5.56 with IMR 3031

[Dr. Dickie]

I am set to load up some 5.56, and reading through posts a lot of folks recommended the IMR 3031.
So, I got a couple of pounds and wanted to make up 10 test rounds. I used 24 grs for a 55 gr BTFMJ bullet in some LC cases.
The 24 grs fills the case right up to the top (or dang close to the top). This is LC brass, but even so the manuals say 24 grains should be fine.
I have not loaded 5.56 before, just 7.62 x 51 and .30-'06 (they do not fill the case when I load them).
I just wanted to make sure that filling the case like that is okay. I know I have read about people filling cases, but I have not heard that in regards to 5.56.
it would just make me feel better if others have had the same experience.
Funny, I have never been concerned about other loads, but seeing that powder 'bout fill that case got me thinking.
Thanks

 

[P0832177]

Well, you need to do a prudent load work up, not just pick a charge wt and load up that load. Load up a spectrum of charge wts to shoot monitor for accuracy, function, and reliability. The problem you might encounter is that you will need to use a drop tube to help settle powder.

 

[CRUFFLENERD]

My recipe:

22 grains of IMR 3031
55 grain Remington FMJ bullet
Remington 223 brass
CCI400 primers

The stuff is accurate enough and cycles my Mini 14 just fine.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Well, you need to do a prudent load work up, not just pick a charge wt and load up that load. Load up a spectrum of charge wts to shoot monitor for accuracy, function, and reliability.

No I don't.
I am not a benchrest shooter who cares a whole lot about accuracy. I picked a charge that the manuals (more than one) lists as a couple of grains below max. (ya gotta start somewhere). It is just that it fills the case almost to the top. While I have heard others talking about some loads that fill a case, but I have not heard that when they are loading 5.56.
I am not trying to load to max, do not want to load to max, have no interest in loading to max. I don't need to work-up to the charge, just wanted feedback from others that have loaded 3031 in 5.56 that it pretty much fills the case.
I mean I triple (actually about 20 times) checked the powder weight in getting the powdermeasure set, just have never loaded any cartridge that came so close to filling the case.

 

[Idano]

Dr. Dickie,

You are correct you do need to start somewhere and it appears that you have done your homework. I believe 3031 a good powder it's fast burning and very stable. The only problem I have with it is that it is an extruded powder that doesn't work the best in powder measures for consistency. Since l now load on a progressive I have moved away from 3031 and unfortunately what I moved to is no longer available DP-2200 so I am going to try either X-Terminator by Ramshot or 2230 by Accurate. I found that most AR's with a 20" barrel and a 1-9 twist with a 55 gr bullet like an extremely fast burning powder so you should get good results from 3030 as long as you are consistent with your charges.

 

[GRIZ22]

I have used the same load in 223 for years with no problems. The full case does give more consistent ignition therefore better accuracy.

 

[jmorris]

I've loaded several thousand .223 using IMR3031 and Berry's 55gr FMJ. I can't remember the charge off hand, however; as you noted the case is full and it's a compressed load. If a buddy didn't give me 20# I wouldn't use it, 748 meters much better IMO.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

I can't remember the charge off hand, however; as you noted the case is full and it's a compressed load.

Thanks, that was all I was after. I have not loaded any cartridges that had cases full up like that. While I had weighted the powder, I just wanted to make sure I was not doing something REALLY stupid without realizing it.
Better safe that sorry and all that.
Again, thanks.

 

[P0832177]

Yeah Dr. Dickie you do need to be prudent! :banghead: Your path is not safe! I bet you are the type of person that takes the PTO guard off while the PTO is engaged! You sir are an incident in the making!

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

Yeah Dr. Dickie you do need to be prudent! Your path is not safe! I bet you are the type of person that takes the PTO guard off while the PTO is engaged! You sir are an incident in the making!

Actually, his method is safe. He consulted multiple manuals and consulted other handloaders to find a load below max that is known to be safe for his given cartridge and chambering. I'd say that's pretty safe. If you think he needs to start with a specific load, you should recommend the loading.

 

[Idano]

Dr. Dickie,

There is nothing wrong with your decision to start with 24 grains of 3031 with a 55 grain bullet. P0832177's post is incorrect, here is the reloading data directly from the IMR/Hodgdon website which is the same as my Sierra manual:

Here are some other sources I checked:

My Speer Manual shows for IMR-3031 From 24.0 grains to 26.0 grains for a 55 grain bullet.

My Hornady Manual show for IMR-3031 From 22.5.0 grains to 24.5 grains for a 55 grain bullet.

In fact Stevespages http://stevespages.com/224_8_55.html shows the load data for IMR-3031 From 20.5 grains to 26.0 grains for a 55 grain bullet.

 

[fastbike]

Caution w/ compressed loads

Remember, once the load is compressed, small increases in charge weight can lead to large pressure spikes. The Dr. can do as he likes, but I'm more comfortable w/ loads that are compressed.

Remember also that the manuals vary. One can see that Hodgson says 24.6 is max yet the Speer reference is 26 max.

Seems like 23 or 22.5 ought to work as well, but are hopefully filled only to the shoulder or so.

 

[sargenv]

One thing I've found is that stick powders are sensitive to how fast you dump them into the cases. Case in point is using IMR 4895 in a 223. If you just dump it all in there, it may overflow without giving any room for the bullet to seat. If I slowly trickle that same charge from my powder measure or dipper, I find that the powder self compresses much easier and I have all kinds of room in the case. This applies to just about any rifle case utilizing stick powders. Since it seems inconsistent, I prefer loading the 223 with ball powder since it all pretty much flows in at the same rate and always has the same height.

Vince

 

[Idano]

fastbike,

I am not a fan either of compressed loads because they are a pain in the ass to load and it is like Vince stated with extruded powder simple the method you use to fill case can determine the powder level. The old timers I learned from in the 70's were big IMR supporters and if the case wasn't compressed they would top it off with oatmeal to compress the powder against the primer their belief was that compressed loads were more consistent. These guys were the 600 yard plus shooters who chased single hole groups far more passionate about accuracy then me, I am good with a 1.5 MOA group.

Since I have found many different load data that shows maximum loads as high as 26 grains I doubt Dr. Dickie stays has anything to worry about starting at 24 grains. If I loaded on single stage and wanted to weigh every load I probably use IMR-3031 and start at 24 grains, but I agree with Vince and I prefer using ball type powders since it is more consistent and works out better for loading on a progressive.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The thing that everyone is overlooking is that he stated he's using mil-spec brass. (LC is Lake City arsenal headstamp). These have less internal capacity than Commercial brass.

Yes, the IMR3031 load in a LC case will fill it up. I used a lot of that load in a Ruger Mini14 back in the early '80's as the only brass I had was several thousand military cases.

I prefered 23.0gr and a Winchester 55gr FMJBT. This prevented a slight jarring of the loading block I used from spilling powder. By the late '80's, I'd gone to BL-C2 and a progressive loader. The IMR3031 Powder really can't "Overfill" the case- meaning, anything that you can seat the bullet over will be "OK" (as long as the powder hasn't deterioated- got some "bad" (old) #3031 that separated some cases in the chamber- pulled them and thew it out. I just prefer an easier handling powder.

I still prefer, or rather my Remington M7 prefers BL-C2 as it shoots nice 1-hole groups at 100yds with a Sierra 55gr SP or BTSP (27.0gr, neckturned R-P brass, Fed#205primers, seated to 2.223"oal)

My Bushmaster I owned for the last few years I was on the job, prefered "H" or IMR4198 (22.6gr w/55gr Nosler BT) for nice 1/2" groups at 100yds. (with both the 14.5" AK upper and 20" H-VAR barrels).

Use your load with confidence, but you may want to drop the charge slightly to allow easier handling of the cases during bullet seating.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Remember, once the load is compressed, small increases in charge weight can lead to large pressure spikes. The Dr. can do as he likes, but I'm more comfortable w/ loads that are compressed.

The load is not compressed, as I said it is not packing the case up to the very top, just close to it

...that it pretty much fills the case

. A slight tap settles the powder down so that I am sure that during seating there is no compression. Sorry if I gave the impression that I was packing it in there.

I did not have a great fear that I was flirting with disaster, just wanted to verify that using IMR 3031 in 5.56 filled the case up so much, as when loading .308 and .30-'06 there is quite a bit of room left in the case after powder.
I appreciate all the fear and loathing , I'm going to chrono the 8 rounds this afternoon.
If you see a mushroom cloud in the southern sky, you'll know why

 

[Walkalong]

I see PO832177 has crawled back out from under his rock again.