Assistance please with IMR3031

[Voodoo77]

I need to reload for my AR 15 and AR10 with IMR3031, however I cannot find anybody in SA thats done this, hence the reason asking here. I would really appreciate assistance with reloading data with IM3031.
my rifles are both Sig AR’s.
516 Patrol, 16” barrel, 1:7 twist
716 Patrol, 16” barrel, 1:10 twist.
I’ll be using Hornady 62gr FMJ’s in once fired LC brass in the AR15. I would be happy with 2800-3000fps and accuracy at distance. Any and all assistance would be appreciated.

 

[watercam]

Go to Hodgdonreloading.com, pick your rifle caliber and bullet weight, scroll down and get your load info.

 

[AWS]

My first look would be a reloading manual. There is no magic load, each gun is an entity unto itself. Pick a starting load from a reputable manual and create a load tailored to your rifle.

I shot 3031 for years out of my 223 with 50gr bullets for targets, colony varmints and pelt hunting. It is a pain to do volume loading with 3031 although great accuracy and good velocity. I stick with a ball powder now for volume loading X-terminator, 335, 748 and save the 30031 for stuff like my 6.5x58R, 22 HP, 9.3x72R and 7x57R where there is little new data available.

 

[Voodoo77]

Go to Hodgdonreloading.com, pick your rifle caliber and bullet weight, scroll down and get your load info.

Thanks, that I have already done. I would like some feedback from reloaders using IMR 3031 to reload for their AR’s. First hand experience, results and some data. Do’s and don’t’s with this powder in a AR.
I used QL and the info from Hodgdon’s with my starting loads, but I have zero reference with IMR3031 in a AR, hence the request.

 

[Minshooter]

My first look would be a reloading manual. There is no magic load, each gun is an entity unto itself. Pick a starting load from a reputable manual and create a load tailored to your rifle.

Best advice for any caliber, in three short sentences.

 

[AWS]

3031 is a stick powder. The do's and don'ts, do put powder in each shell, don't put in too much. Data is nearly the same as for the 223 Rem assuming your loading for 223 Rem/5.56 and not some new cartridge that has reserved 3031 to antique status. In an AR there are plethora of powders that are better suited a gas operated semi-auto than the nearly 100yr old 3031. It will work, it will be accurate and give reasonable speed.. In an AR you tailor your loads to the rifle the same as any other rifle. There is nothing about an AR That makes it difficult to load for, Sierria the only difference in their 223 Rem data and 5.56 data is their overall length which gives them then a little more room in the case and they bump up the load a little. Sierria has only one load for 3031 in the 5.56 AR and just about every bullet weight in the 223 Rem data.

You work up loads for an AR just like you would a bolt action, unlike a Rem 740, M-14 or Garand you don't have to worry about port pressure as you have an adjustable gas block if you have a decent AR. You can take just about any full power 223 data and it will operate an AR.

If your loading 62gr FMJ' I have to assume your loading blasting ammo as they have literally no place in the hunting arena and typically not accurate enough for target work. Bulk Blasting ammo would be cheaper than reloading in todays world.

I load for the 20P in both AR and bolt actions data is pretty much interchangeable, same with the 223 in the AR. The only big Hoo-Doo between the AR and a bolt is brass fit in the chamber, I can get away with a very snug fit in a Bolt and my AR needs to be a little looser.

 

[Voodoo77]

3031 is a stick powder. The do's and don'ts, do put powder in each shell, don't put in too much. Data is nearly the same as for the 223 Rem assuming your loading for 223 Rem/5.56 and not some new cartridge that has reserved 3031 to antique status. In an AR there are plethora of powders that are better suited a gas operated semi-auto than the nearly 100yr old 3031. It will work, it will be accurate and give reasonable speed.. In an AR you tailor your loads to the rifle the same as any other rifle. There is nothing about an AR That makes it difficult to load for, Sierria the only difference in their 223 Rem data and 5.56 data is their overall length which gives them then a little more room in the case and they bump up the load a little. Sierria has only one load for 3031 in the 5.56 AR and just about every bullet weight in the 223 Rem data.

You work up loads for an AR just like you would a bolt action, unlike a Rem 740, M-14 or Garand you don't have to worry about port pressure as you have an adjustable gas block if you have a decent AR. You can take just about any full power 223 data and it will operate an AR.

If your loading 62gr FMJ' I have to assume your loading blasting ammo as they have literally no place in the hunting arena and typically not accurate enough for target work. Bulk Blasting ammo would be cheaper than reloading in todays world.

I load for the 20P in both AR and bolt actions data is pretty much interchangeable, same with the 223 in the AR. The only big Hoo-Doo between the AR and a bolt is brass fit in the chamber, I can get away with a very snug fit in a Bolt and my AR needs to be a little looser.
The reason for the request was due to the fact that I am unable to buy bulk powder. I am allowed by law, only 5.3lbs of powder.

I appreciate the reply, and the information regarding reloading.....however.
I requested information on reloading with IMR3031 for my AR’s. The reason for the request might sound stupid to you as it is a “antique” powder in your opinion.
I am fortunate to own a few weapons. Pistols, shotguns, bolt rifles and semi auto rifles.
I reload for pistol, rifle and now for slr’s as the cost of ammunition for these rifles are 90c-$1 per 223 Winchester whitebox/LC brass round.
We do not get much milsurp 7.62x51, if ever. The cost you can only imagine if a .223 costs a dollar a round.
Reloading ensures I have ammunition for competitions and some plinking. My 77gr ammunition I keep for special occasions, being that I live on a farm and under constant threat of attack at any time. Being a law abiding citizen, I am only allowed 5.3 lbs of powder. This is in total!
My licenses allows me any amount of loaded ammunition, cartridges or rounds, but only 5.3 lbs of powder. Furthermore due to the fact that all our powders are imported, the price for a 1lbs or 500grams of powder is anything between $50-$80, depending on the make and shop/supplier.
I am not even going to start on the availability of powder and not even the selection we have available. It is minimal.
Unfortunately our laws do not allow me to order ammunition, powder or primers on the internet. I am also unable to courier it, and if I do get someone to courier it for me it increases the cost three times.
A trip to a large city and a decent gun shop cost me about $150. Then if I am lucky to get the powder such as CFE233 for my AR15, I am only allowed 1 a day from most shops. But even if I get lucky and I am allowed 3 or four bottles, I need a few more and different types for the rest of my rifles,AR’s and pistols.
Reloading is my relaxation, it doesn’t matter if I am reloading with my 1050, 750, 650 or good old Hornady classic single stage. I enjoy reading my manuals as a source of information and its usually the first place I start. Then I would play around with QL and GRT to see what they suggest.
I then start with test loads, using labradar to get my SD’s and ES’s.
But I also ask the more knowledgeable people for information. The reason being that I know I don’t know everything....there is always somebody out there that’s more knowledgeable than most, especially me. They usually do that with no hesitation and or sarcasm. But hey, what is the harm in asking.

 

[AWS]

I told you everything you need to know about reloading 3031 in an AR, there are no tricks or secret data to do it. Start with 223 data for your 5.56 AR and work up a load for your rifle. 3031 is not an ideal powder to load for an AR, you can make it work that's why there is little data. Nobody out there is loading 3031 because it is great for an AR, it is a last resort powder when you can't get anything better.

3031 is a great powder, I have about 6-8 #s of it on my shelves, but not for loading anything that I'd load more than 20 rounds for. 3031 has data for many medium sized cartridges especially in long forgotten rounds from turn of the century to modern times. When I had my gunshop I tested all rifles I took in trade I could almost always find data for 3031 in any cartridge that came across the counter.

Again your AR-10 cartridge is unknow you haven't said what you are loading for but again start with standard loads and customize/work up the load for your rifle.

The only trick to load for an AR 10 or 15 is to make sure the brass feeds and extracts reliably. You don't need data specifically for an AR.

If I was limited to 5#s of powder I would be looking at 2230, 748, 335 or Benchmark for loading the 223 and 308 all flow through a measure like water and easy to get good loads. Stick powders like 3031, 4064, and 4320 are easier to load in larger cases like the 308.

 

[markm87]

I'm playing with 3031 right now because it was on the shelf. Not the best pick for velocity, but it works and it's accurate enough.

I worked up to 23.5 gr for 69gr RMR OTMs, and I'm getting mid 2800s out of a 20" bolt gun. But yesterday, in the heat, I was getting swipes on some of the case heads.

 

[Beiruty]

Here is the max load for IMR3031 and 62gr FMJ

 

[Voodoo77]

Here is the max load for IMR3031 and 62gr FMJ

View attachment 1367657

Thank you. Really appreciate it.

 

[Doom]

Just something to be aware of. You may run into a functioning issue with 3031 in the AR platforms. It may be a little fast and fail to generate enough pressure at the gas port for proper functioning. You will probably want to be near maximum loads for best results.

 

[beemanjohn]

As I read it, he said he is from SA. That would be South Africa, so he has to make do with what he has, and can get. Good luck sir!

 

[GaryL1959]

Stoner developed the original AR-15 and 5.56 ammo with IMR-4475 powder, an extruded powder. This was the powder that excelled in the military tests.
When IMR-4475 was sold as surplus, it was listed as "very similar to IMR-3031" and used IMR-3031 load data.