I just got back into reloading after 25years. I used IMR 3031 for rifles in the past. I don't ever see it used on the forums. Is this not a good powder for the 55gr. 223 loads?
Printable View
I just got back into reloading after 25years. I used IMR 3031 for rifles in the past. I don't ever see it used on the forums. Is this not a good powder for the 55gr. 223 loads?
In .223 Rem pistol loads (i.e. Contender XP100) for varmit ventilating. Too many new ball powders out that meter well and handle broad range of bullet weights. But when I load 50's for the contender in 223 or 45-70 its 3031 or 4198.
It's supposed to be the powder of choice for the .303Brit round...
I've got 2lbs. of IMR-3031 for my 30-30 so whenever I get some bulk 55gr. FMJ I'm going to try it. I don't load a lot for the lever gun, just working up accurate deer load, so the rest of the powder will be for the .223. The velocity is a little slower compared to newer powders but if it's accurate then it works for me. I'm loading IMR-4320 with 77gr. SMK's today to see how that works. I also use the IMR-4320 in my .300 WM.
Finding powder at all was a pain for a while so I looked at all my reloading data, found powders that worked on multiple calibers I shoot, and picked up what I could. TAC and X-Terminator are available locally on a regular basis so those are going to be my standard .223/5.56 powders now. If only I could find primers. 5k on backorder for over a month. I just happened to get the last box of CCI 400's at a local store to keep me going.
3031 is a common powder for .223. You will have no problems using it.
I've used it in my .308 and 30-06 before. Didn't really jump for joy over the results, but it was acceptable.
I've never tried it with .223 before, so I don't know how it will do there.
I have not used 3031 in .223 ammo but I have seen it listed in several load tables. I am not sure that its pressure curve is optimal for an AR. I have used 3031successfully in my 30-30 and it is the powder of choice for my .45-70 Springfield trapdoor rifle. The trapdoor loves 34 grains of 3031 pushing a 405 gr flat nose hard cast bullet...BOOM ... ... ... Splat at 100 yards with mild recoil and no trash in the barrel (except for a little charred bullet lube) .
My .223 powder of choice for firing 55gr BTHP is 24.5 gr of AA-2230.
I have used IMR 3031 in 308 and 8mm Mauser loads. My friend uses it with 62 and 75 grain bullets in 223. Very accurate powder it doesn't meter as well as ball though.
I've used it for some 55gr. loadings with good results...not great, but OK. My sweet spot for 55gr FMJBT is about 23.6gr of 3031. YMMV Careful.
For years, this was THE powder for benchrest guys, but that was a few years ago.:rolleyes:
Necro post of the century! I don't think anyone who posted is still active here. :(
Pappabear just got 8 lbs of this stuff to shoot. I forgot that much of IMR's powder is long grain wild rice. Plan to try some .308 and .223 for hell of it.
We read it’s 308 or 556 Ammo powder. Anyone have good loads or experience, please share. I popped into a local store and they had it so I bought it. I hope it provides some decent loads.
Burn rate appears to be just after H322 and just before XBR 8028.
Trickle this with chop sticks.
https://i.imgur.com/2mtiEpT.jpg
24.6 is a full case but I like 24 to 24.4 grains depending on the gun and bullet. I prefer 55 grain bullets so in .223 chambers I go 24 grains and in 5.56 chambers I go 24.4 grains. It's more of a plinking load because the 3031 doesn't develop great velocities but I have found it to be very accurate.
Low velocities is a bummer considering how difficult it is to meter. But 8 lbs of powder is good property even if it isn't the greatest formula.
I shot 5 168 gr loads Saturday to get a baseline velocity reference for this lot. 41.0 gr shot 2561 fps.
I loaded some 69gr to shoot next weekend.
Back in the 70s and 80s when Remington tested their 40-Xs they used 3031 in 22-250s and .308s. I still have the test targets and loads.
I'm sure they tested 4064, 4320, 4895, etc. before committing to 3031. I'm sure they used it for other calibers too.
Also, when they shot 300 meter International matches, the military used light loads of 3031 in .308 with the 168 gr. Matchkings.
Interesting. I've got some 168s to play with, but most of my bullets are 175s.
I think the 168s came out in 58 or 59. They were call 168 Internationals.
For my 223 reloading's no that is what I use CFE223 for. But it's absolutely awesome for my 35 Remingtons and 180 grain Speer Hotcores. Getting 1.25" out of our 336c's at 100yrd and 2350fps MV. I learned LONG ago post Klinton once you find a reloading component you love that works great buy at least 10 years worth. Thank God every day I did so with all my favorite reloading components.
Also bought 5lbs of H322 for my 35 Remingtons but IMR 3031 gave slightly better accuracy and more velocity with no pressure signs, so now I have H322 as a backup to CFE223.
If I could find 3031 in my AO I would use it. Things have been very thin lately……
We didn't get to set up the chrono, but Max published load for 69 gr is definitely weak. The bullet starts lagging a little at 500 yards. At 750 yards it's like a mil and a half under-performing. I don't expect to get full throttle velocity, but I think this lot will need a work up that is over published max to get it acceptable.
I double checked the published data online for the 69gr bullet which shows a max of 22.5 gr getting 2900ish FPS from the 24" barrel. I've worked up to a full grain over max published (23.5 gr) and I'm still in the low 2800s out of a 20" bolt gun barrel, and no pressure signs. I might try 3/10s higher.
As chance would have it, 4 LBs of this IMR 3031 came into my possession yesterday. Now I too am wondering how best to match it with 5.56 / .223 loadings and my horde of the 62 Hornady BTHP's that remain.
Any hints at what you may have tried and found to work well?
I bet the 62s are a great match for 3031. I loaded it with 69s only so far. With the lot I have (an 8lb) I am a full grain over publish max just to get the velocity acceptable. (I don't have the exacts in front of me) I think 22.5 was my published max for a 69 gr bullet. And I'm at 23.5 with modest velocity and no pressure signs.
I shelved the powder for a minute because it's long grain kernels and I'm weighing every charge. I'd love to run some 62s in front of it though.
So I went with a charge of 24 grains, wolf srm's and LC brass @ 2.245" COAL. 18" beater barrel gave 2975 ft/sec and surprisingly good accuracy. 14.5" BCM gave 2925 ft/secs. SD was in the 15 range for 10 rounds. Absolutely no pressure signs noted.
Loaded some 69's to try in a better barrel next week.
I'm thinking of jumping back into this powder to get some ammo that's not popping primers. Every damned week for the last month we've been digging primers out of ARs.
3031 is not that much slower than h322. And it is a real pain in the rear to dispense. And is not temp stable at all.
That's not a problem. I run it through a chargemaster, and don't load for high accuracy with this powder anyway.
That's interesting. I've not tried it in big weather swings. This is a blaster powder for us that leaves our preferred powder saved for better ammo.Quote:
And is not temp stable at all.
I just found yesterday a pound of this powder at a local GS. Will be using it soon.
I'd say to be prepared to go over max published in your work up. My lot required me to do so for the 69 gr load I have.
Quoting myself as a follow up.... I tried some 62 FMJs last weekend with a load .2 under max to start, and the velocity was just over 2600 fps from a 20" bolt gun. I'd forgotten my replies above about being well over max to get any velocity.
I'm revisiting less beloved powders to protect the inventory in the upcoming price hikes!
For .223 and .308 heavy for caliber bullets, it’s hard to beat Vihtavuori N140 if you can find it. It is a very close and cleaner sub for Varget.
For .223 55-62 grain, N133 is pretty good
Yeah, I’ve become a VV fanboy…it just works really well and keeps my life simple. And by the 4 & 8 lbs packages, it’s competitively priced.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Threw a hail Mary with this powder and bumped it to .2 over max AND added the psycho CCI 41 primers. Worked out pretty good.
I'm getting 2841 fps with 62 gr FMJs. A solid running blaster load and another way to burn up the damned CCI primers.
You don’t like the 41’s?
I had similar experience with recent, and only purchase of CCI 41s. What about the Winchester 41s I've been seeing around? Any scoop on them?
Very interesting. I haven’t tried them before. Perhaps I won’t bother now lol