IMR 3031, the forgotten old lady of powders.

Get with the times, Varget is where it's at.

Just kidding, I like the old powders too. I love Accurate 2520 for the same sort of speed and excellent metering, 5 kernels to .02 grains
 
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I think it may be a little bit like having to use the latest whiz-bang caliber. Don't want to be seen or thought of as being old fashioned. I could care less. I still use lots of old time powders - Unique, 700X, 4064, 3031, etc.. No doubt, in some instances, a different, newer powder might work better, as do some of the newer calibers. Each to his/her own!

Happy New Year!
 
colt1851 said:
Works great in the 45-70.
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When I shot my 458x2inch American more often, my two best handloads were with 3031. With 350-405s, the right amount of velocity, right amount of accuracy and the right amount of report. I tell you what, call me crazy, but there was something almost cannon-like the throaty boom from that powder in that bore.
I never really got into the number 4 powders (4227, 4198) in my hot loaded 458x2 (45-70 in a Mauser)
Far too much recoil for too little extra velocity. Poor trade off IMO only.
Cheers

Edit: Matter of fact at local club, informal match I won a hunter class match, with this rifle only 100 yards, from three positions. I had a Williams peep sight on it then. Best feeling was beating out snotty little ex-armorer and his pristeen pet #4! Lol
 
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I have burned a lot of IMR 3031 over the years. One place that I found it shines,
is with reduced loads in my 308 Norma Mag [or 300 Win Mag or 300 H&H]
180 grain bullet and 50 grains of 3031 will get you 308 velocities, and, usually
stellar accuracy. Standard primers are all you need. Dave.
 
Why not? said:
Family friends were here for supper last night, and the dad was lamenting the fact that he had run out of IMR 4895, and needed to go to town and get some more. He uses it in his 308 Winchester. I told him I had some 3031 that I would give him to use.

He told me he has a pound of it, but has never used it. That got me to thinking about this grand old number that has been around for way more than half a century, and is still as useful as ever. Not only in his 308, but it will work equally well in his 303 Br, 8X57 and 9.3X62. While it doesn't pour easily through the small necks, it can also be used in his 222 Rem. In my old SAKO it is the most accurate powder using 55 gr bullets.

I have used it in all the above cartridges, and also the 243, 7X57, 30-30, 30-06, 358 Winchester, 375 H&H, and 45-70 with very satisfactory results. Velocities that at are least close to factory can be reached, and almost always with very good to excellent accuracy. You may have used it in other cartridges, too.

While this is true of many powders, we don't often hear about 3031 being used in loading. Perhaps it is because it doesn't meter quite as well as smaller grained and ball powders. Often find it sitting on store shelves at old, old, prices, but it still works like a youngster. You may want to try some.

Ted
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leveractionjunkie said:
Love IMR3031. Have 8lbs + on hand
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...d%mnit...now I got to try it....cause of this thread. (303 br) I shouldn't have tapped this thread. :mad::redface:


Regards
Ronr
 
I've used 3031 in all sorts of things, even worked up .243 and .270 loads with it when other powders were in short supply. I've found it very useful in large straight wall rifle cartridges like the .45/70 and .458.
 
I started reloading during the great powder shortage of 2008 and 3031 was what was available. I was also nervous about mixing powders by accident so I resolved to only ever use 1 pistol and 1 rifle powder. So far I'm able to use 3031 for every rifle caliber I reload: .223, 7.62x39, .308 and 30-30. Tried with 7.62x54, 7.5x55 and 7.92x57 - should be able to develop a good load when I need to.
 
Shooter1971 said:
I use it in my smokeless .375 muzzleloader with jacketed bullets. Very accurate out to 400 yards
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Did you buy the one that's custom made out of Kentucky or Tennessee? Based on highly modified Remington 700? I only ask because I have seen only one from a gentleman in Bonnyville. His in .458 caliber. If it is they are quite the setup.

Cheers
 
madashell said:
Funny you started this thread OP and I just stumbled on it .... was speaking with my Father no less than 5 min. ago about wanting to try 3031 in my short barrel .308's.

Thinking of something in 165 grain. Maybe an SST or Accubond.
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I was recently modelling a 14" barrel 308 in Quickload trying to keep muzzle pressure around 13k psi. IMR 3031 seems to be the ticket for 150 to 165gr bullets. IMR 4198 for 110 to 125gr bullets. It still makes around 2200 ft lbs. 43gr of 3031 (max load) should push a 165 SST or Interbond to 2500 fps with pretty much 100% propellant burn.
 
I would have to consult my recorded hand loads but I am fairly certain I also use 3031 in an NRA recommended formula for 150 grain bullets in the M1 rifle. Superb results 300-600 meters. And one experiment at 800 meters with a thinner front blade.
 
I used to use it as a light but incredibly accurate load in the 22/250. I'd come across a magazine article that mentioned that 29.5 grains of 3031 and an un-specified 52 grain match bullet was the test load in the Remington Custom shop. Had to try it; and have never been disappointed. Thats lower than the starting load in most manuals.

As a totally random thing; I've had exactly 2 cans of powder go bad on me and they were both 3031.
 
Brutus said:
Did you buy the one that's custom made out of Kentucky or Tennessee? Based on highly modified Remington 700? I only ask because I have seen only one from a gentleman in Bonnyville. His in .458 caliber. If it is they are quite the setup.

Cheers
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I have 2...a .375 and a .452, built both myself, one on a 700, the other on a Savage. Both use Arrowhead Precision LRMP Module Breachplugs. One has a swinglock die made from a piece of the barrel stub that both sizes and engraves rifling, the other just a smooth sizer.
 
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