Do you like IMR 3031?

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:11 am

I'm considering getting a can of IMR 3031 for 30-30 and 35 Remington, because it is the most common powder used in the loadbook I have. There's an IMR 3031 load for almost every bullet.

Hopefully that's because it's a good powder. How do you guys like it?

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:40 am

It's a good powder, but none of "the best loads" in any of my rifles have been with 3031.

Just the way it worked out for me.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:42 am

Flexible powder - as you can see by all the loads. If you can get it at a good price, it's a good can to have in the cupboard!

Post by **Hobie** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:46 am

I like it and I used it but I use 4895 in the .35 Rem. Gives a better pressure curve for my Remington Model 8 and still gives good velocity.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:24 am

It's my powder for the 30-30, but for large capacity, straight-walled cases, it gives me really inconsistent burning, with very high extreme spreads and standard deviations. IMR 3031 works best with capacity-or near capacity loads in bottle neck cases like the 30-30.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:49 am

IMR 3031 is a very good powder. It's a very old powder, having been around a very long time.
I don't use it much however because my powder measure won't throw consistent charges with it. To get any degree of consistency I have to weigh each charge.
So I've been using Win 748 in those cartridges it works best in.

Joe

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:58 am

It's what I use for jacketed bullets in my .30-30. I don't have trouble measuring it with Lee dippers. Take a look at Junior's web page @ castbullet.com for his story on just how accurate the dippers can be.

Rusty <><

Scott64A · Post by **Scott64A** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:42 pm

It's my pet load for my Win 64A in .30-30.

I use 39.0gr to push a Hornady 170gr FP, and get groups at 100 yds at around 2 1/2".

It bears mentioning that my rifle has a 24" barrel and will behave a little differently tan an 18" barrel.

I used to use 4064, but found more consistent groups with the 3031.

Hope this helps!

Try it!

Work up a load for your particular weapon, and pay close attention to overall length. If I get mine to "just" touch the rifling, it shoots the best.
Every gun is a little different.
We'll get a rang report?

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:54 pm

Scott64A wrote:It's my pet load for my Win 64A in .30-30.

I use 39.0gr to push a Hornady 170gr FP, and get groups at 100 yds at around 2 1/2".

Scott, are you sure about the 39 grains if IMR 3031 in your 30-30? 30 grains is a near capacity load. It seems to me that 39 grains might dismantle the gun pretty fast. Did you mean 29 grains?

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:52 pm

Works really well for my 257 Roberts loads.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:30 pm

It produced the tightest groups when I had my 45-70.

Longfin · Post by **Longfin** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:56 pm

It is my long time favorite for my Marlin 30-30 and what I have loaded the 45-70 with. However, have not done alot of experimenting with the 45-70. I have a .35 rem but have never reloaded for it, but looks like 3031 would be a good powder for it also. Recently picked up an extra can to just have in the powder chest.

Scott64A · Post by **Scott64A** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:04 pm

Ha ha...

Yes, apparently I suffer from CRS: Can't Remember S&*%.

I only load 29.0gr of 3031.
Thanks. KirkD; I'm glad you caught that before someone tried it and had an accident.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:46 pm

Scott64A wrote:Ha ha...

Yes, apparently I suffer from CRS: Can't Remember S&*%.

I only load 29.0gr of 3031.
Thanks. KirkD; I'm glad you caught that before someone tried it and had an accident.

Hey, you got it too? Glad to have company.

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:49 pm

It works great in my 45-70 for the 350 gr loads.

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:50 pm

On the 35 Rem. - I like 39.0 gr of 4064 with a 200 gr bullet.

CEMENTHEAD · Post by **CEMENTHEAD** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:32 pm

Sobenk, I' ve been very pleased 37.5gr of 3031 behind 200gr Rem CorLokts, most groups @ 100 yards are less than 1.75" w/ peep sights, 5 shots. Of course before morning coffee! It's a long known standard, however a little hot. Good luck!

chadbr · Post by **chadbr** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:18 am

I use it for my 303 Savage loads with good luck.

Chad

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:17 pm

I'm new to reloading and when working up a load for my .30-30 Winchesters, I used IMR-3031. I started at 27.5 GR and settled on a load of 30 GR. I got the idea of using IMR-3031 from reading Sam Fadala's book "Winchester's .30-30 Model 94, the Rifle America Loves". A great book by-the-way.

My final round is made up with a Remington Core-Lokt 170 GR bullet, Winchester Case, WLR primer, and 30 GR of IMR 3031. At 100 yards, it's point of impact is 3/4" lower than Winchester Factory 170 GR Power Point is but is "dead-on-center" and groups between 1&1/2" to 2" as the factory ammo is/does.

I would have used Winchester Power Point 170 GR bullets but Midway USA was out of them when I placed my order. With the results I got using the Remington 170 GR Core-Lokts, I see no reason to change to Winchester Power Points when they become available especially, since I have 1,000 of the Remington bullets on hand. Yep, I shoot a bunch.

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 5:42 pm

J Miller wrote:It's ... been around a very long time.

My reference says 1934. I can't think of another rifle powder that's been in production longer than that.