A 30-06 preferring IMR-3031 ???

[44forever]

Slight thread drift -

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.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

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.

 

[Rafter-S]

For years my "go to" load for the .270 Winchester has been 56 grains of 3031 and a 130 grain Sierra Gameking.

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

 

[DGNY]

30-06 and IMR 3031

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

 

[cjw3]

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.

 

[Rafter-S]

Don't give up on the Ruger 77 too soon

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

 

[Shuz]

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

 

[dogngun]

I used to use 3031 for nearly everything - just watch

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

 

[Eagles6]

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.

 

[oldman10mm]

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

 

[boatbum101]

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