Gentlemen,

An interesting thing happened handloading for a new Remington 700 in 30-06 caliber. Using 150 grain Sierra spitzer bullets, the rifle prefers IMR-3031 powder over IMR-4064. In the past, when I worked up loads for 30-06 rifles, they preferred 4064 over most other powders, especially 3031.

The rifle is a standard BDL model and is as it came from the factory. And I am getting 1” groups with rounds not assembled all that carefully. So now I will break out the neck sizing and in-line seating dies and see just how much that 1” group can be shrunk.

Has anyone else had favorable results using 3031 for 30-06?

Rafter

I have a pre-64 M70 that acts the same way!

Try 4350.

I've found 30-06 bolt rifles like it - a lot.

IMO, 3031 is way too fast for the .30-06.

If your looking for hunting ammo, try the Sierra 165 grain SPBT over 56 - 57 grains of IMR-4350 for deer size critters. If you're looking for less velocity but excellent accuracy, try IMR4895 with the 150 grain Sierra.



Bruce

Bruce,

I am glad you mentioned IMR-4895. I have used it in the past with reasonable success in other bolt action 30-06's, especially with a custom Springfield 03 model. But this particular Remington 700 "rebells" with 4895 and the Sierra 150 gr. bullet for some reason. I get a 4-5" group.

Rafter

Used to use 3031 in a 30-06 loaded with 172 gr. cast bullets. This combo was deadly accurate out of a sporterized 03A3 with scope. Well under 1 MOA at 100 yds.

Hey, go with what works in your rifle. 3031 is a good powder.

The .30-06 is a wonder cartridge despite the fact that some consider it boring. It will work really well with a number of different bullets and powders. It is not surprising at all that you are having great results with IMR 3031 powder and the 150 grain bullet.

I've found that IMR 3031 works about as well as IMR 4064 or IMR 4895 with both 125 grain and 150 grain bullets in several different .30-06 rifles kept around here. One can duplicate 150 grain factory velocities using 3031. A powder like IMR 4759 or IMR 4198 would be way too fast. IMR 3031 isn't too fast.

I use IMR 3031 in the wifes 12x12x30/06 drilling.

The loads are slightly less than full power factory loads.

They are easier on the gun and we just do not need full power 30/06 to shoot deer and pigs where we hunt.

Powder like 3031 and Reloader 7 work ok in 06 with lighter bullets but beware; there is little margin between OK and way too hot. No forgiveness.

In my experience, IMR 3031 does very well in .30-06 with bullets up to 150 grains. Heavier bullets generally benefit from slower burning powders.

I used Speer 130 grain HotCor bullets in .30-06 for antelope hunting very successfully. Antelope are light and thin-skinned game, usually hunted in open country. Our other game animals here in Colorado include mule deer and elk, usually hunted in brush and timber, for which I prefer heavier bullets.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

What BruceM said; at one point in time I played with 130 gr. and lighter bullets in .30-06. 3031 worked very well. For 150 4895 gr. (47 grs. IIRC) was very accurate (real <1").

imr4831 behind 180g nosler AB

I hope you meant 56-57 gr.? Your load wold be in the .30-30 velocity range.

yup. I use 3031 to load for my 742 Carbine with 18 1/2" bbl. The 4350 and 4831 produce some serious muzzle flash and noise. The 3031 tamed that. I use a Remington 165 CoreLok. Can't recall the powder charge off the top of my head right now.
Like Dan said, there isn't a whole lot of wiggle room. Weigh each charge.

I have used a lot of IMR-3031 in 30-06 with 125 an d 150 gr. bullets. Always has provided excellent accuracy in a number of bolt action rifles.

You can get a variety of propellants to work in the .30-06 but that does not make all of them the best choices. Things can get a little interesting when trying to get max performance with it in the 06 when bullets weigh more than 125 grains. Sort of like max. charges of Bullseye in the .44 Magnum. 3031 is a good choice for cast bullet loads. 3031 shines the brightest in .30-30 & .35 Rem class cartridges.

I did mean 56-57 grains and will edit that entry.

You can usually get max. velocity with accuracy with IMR 4350 and it seems to shoot very well in any rifle I tried it in. Many .30-06 rifles will give less than max. accuracy with 150 grain bullets at max. (3000 fps) velocity. The 165 grain and heavier bullets seem to shoot better. If you back off the gas some with the 150's, that's a different story and IMR4895 usually give excellent accuracy when doing so. It's also the propellant of choice for duplicating military ball ammo loads for the M1. Once again, these are not maximum velocity loads.

If you are having severe accuracy issues with 4895, I would try a different 150 grain bullet.

Bruce

Rafter,

It seems a lot have people are unaware that IMR 3031 was developed for .30-'06 class cartridges, and it has been doing fine for 76 years.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

My concern would be why a rifle would shoot 1" with only one load and 5" with a similar load. Sounds like a bedding issue (hopefully), or a barrel problem (hope not).

Good shooting.

52.5 grs. of 4350 with a 190gr. Hornady spbt in my B.A.R. Safari Mark 2 with iron sights. It doesn't get any better for me. Great set up for high country Elk. I agree that 3031 is way to fast for the 06 and 4350 is best for the heavy bullets. I don't know about the lighter ones cause I don't use them.

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AM-Tracks 66-69

"It seems a lot have people are unaware that IMR 3031 was developed for .30-'06 class cartridges"

This still does not make it the best or even the "better" choice.

Bruce

For years my "go to" load for the .270 Winchester has been 56 grains of 3031 and a 130 grain Sierra Gameking. I have yet to find a .270 that won't group that load. I realise it is a smaller bore but it is the same case.

As others have mentioned, maybe not the best choice for heavier bullets.

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Big bang, much smash'em.

With the old adage "If it ain't broke,don't fix it" in mind......If the load in question is accurate,safe w/reasonable pressure and effective for whatever use it's being put to,there's no reason to change.

A great many powders will "work" in 30/06 class cartridges but as others have said,3031 would not usually be considered optimum.I've always had the best results with 4350 with the 30/06.There are other powders which do quite well with it but most of them are actually not far apart from 4350 in terms of bulk/burning rate.

44forever,

Did you mean 46 grains of 3031 instead of 56? The Lyman Reloading Handbook shows 47 grains to be the Max. Load with 53,200 C.U.P.

Rafter

Glad you are having success with 3031. It is a fine powder when used judiciously in '06.

When I pursued woodchucks in upstate NY in the 50s and early 60s, my go-to load was 110gr Sierra HPs over a less-than-max load of 3031. Wonderfully accurate in my 1917 '06 Eddystone with Bishop stock. At first with peep sight and then with 10X Weaver. Under 1" @ 100 yards and just 2" @ 200 yards. Eyes were better then to use peep at long range.

Best-ever loads were 165gr Sierra HPs over 4350.

Regards,

Dyson

I used 3031 in the .30-06 for several years after I began reloading in the early 70's. I don't remember the exact loading, but it was in the modest range using data from the Lyman Handbook of the time and the Sierra 165 grain HPBT fired from a Remington 760.

Groups at 100 yards were a little under an inch from the trombone rifle, something I have not been able to achieve since with a Ruger 77, but, oh well.

cjw3,

A little off subject, but a local gunsmith has made several Ruger 77's shoot well simply by putting a shem under the front of the action to lessen the pressure point on the barrel...not make the barrel free floating...but to lessen the pressure "a little." He has made several 77's go from 2" shooters to under 1".

My pal down the road fixed his Ruger 77 himself by putting a piece of a business card under the front of the action as a shem. And sure enough, the group tightened up dramatically. Wish I had known that before I got rid of my old M77.

Rafter

3031 is my favorite powder for use with cast boolits in 2 different .30-06's.

your cases for over pressure signs. I really like neck sizing, too and I have had several old .30-06 rifles that were WAY more accurate than they wre supposed to be, including an old, beat up '06 Savage bought for $160 that outshot my expensive Ruger .243, after a little cleaning and tightening up.

mark

I've used 3031 for years in -06, 46 grs behind a 180 gr JSP. Also works very well for cast, as others have said.

my 700ADL,glass bedded action and floated barrel 'prefers' 3031 for 147FMJBT and 110HP.

Rifles are like people they'll tell what they like to eat if you'll listen . I must confess that I too would consider 3031 a bit fast for an '06 . Over the years & with numerous rifles I've had better luck with 4895 to 4064 speed powders & 150gr bullets . With 165's usually 4350 , RL19 , W760/H414 works the best . 180's seem to like 4350 to 4831 speed powders . Of course these are generalizations , but they're backed up by years of my experiences . If your rifle likes 3031 use it . I've got a 358Win that loves 3031 w/ Sierra 225 spitzer .
Andy