Hi everyone,

I've been poking through a few manuals comparing loads with imr 3031 and h4895, and the two powders seem to have very similar characteristics on a per weight basis. Nevertheless, when I look at the Hodgdon burn rate chart, it seems to indicate that 3031 burns substantially faster than 4895. What gives?

My reloading experience up to the present has revolved around bottlenecked rifle cases (too fast) and straight walled pistol cases (too slow), so I've never used either powder ...

edit: I typed 4831 for some reason in the first part of the posting.

IMR 3031 is faster than IMR 4895. Ive used both in 9.3x57. 4895 for 285 gr bullets also 232's , and 3031 for lighter 232 gr bullets.

I had thought 3031 would have less volume than 4895. Nope, lesser weight charge of 3031 is the same or more volume than 4895

For some reason I've gotten away with using IMR-3031 in places where slower powders should have worked......I think however it's bst relegated to functions requiring faster powders.

I no longer use it at all as I use ball powders for faster burns.

I like 3031 a lot. and use a fair amount of it...

It will not pressure spike badly, and is actually quite forgiving on handloading screw ups compared to other powders...

it works quite well in a variety of cases... and has proven to be accurate over a wide range of charge weights...

IMR 4895 is also a good powder... I am always getting low when I am down to like 5 lbs or so of it..

Hodgdon 4895 sucks in my book.. too inconsistent in my book... both the IMR powders mentioned above are a lot more consistent and accurate....

3031 is my number one powder for the 7 mm Mauser, especially when the rifle has a finicky barrel...from 120 to 175 grain bullets, my standard charge is 40 grains of 3031.....

Thanks for the tips everyone. I appreciate the help.

I like IMR 3031 and have used a lot of it.

I used to buy it in 20lb kegs.

I have used it in 223, 30-30, 308, reduced loads in 30-06, 300 Win Mag and 375 H&H, 350Rem Mag, 45/70, and in my 450 No2.

It has always given very good accuracy.

3031 is a good powder, but it is seriously faster than IMR-4895. I rarely use the H4895 for the same reasons as already mentioned, plus the US Army used IMR-4895 as standard for the .30-06 for many many many years, which is/was enough for me.

LLS