[hunterbob]

At one time IMR 3031 was one of the “go-to” powders for the 30-30. In our 20” barrel Marlin 336 36.0 grains of IMR 3031 will deliver 2,480 fps for the 130-grain Speer bullet with good accuracy. This is within 150-fps of top velocity and it is a pretty good load.

31.0 grains of IMR 3031 will push the bulk 150-grain JRN Remington bullets to 2,170 fps and this is a very good load in our Winchester.

Quite a bit of the older data for IMR 3031 has been reduced by several grains due to new pressure testing methods. I wont go into how high the listed loads used to be with the 170-grain bullets but for many years 30.0 grains of IMR 3031 was the “go-to” load for any 170-grain bullet. This is still a pretty good load but it is over current listed maximum in most modern load manuals.
30.0 grains of IMR 3031 will top 2,000 fps in most 20” barrel 30-30’s with accuracy as good as it gets - 1 ½” to just under 2” in most rifles with a scope. Depending on the sights and the light, iron sight groups could actualy beat these groups from certain rifles.

I don’t shoot the big Russian round but IMR 3031 works very well in the 308 Winchester. IMR 3031 is eclipsed by many newer powders for velocity and accuracy but it is still quite satisfactory for most target and hunting situations.

[EDIT] There are several threads on IMR 3031 in the 30-30 rifles and a good search engine.

ep I bought a pound of 3031, the most worthless powder you can buy, but at the time powder shelves was empty ....

 

[JBelk]

Actually, the most worthless powder is one that doesn't work.
3031 is one of the finest all-round medium capacity case powder in the world. It can be used in any caliber that can use Cordite. THAT is a BIG list!! It is the 'standard' for double rifles and near magic in 250 Savage and all the old Remington small head calibers.

 

[William A. Reed]

222 Magnum

IMR 3031 works great in my 222 Magnum. Twenty-five grains 3031 with 55 gr. Hornady FB bullet. Load is very accurate.

 

[unclenick]

To Jack's point, you used to see a number of .30-06 loads done with it. John Clarke's list of loads for the Garand from the 1980's includes some. In general, it won't just be medium capacity, but most cases with a neck that isn't a lot narrower than the case body will have some loads with it for which the fill isn't too bad. For example, it's even better in .35 Whelen than in .30-06, and you can even roll some .460 Weatherby loads with it that are not maximum, but that will hit your shoulder harder than the .458 Win Mag (another place you can use it).

 

[JBelk]

IMR 3031 and the .458 American are like syrup and biscuits.

 

[bfrshooter]

I have only one gun where 3031 does not work, my 10" 45-70 BFR and neither does Varget. The barrel is too short to burn them, bench and case will have unburned powder.
The gun is fussy as all get out, I found only 4759 works. I tried 4198 and had pressure excursions that scared me, 1600 fps to 1800+ with a few stuck cases. Class two loads.
3031 is supreme in the 45-70 rifle. A go to with the .222 I had.
What was funny in the revolver was it shot very accurate but slow even with powder left. Some will have you believe all powder is consumed in an inch or so, entirely not true. There is always powder left after peak that continues to burn and maintain gas longer. Even very fast powders can have some exit the muzzle if the barrel is too short. A funny is someone said the muzzle flame is the gas dropping to subsonic, in reality it is powder burning that was not consumed in the short barrel.
Muzzle flash is not good for the military so powders were made to reduce it so coatings prevent after burn. Another way was to make barrels very long.

 

[Submoa]

I just bought some 3031 little while back. He had a bunch of mostly old IMR powders he was selling cheap, 4064,
4350, 4198, 4895, 4227, 2400, and 3031 of course. Long story made longer, I knew all those powders could be loaded to produce very acceptable resultsa. Add to that @ $8 lb. and they came in the old metal cans.
I had no problem putting the 3031, 4895, and 4064 to good use in .223.
SMOA

 

[bfrshooter]

I just bought some 3031 little while back. He had a bunch of mostly old IMR powders he was selling cheap, 4064,
4350, 4198, 4895, 4227, 2400, and 3031 of course. Long story made longer, I knew all those powders could be loaded to produce very acceptable resultsa. Add to that @ $8 lb. and they came in the old metal cans.
I had no problem putting the 3031, 4895, and 4064 to good use in .223.
SMOA

For sure! Hard to beat the old stuff. Most new powders might be better for heat and cold or flash. Do any shoot better? Yes, they can but I can't afford all of them but I have found Varget such a great powder for almost anything I will never be without it. I use it from the 7BR, 7R to my 6.5 Swede. Yes the stuff is great in a 10" 7BR with 120 gr bullets but not good in the big 45-70 revolver. No neck to hold it back.
the 4227's were my go to with the .357 max but NOT in the .44 as gun heat was no good with it. Why it works in the .357 max so good can't be explained. Powders can be caliber specific.

 

[quilbilly]

My 204 Ruger loves this powder at slightly below max velocities (around 3600). This is in addition to my 30/30, 250, 338 wm (cast bullet velocities), etc, etc.

 

[missouri hunter]

IMR 3031 works well in both my 35 whelen and 405 win. I use 250gr Sierras in the whelen and it shoots great.

MH

 

[riley]

It also works well in .35 Whelen and 9.3X62 with mid weight to heavy for caliber bullets.

 

[Don Fischer]

In my old 308's, IMR 3031 was my go to powder. There were several other's powder's that worked well but none as consistently as 3031.

 

[heycods]

BLC and 3031 are my go to`s for my223 sub moa with both powders, I have always used it in my 30/30s Had a 308 in the past that loved it with 150 gr

 

[nvshooter]

IMR-3031 works great in my 222 Magnum. Twenty-five grains 3031 with 55 gr. Hornady FB bullet. Load is very accurate.

Should be a good powder for .223Rem then, correct? Very similar cartridges, so I'm taking a guess...

 

[nvshooter]

IMR-3031 works well in ... my 35 Whelen. I use 250-gr Sierras in the Whelen and it shoots great.

What's your opinion as to how well IMR-3031 would work in a ".35 Whelen Magnum," which is my .358 Sierra Stomper? The Stomper has about 16-18% more case volume than does the Whelen. Would so much more powder generate too much pressure too fast to keep everything on the safe side?

 

[broom_jm]

What's your opinion as to how well IMR-3031 would work in a ".35 Whelen Magnum," which is my .358 Sierra Stomper? The Stomper has about 16-18% more case volume than does the Whelen. Would so much more powder generate too much pressure too fast to keep everything on the safe side?

IMR-3031 would be on the fast side of suitable for the 358 Sierra Stomper. That 16-18% greater capacity really indicates a slower-burning powder. You could probably find a load of 3031 that works, but it would do exactly as you say, reaching MAP before you run out of case capacity.

While 3031 was used for many old magnum cartridges, as soon as the slower-burning stuff came out, like 4320 and 4350, those powders were found to give better overall performance.

When looking at 358 Norma Mag load data, H380 is about the fastest-burning powder recommended, these days. The better loads come with 4350 or something in that range.

 

[bfrshooter]

Should be a good powder for .223Rem then, correct? Very similar cartridges, so I'm taking a guess...

Yes it will. Give it a try.

 

[Okie Hog]

Yep, there a proliferation of powder now days; many don't want to try older powders.

IMR 3031 is my go to powder for .30/30, .308 with 150 grain bullets, .30-06 with 150 grain and lighter bullets and .223/5.56mm with 55 grain and lighter bullets. Also use IMR 3031 in 9.3X62mm, .405 Winchester, .45-70/90 and several other calibers.

My best .222 and .223 groups have used IMR 3031 powder.

 

[JBelk]

nvshooter-- As broom jm said, 3031 is too fast but would work in a bind.

I think you'll find 4350 hard to beat in your wildcat. 4895 is just tad fast and 4831 a little slow. 4350 should be just right.
I'm sure there are a dozen modern powders that will work just as well but just about time you decide on it, the company will change it or discontinue it. An 8 lb keg of 4350 gives you independence from market variations for years.

 

[bfrshooter]

IMR-3031 would be on the fast side of suitable for the 358 Sierra Stomper. That 16-18% greater capacity really indicates a slower-burning powder. You could probably find a load of 3031 that works, but it would do exactly as you say, reaching MAP before you run out of case capacity.

While 3031 was used for many old magnum cartridges, as soon as the slower-burning stuff came out, like 4320 and 4350, those powders were found to give better overall performance.

When looking at 358 Norma Mag load data, H380 is about the fastest-burning powder recommended, these days. The better loads come with 4350 or something in that range.

Agree, 3031 is a little fast so a slower powder would be better.
Almost every powder is made from the same ingredients but shape, size and coatings alter the burn rate. Some stick powders have a hole through them and others don't. Ball powders all depend on coatings. 296 might be the same as a slow rifle powder except for the coating to slow burn. Peak is farther down the bore and you still need more burn after peak.