IMR 3031

[snakepit]

With reloading supplies being so short I was wondering how IMR 3031 would work as a replacement for Varget. I am still sitting good on Varget but one of my friends is almost out of it so I gave him 1 LB to help him out and found some IMR 3031 available locally that he may be able to use. I have never used it and would like some information on it. He is shooting a .308 with 168gr SMK and a 26" barrel. If it is good to use what would a good load be?

 

[jonbearman]

39.0 to 42.0 with a sierra 168 grain hpbt match bullet.I would start at the bottom because there is such a small window .You will probably be around 41.0 grains and find a node.This is almost a compressed load at about 40.00 so be careful when seating and use a drop tube if you have one.

 

[Shynloco]

Snakepit,
I cannot speak for IMR 3031, but if your friend can get hold of either IMR 4895 or even RE15, they've proven to be the best replacement for Varget in my .308, 25.5 " barrel, running the 168 HPBT's being pushed by 42 gr and bullets being seat at .017 off the lands in a Hart 1:10 MG barrel and thats @ 100 yds. Obviously longer distance will require adjustment to an increase in powder. Info only.

Alex

 

[snakepit]

Snakepit,
I cannot speak for IMR 3031, but if your friend can get hold of either IMR 4895 or even RE15, they've proven to be the best replacement for Varget in my .308, 25.5 " barrel, running the 168 HPBT's being pushed by 42 gr and bullets being seat at .017 off the lands in a Hart 1:10 MG barrel and thats @ 100 yds. Obviously longer distance will require adjustment to an increase in powder. Info only.

Alex

I wish I could find some IMR 4895 or RE 15 for him but these are like most other powders around here and online "unavailable/out of stock". One local reloading store just got some powder in today, mostly pistol and shotgun and some IMR 4198 and IMR 3031 and these were in small quantities. I just thought the IMR 3031 might work for him during this drought.

 

[Chuck G]

3031 is a great powder in a .308 with the 168 Gr. I have shot smaller groups with 3031 than i have with Varget. Try it.

 

[SS427]

Never tried it in .308 but I personally had great luck with it out of a .22-250 and developed several very accurate .223 loads. Years ago when there wasn't so many powder choices our family used it extensively in everything including .243 and .30-06.

The only problem I have with IMR 3031 is how chunky it is. My powder throw almost sounds like a rock crusher when I use 3031 in it. But I have no doubt you could develop a good .308 load with it.

 

[MrMajestic]

It is my preferred powder with the lighter bullets, i.e. 130 gr. Speer HP, in the .308 Winchester. Always used 4064 for the 150's and up but have no doubts that 3031 wouldn't work, just not optimum. "Any Port in a storm".

 

[snakepit]

It is my preferred powder with the lighter bullets, i.e. 130 gr. Speer HP, in the .308 Winchester. Always used 4064 for the 150's and up but have no doubts that 3031 wouldn't work, just not optimum. "Any Port in a storm".

Boy that quote sure sums up Reloading Supplies in todays environment.

 

[Outrider27]

We've used 3031 for years for accuracy loads in several .30 caliber cartridges, including .308 Win, generally with 150gr bullets and with very satisfactory results. Both the Speer manuals and the Data section of the Hodgdon website give data for 3031 in .308 Win, though Speer manuals after about #12 don't go up to 190-200 grain bullets like they used to, but #14 does include bullet weights to 168 grains. Since it's a classic stick powder, you may do better measuring it into the scale pan a little light with a dipper and trickling it up to full charge weight rather than running it through a powder measure. My Culver measure (the father of the Harrel measure) digests it OK, but you definitely cut grains, and you can feel that in the handle - it's a bit rough.

Incidentally, 3031 with 168 grain bullets is a really great powder for .308 Win gas operated guns like the M1A.

Disclaimer: we're sorta' old school and use a lot of 3031, 4064, H380, H414 and 748. For the moment at least, there's lots of them in the cabinet, but not a can of Varget in the house, though we do have a can each of some of the Reloader series....

 

[mac86951]

It is my preferred powder with the lighter bullets, i.e. 130 gr. Speer HP, in the .308 Winchester. Always used 4064 for the 150's and up but have no doubts that 3031 wouldn't work, just not optimum. "Any Port in a storm".

Boy that quote sure sums up Reloading Supplies in todays environment.

I'll agree too. I just picked up a lb of 3031 for .223 and 30-06.

I'm running low on:
IMR 4895
Varget (out really)
AR-Comp
CFE-223
H4350 (which doesn't work well in .223 FYI)
H4198
VV N140
VV N133
H335
H322
and believe me the list continues.

Fresh supply of BLC(2) and 3031 will get used up soon...

-Mac

My favorite powders from the list: AR-Comp and Varget, but I've found great nodes in .223 and/or .30-06 with all of the above.

 

[snakepit]

Thanks for all the great information. That is one of the good things about this forum, helping each other.

The Pit. Snakepit that is.

 

[Taildrag15X]

I never used 3031 for anything other than .30-30 and .45-70/.45-90 hunting loads, I have close to 9 pounds of the stuff in the 1lb. cans, fresh from the local Dupont plant that was here in Plattsburgh, gonna work up a load this week.

Thanks for the info guys!!

 

[Laurie]

I've always thought 3031 a much underrated powder for 308W - I'm not sure why it's not more widely recommended. Maybe it's because it's not too well suited to mechanical powder measures, and maybe because it's a bit more temperature sensitive than the more modern treated 'Extreme' powders like VarGet ?? Or, maybe just because it's been around a long time and it's 'old fashioned', especially with the linkages to .30-30WCF.

I've had excellent results in 308 with the powder in 155 to 180gn - small groups, very good velocities, small spreads. It's probably ideal for 168-175gn bullets.

 

[mac86951]

Anyone check the IMR website? I'd hate to say, but I don't think IMR is wrong in that some competition teams use 3031 for 308 matches. I just metered some into .223 and found that even though it is a long grain, it is very easy to deal with and I look forward to my results as 3031 is more available locally than other powders.

-Mac

Modified: Make that long grain like Rice-a-roni... I trickle using a plastic spoon, and this is far easier than ball powders.

 

[Joe Maisto]

3031 is a great powder in a .308 with the 168 Gr. I have shot smaller groups with 3031 than i have with Varget. Try it.
[/quote

I agree. I used to use it in my 35 whelen, and also my 6ppc. Didn't matter with the .35, as it was a hunting gun.
However, you'd almost have to weigh it out on competition stuff because it is so difficult to throw. Like the man said....rock crusher ! Even in my old B&M it would chop them off. Otherwise a great and versatle powder. Back then, I switched over to Re-11. Still got 3 #, and I'm gonna burn it up in my PPC when my 8208 is gone. It's small enough to meter through my Harells.

Good luck;

Joe

 

[p-man]

Below is the relative burn rate of those powders close to Varget:

110. H4895
111. 2495 XMR
112. AR2206H
113. Reloader 12
114. I4895
115. Brig 4065
116. N135
117. Varget
118. 5000
119. AR2208
120. I4064
121. 4064 XMR
122. 2520
123. I4320
124. N203
125. N140
126. N540
127. 2700
128 Big Game
129. Reloader 15

Seems to me the next best "fit" would be IMR 4064 and IMR 4895

 

[DanTana]

I shot 3031 today for the first time with my 130 TTSX and 125 grain BTs. The Barnes loading book says accuracy load for their 130 was best with 3031. I actually got a 1.25" group with the 3031 at 200 yards. I will be testing it more.

 

[ireload2]

Decades ago Mike Walker or someone similar at Remington said they did the accuracy testing of certain 40XB rifles with 3031 and he recommended it for the accuracy testing of the 6mm Rem.

 

[Iowa Fox]

Decades ago Mike Walker or someone similar at Remington said they did the accuracy testing of certain 40XB rifles with 3031 and he recommended it for the accuracy testing of the 6mm Rem.

A few years ago I read that Walt Berger said if a 243 won't shoot with 3031 it won't shoot. I had 3031 on the cabinet shelf so I thought what the heck plus there were book loads for it. Wow! Maybe he never said it but it sure gave me bugholes. Mike & Walt were friends so maybe he did. I'll be using it for more things after that experiment.

 

[sdneil]

Dan Tana...How much for the PUP.....????