Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles IMR3031

Anybody using this in a .223? You don't hear much about it, but it looks like it should work well.

Never have, but the charts show its versatile...

Used it for years.
The only thing that was somewhat of a bother was getting it in the case fast enough.
Once you find the nack it goes ok.

I've used it by there's better powders out there for the .223

I use 24.8 grains with a 52/53 Grain Sierra/Hornady match bullets, in my 700V, and have for years. Most groups are less than .4

Jerry

when I use it, I use a charge of 25 grains regardless of bullet weight.. which is a full case...

but it sure shoots very tiny little groups, even on rifles with highly worn barrels...

use small rifle primers, no magnum ones..

Thanks for the replies! Most of the powders I have that work well don't fill the case, and I was hoping that this powder would not only fill the case, but be accurate and deliver some decent velocity as well.

"You don't hear much about it, ..."

Given much of today's mindset in which people mindlessly follow others like a bunch of lemmings it's no wonder you don't hear much about it, it's not "new". If a couple of magazine writers did a a few articals on how great something over looked may be there would be a sudden surge in what you hear/read about it.

Far too few people think for themselves or try things for themselves. Many of those who do will end up using stuff you rarely hear about.

I agree, There seems to be a move to new powder and components to get a gain I can't see. I have about 35 pounds of IMR3031 because it works quite well in medium capacity cases, 243, 6mm Rem, etc.

However, I don't think 3031 will get you the velocity in a 223 that it deserves. I have been pleased with "Old School" H335 in my 222, 223, and 222 mag with great velocity, accuracy and standard twist...

Shrap,

as always, you truly are the Chuck Norris of Montana as Trav states.... you place should be a national museum with all the cool stuff ya got there....

my load of 25 grains of 3031, out of a 24 inch barrel with a 55 grain bullet, chambered in 223, chronographs at around 3150 fps... not Warp 9, but definitely in the range of normal 223 loads....

and its accuracy has been right in there with the best of them, even in a couple of high mileage barrels that were shooting crappily ( if that's a word ) with other loads.....

for the general public tho, when I speak of this, I am strictly a bolt action guy, so I am not talking ARs or Mini 14s etc...

I agree with Schrapnel.. When I look at many of the newer powders they offer little over the old standbys.. I use 3031 in my .22-250 and Swifts.. But then I guess most today think those calibers are not effective on varmints and game unless shot out of a 1-8 twist.. Been there tried that, will stick with the std. twists..

I don't want any twist faster than a 1&12 on my 220 Swifts or 22-250's . If i want to shoot a bullet heavier than the 22 cal 60 gr , then i will go to the 6mm. My favorite powder in the Swift is IMR 4064 and the 22-250 IMR 4320. I will have to say Varget works great in both.

175, I am with you on the twist for the Swift or .22-250.. If I need more wt. I will reach for another caliber.. Guys were fooling with QT rifles just after WW2..

Another interesting point, someone mentioned "there are better powders for 223". What makes them better? I find, like some of you have, that today's reloaders are more concerned with how fast they can load ammo, than wringing out the best possible groups they can get. This is always my goal with any rifle. Since loading is a hobby for me, I take pride in putting together the most accurate/fast ammo I can. Oh I use H335, and Varget in some applications, but that is where the bullet/rifle combination prefers those. This should also get some comments, in my across the course rifles, in my AR with bullets from 69 to 77 grains I use IMR4895, in 30-06 also IMR4895, and I load the 06 on a Dillon progressive. Jerry

Another vote for 3031. Thanks to a post by Seafire. I think he was toting its use in a 22-250. I use it in a 243 and 25-06 with light bullets. Accurate and fast!

as stated above there are better powders for 223 my fav is ww748 and data 68. lots of guys I know like 748. some swear by h335 tho I have had lots better results with 748..i have tried 3031 in 223 and its kind like 335 shoots fine but not as well as 748.

I loaded both 3031 and WC844 behind some Nosler PTs and so far both gave me only mediocre accuracy.
Maybe the wonder load is yet to be found.

I have used in the past, late 80's. But if I recall, it didn't "flow" all that well for me.

I used to own a small gun shop in MN and would test fire every used gun I got in. There aren't many non-magnum deer cartridges that you can't find a load for with 3031. I burned a lot of it. It was my go to powder for my 223 for many years(don't own a 223 anymore)

I have a .244 Rem 40-XB that I bought back in the early 70's. It came from the factory with (3) 5 shot targets with an aggregate score of .35". Those three groups were shot by Remington using 60 gr. Sierras and 3031.

3031 is good stuff, just doesn't meter that smoothly. To me, I like Varget with 75's in my .22-204 and TAC in my .223's. TAC meters slicker than either of the other two, Varget, better than 3031.

DF