IMR 3031 Load with new bullet

[andrew716]

I have worked up an IMR 3031 (40.5 gr) load for my bolt action 308 with a 168 gr Sierra match king, HPBT bullet, with good results. I have switched from this powder to Varget and the Hornady ELDM in 168gr. I have some of the IMR 3031 left but not enough to buy another pack of the Sierra bullets. My thought to use the rest of the powder is to load a few rounds with the new bullet working up to the 40.5 gr and see how it shoots. The 40.5 gr is below the maximum load for the 168 gr bullet, so I am confident that there should not be any pressure issues. If it has good results, I would load the rest of the powder with the Hornady ELDM instead of the SMK. I am aware of the difference in the bullets' shape even though they have the same grain weight. I would appreciate people's ideas regarding this experiment. Thanks for the help.

 

[Mr Tibbs]

IMR-3031 was the original powder used By the military teams in 308 Winchester with the 168 gr Sierra International, Before the name was changed to Matchkings . It was loaded in LC brass

Old School .308 Winchester Match Loads — Proven Reloads and Handloads

This first article covers a topic that I field a lot of questions about. When I say "a lot," I'm not kidding you at all (average runs 15 to 20 request for help/information per week). Regardless of how many other great match cartridges are out there (and there are quite a few), the venerabl

www.provenreloads-handloads.com

 

[Deleted member 113831]

IMR-3031 was the original powder used By the military teams in 308 Winchester with the 168 gr Sierra International, Before the name was changed to Matchkings . It was loaded in LC brass

Old School .308 Winchester Match Loads — Proven Reloads and Handloads

This first article covers a topic that I field a lot of questions about. When I say "a lot," I'm not kidding you at all (average runs 15 to 20 request for help/information per week). Regardless of how many other great match cartridges are out there (and there are quite a few), the venerabl

www.provenreloads-handloads.com

Yep, 39.5gr of 3031 was an extremely common gas gun load w/168's. In a bolt gun you may find a good load around 41.5 gr.

It was one my go to powders when I started because it was the standard powder for my 30-30 as well.

 

[andrew716]

IMR-3031 was the original powder used By the military teams in 308 Winchester with the 168 gr Sierra International, Before the name was changed to Matchkings . It was loaded in LC brass

Old School .308 Winchester Match Loads — Proven Reloads and Handloads

This first article covers a topic that I field a lot of questions about. When I say "a lot," I'm not kidding you at all (average runs 15 to 20 request for help/information per week). Regardless of how many other great match cartridges are out there (and there are quite a few), the venerabl

www.provenreloads-handloads.com

Thank you for your response and for the article. I'll work up to my usual 40.5 gr, see how it shoots and tweak from there with the new bullet.

 

[andrew716]

Yep, 39.5gr of 3031 was an extremely common gas gun load w/168's. In a bolt gun you may find a good load around 41.5 gr.

It was one my go to powders when I started because it was the standard powder for my 30-30 as well.

I have found the IMR 3031 to be accurate and consistent. I was able to obtain a better overall spread with Varget, so I will move forward using it once the IMR 3031 is gone.

 

[Mr Tibbs]

Your very welcome, hope it works for you

 

[Mr Tibbs]

Yep, 39.5gr of 3031 was an extremely common gas gun load w/168's. In a bolt gun you may find a good load around 41.5 gr.

It was one my go to powders when I started because it was the standard powder for my 30-30 as well.

If memory serves me, the 41.5 gr load was in commercial brass, not LC

 

[NH4X]

Interesting discussion, was at LGS yesterday and they had a lot of this powder.......ya'll gonna make me drive back over there and pick up 4/5 lbs .. . ...iffin ya dont just stop talkin now

 

[Deleted member 113831]

If memory serves me, the 41.5 gr load was in commercial brass, not LC

That would be about right for Winchester brass.

 

[Deleted member 113831]

Interesting discussion, was at LGS yesterday and they had a lot of this powder.......ya'll gonna make me drive back over there and pick up 4/5 lbs .. . ...iffin ya dont just stop talkin now

Lots of old powders still work, add IMR 4320, IMR 4895, W748 & BL-C(2) to that list.

 

[NH4X]

Lots of old powders still work, add IMR 4320, IMR 4895, W748 & BL-C(2) to that list.

Q
Yep my "inventory" consists of a few of the ole school powders.......just didnt know this worked well in a 308 with 168/175 gr bullets.........this has me wanting to try some ,just to see. Any suggestions for ar10 with horn. or nosler brass ( thinks to self.....self when you gonna get off your ass and put an adjustable gas block on that upper)

 

[Deleted member 113831]

Q
Yep my "inventory" consists of a few of the ole school powders.......just didnt know this worked well in a 308 with 168/175 gr bullets.........this has me wanting to try some ,just to see. Any suggestions for ar10 with horn. or nosler brass ( thinks to self.....self when you gonna get off your ass and put an adjustable gas block on that upper)

The 39.5 grain load w/168's worked well (so I've read) with M1 Garands that had been converted to 308 for service rifle as well as the M14's. The operating systems in these guns can't handle as much pressure as the Stoner system can.

I would work up from 37 w/175's and from 39 w/168's. You will pressure out before you get to Varget or even 4895 speeds, but it will get to 600 yards quick enough.

 

[Mr Tibbs]

I have found the IMR 3031 to be accurate and consistent. I was able to obtain a better overall spread with Varget, so I will move forward using it once the IMR 3031 is gone.

Since you didn’t say which type of platform your using, I would not recommend using Varget in a Gas Gun

 

[FLIGHT762]

I had a few of the old tin canned 3031 1#cans that needed to be used up. I found a load of 43.0 gr. with a 155 Nosler CC in the 308 bolt gun. It was a very accurate to 1000 yard load. The only issue was hitting 95º + temps it was enlarging primer pockets. It was fine under 85º. I used it all up and went to AR Comp as a replacement. Same 43.o gr. load with the 155's, excellent accuracy, no temperature issues.

It was a good powder at the time and the price was right on them. No reason to go back to 3031 since there are so many new less temperature sensitive powders out there that don't cost any more than 3031.

 

[Baddog 0302]

Flight 762, Bolt or AR with the 155's ?

 

[Baddog 0302]

Since you didn’t say which type of platform your using, I would not recommend using Varget in a Gas Gun

Varget in AR's and to bad the data from the old site was lost as there was a section where 308 AR loads were listed, over 85 % listed used Varget with mostly 175 / 178.

 

[FLIGHT762]

Flight 762, Bolt or AR with the 155's ?

Answer is in my second sentence. Bolt gun. 43 grains W / a 155 is a max load.

 

[NH4X]

It was a good powder at the time and the price was right on them. No reason to go back to 3031 since there are so many new less temperature sensitive powders out there that don't cost any more than 3031.

Yep agree, there are "better" powders made........BUT at this point in time the better powders are'nt very available and LGS shelf was full of discussed powder.......im thinking buy whatcha can and make do

Thanx for load suggestions everyone

 

[andrew716]

Since you didn’t say which type of platform your using, I would not recommend using Varget in a Gas Gun

Sorry for the confusion. The rifle I am using is a bolt action Howa 1500, with a 24" bull barrel. I also have a Remington 700 LTR, where the original load came from, but both rifles handle the IMR 3031 and the Varget well.