloaders can significantly reduce cost per round while tailoring loads precisely to their rifle.

The most common bullet weights for .308 Winchester range from 110 to 180 grains, with 150 gr, 165 gr, and 168 gr being the most popular choices. For hunting medium game, 150–165 grains are widely used due to their balanced velocity and energy. Precision shooters often favor 168 gr or 175 gr bullets because of their consistent performance and favorable ballistic coefficients. Heavier bullets up to 180 grains are also suitable for larger game or specific barrel twist rates. The cartridge's versatility allows reloaders to adapt bullet weight selection to purpose, barrel length, and twist rate.

The .308 Winchester performs best with medium burn-rate rifle powders, particularly when paired with bullets in the 150–175 grain range, which represents the cartridge’s most versatile and widely used window. Classic powders such as Varget, IMR 4064, Reloder 15, H4895, and Vihtavuori N140 have long been considered benchmark choices due to their excellent balance of velocity, pressure stability, and accuracy. These combinations are especially effective in typical 20–24″ barrels and are commonly used for hunting, target shooting, and match applications.

For lighter bullets (110–130 gr), slightly faster powders like H4895 or IMR 8208 XBR provide efficient case fill and consistent ignition. Heavier bullets (175–200+ gr), often used for long-range applications, may benefit from slightly slower powders such as Reloder 17 or Vihtavuori N150 to maintain stable pressure curves and good velocity. Overall, the .308 Winchester is known for its flexibility, but medium burn-rate powders remain the most reliable and broadly suitable choice across most bullet weights.

.308 Winchester and 7.62×51 NATO are very similar but not technically identical. While they share nearly the same external dimensions, there can be differences in chamber specifications, case wall thickness, and pressure standards. In general, most modern rifles chambered in .308 Win can safely fire 7.62×51 NATO, but the reverse should be confirmed by the rifle manufacturer. Reloaders should always use the correct load data for the specific cartridge designation and be aware that military brass may have slightly reduced internal case capacity.

We offer over 150,000 pre-calculated loads for the .308 Winchester, including a wide selection of subsonic and community-submitted loads. In addition, you can use our ballistics calculators to develop a load from an almost unlimited number of bullet, powder, and caliber combinations, perfectly tailored to your rifle and specific requirements.

The maximum pressure for .308 Win. is 60,191 psi | 4,150 bar.

.308 Win. typically uses a Large Rifle (LR) primer.

The case capacity of .308 Win. is approximately 56 grains of water (H₂O).