IMR3031 in the .223?

[ArchAngelCD]

Anyone try IMR3031 in the .223 and if so, how accurate is it? I have a few pounds of 3031 that I'm no longer using for the 30-30 and was wondering if it will work well for AR-15 plinking ammo using a 55gr bullet?

PLEASE do not recommend a better powder, I know the better powders. This is not my first line powder and like I said, I only want to use it up for range ammo.
Thanks

 

[243winxb]

IMR 3031 - Hornady 68gr Match Bullet

IMR 3031 with Hornady 68gr match bullet. 2.300" COL in a Savage Axis bolt action. 1/2 @ 100 yds. 5 shots. Will average under 1" Steve's Pages has load data. http://www.stevespages.com/page8a.htm

 

[rcmodel]

It will work perfectly fine for lighter 45 - 60 grain bullet weights.

A tad fast for heavy bullet 60+ grain loads though I think.
Although it will work for those too.

Just more pressure and not as much velocity as you might get with something else with heavy bullets.

rc

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It will work perfectly fine for lighter 45 - 60 grain bullet weights.

A tad fast for heavy bullet 60+ grain loads though I think.
Although it will work for those too.

Just more pressure and not as much velocity as you might get with something else with heavy bullets.

rc

I'll be loading 55gr jacketed bullets so that's good news.

(doing an edit on my OP to add the 55gr bullet info)

 

[243winxb]

55gr data here, in an AR w/Sierra bullets. http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf If you need data?

 

[Sport45]

Hodgdon says 21.6 to 24.6 IMR 3031 under a 55gr Speer SP is okay. The 24.6 load shows to be compressed, so it doesn't look like you can put too much powder in there unless you try really hard.

If you are shooting 55gr FMJ bullets it won't make a lot of difference what powder you use as the bullet will be the biggest factor in determining accuracy or lack thereof. Go for it!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

55gr data here, in an AR w/Sierra bullets. http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf If you need data?

No, I don't need data but thank you for taking the time to post it. I have loaded .223 ammo with a bunch of powders for both bolt action and semi-auto rifles I just never used IMR3031 in the .223 before. I just wanted to know if it was fairly accurate before I wasted time on it. Thank you...

 

[788Ham]

Arch,

I've loaded 3031 powder in my .223 for years, 24.2 grains is what I load, 52 and 53 grain Hornady HP's in my 788 Remington. They've knocked the snot out of many, many P-dogs too. Yes, very accurate!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Arch,

I've loaded 3031 powder in my .223 for years, 24.2 grains is what I load, 52 and 53 grain Hornady HP's in my 788 Remington. They've knocked the snot out of many, many P-dogs too. Yes, very accurate!

GREAT, thank you sir!

 

[IMtheNRA]

It works just fine. I had a few left-over pounds of 3130 that I wanted to use up for my .223 plinking loads with Hornady bulk 55-gr FMJBT-WC bullets (#2267).

100 yard groups from a 1/7 twist Colt 20" A2 rifle went from 1.5" (TAC and Viht-133 powders) to 2", maybe 2.25" using mixed brass, which is just fine for my plinking ammo. It burns noticeably dirtier than my preferred powders in this caliber, but not too bad.

Either way, the ammo turned out to be much more accurate than the GI surplus stuff from Lake City, and at less than half the price.

 

[cougar1717]

I have loaded IMR 3031 with 55gr FMJBT's. For range ammo, the combination is plenty accurate. The reason I stopped loading this combo is that the relatively large granules do not meter as well as other powders. Sometimes they bridge the funnel and it seemed like I had to trickle too many charges. (I'm kind of surprised nobody has mentioned that yet.) Other than a little additional hassle charging, I have no qualms about the performance of the powder.

 

[James2]

I don't have a 223, but have used IMR 3031 for 222 Rem for years. If it will work for the 222, it will do very well in the 223 too.