What do you like/use IMR 3031 for?

06 June 2004, 15:55

I was given a pound of IMR 3031....In looking at my reloading manual and nothing really jumped out at me...what do you guys like it for?

06 June 2004, 15:59

510wells

Quote:

I was given a pound of IMR 3031....In looking at my reloading manual and nothing really jumped out at me...what do you guys like it for?

45/70

06 June 2004, 16:15

rogerinneb

45/70?

HILARIOUS! I have 3 pounds of H4198 that the only thing I can use it for in my battery is 45/70..which I RARELY shoot! Sure wish I could swap it for some VARGET!

06 June 2004, 16:36

ricciardelli

Damn, you better get some new manuals!

I have found that IMR-3031 is the powder of choice in 110 different loadings and is "useful" in another 703 loadings!

06 June 2004, 16:44

Ol` Joe

I like it in the 32spcl and for mild 308 loads with 150 gr bullets.

06 June 2004, 17:25

waxman

IMR-3031 is my powder of choice for my 45-70.

06 June 2004, 17:29

Kingfisher

405 Winchester for me. The only thing I don't like about it is that it's the worst metering powder I've ever used.

06 June 2004, 17:51

<quigleysharps4570>

I have a smokeless load that is IMR 3031 for my 45-70.

06 June 2004, 18:55

Ricochet

Great stuff in .45-70! An old standard for .30-30 and the like.

A very useful powder in .223 and .30-06, as well. (And many comparable cartridges.)

06 June 2004, 20:14

B17G

The most accurate powder I have tested in a 7 x 57. Is very good in any case that is 57mms long. Also good in the 6.5 x 55, 243, 260 Rem., 30/06, 22/250, 223 , 338/06, lighter loads in 300 and 338 Mag, 30/30, 444, 8 x 57.

Powder companies push the slower powders more nowadays.
You have to use more and are more user friendly when people love to fill the case to the brim to wring out every last fps out of each load.

30 to 40 years ago, the trend was more along the lines of economy and efficiency. 3031 shined at things like this. It is a very efficient powder. Hardly any load manuals promote it any more. I only discovered its use by accident.

It won't always max out velocities but it sure holds its own and it is very accurate in any thing I try it in. 3031 and 4198 are two powders that are not TRENDY, but they are very efficient and accurate. They are not always the faster velocity.

With all the rifles I own If I had my choice of stocking piling one powder and the choices were 3031, 4350 or 4831, I'd take the 3031 any day!

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

06 June 2004, 21:42

sputster

I used 3031 in my 308 Win, uner 125gr or 130gr bullets, with pretty good results.

06 June 2004, 22:57

Doc1972

Quote:

I used 3031 in my 308 Win, uner 125gr or 130gr bullets, with pretty good results.

I use AR2206 (3031) also for .308 with 130grain projectiles and is very accurate.

07 June 2004, 03:12

ASS_CLOWN

Straight-walled center fire rifle cases of greater than 2" length, but less than 3".

Specifically:
45-70
45-90
458 Win mag
405 Winchester
etc
etc
etc

It is the single base equivalent to Cordite. Works better though. Pressure rise is slower than Rel 7, which is my second favorite power for

Quote:

Straight-walled center fire rifle cases of greater than 2" length, but less than 3"

ASS_CLOWN

07 June 2004, 06:00

courtney plater

Lots of things. My Remington 7 .308 loves it with 150 grain bullets, less flash in the shorter barrel and deadly accurate. Accurate in my .223 and 6.5 tcu. Good for .30-30 too. It works well for many cartridges. What you got? I'm sure there is a good load for something you have.

07 June 2004, 17:47

todbartell

when I had some, I used it in the 30-30 and a little in my 416 rem mag. Looks to be a good choice in the 223, 22-250, 30-30, and 45/70.

07 June 2004, 18:02

rogerinneb

Wow that sure stimulated some action! Thanks guys. Maybe I'll try it in my 260 with some lighter bullets. Maybe in the ol' 22-250, but I really don't like stick powders for my varmint calibers...(whine whine whine).

Thanks for all your replies.

07 June 2004, 20:17

Oddball

I have used it in both .303 brit and 6.5x55.

08 June 2004, 03:28

VFR

.458 WinMag and 9.3x57.

08 June 2004, 09:18

Whelen Nut

I've used it for 35 years in my .243 with 75gr Hornady HP's.

08 June 2004, 10:42

Arts

Works better than all others I've tried in .25-35.

09 June 2004, 00:13

ned

my surplus 8mm mauser loves it under a 150 grn hornady.

09 June 2004, 01:20

<eldeguello>

I use it in .45/70, .223, and in the .375 H&H when I run out of IMR 4064 ....

09 June 2004, 13:12

Coach Hunt

Howdy,

3031 is THE powder for 75 grain bullets in my .257 Roberts. It is also the best over-all powder for .25-35 that I have tried yet. I sure wish it had TWO IMPROVEMENTS.

First, it does not meter well at all. I believe the appropriate term here is 'atrocious.'

Second, it is very temperature sensitive in my .257. I have been researching a replacement powder from either the Hodgdon Extreme line or another company. I just want to use the same load at 100 degrees for prairie dogs that I do at zero for coyotes. I can't do that with 3031.

Coach

09 June 2004, 21:17

B17G

Hodgdon's equivalent for IMR 3031's burn rate is Benchmark. It is in their extreme line. It is very accurate in what I have tried it in.

I still prefer 3031 over it tho.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

09 June 2004, 21:57

Eagleye

I use IMR 3031 in the 222, the 223, the 30-30, the 45-70 and as a "plinker" load in the Magnum 30's. 50 grains of 3031 behind the 180 grain bullet in a 308 Norma, a 300 Winnie, or a 30-338 makes a mild load that is really accurate in most rifles. Won't beat you up either. Gives about 308 Win velocities. Regards, Eagleye.

10 June 2004, 00:45

DigitalDan

I've found IMR 3031 to be an excellent fertilizer for my bonsai hobby. Other than that I think there are better powders out there for most any application. It's a bit like Varget in my experience, does the job but not the best job.

10 June 2004, 05:24

RiflemanZ

I use 52gr imr-3031 rem 405 bullet 45-70 guide gun.This is a very accurate load in my gun.

10 June 2004, 15:13

mike_elmer

IMR 3031 in my 25-06 with the 75 gr. V-Max is a very good combination for velocity and accuracy in my gun. I must admit that I am probably over stabilizing the bullet because the groups are relatively and consistantly better at 300 yds than 100 yds. Kind of odd, but it works. The old g-hogs don't know what hit them!!!