IMR and cast

[nueces5]

Hello everyone, imr powder 4350, 4064 and 3031 have just arrived.
I have quite a bit of Win 760, do you think it's a good idea to buy a couple of pounds of 4350 to try on my 7.65x54 or my 308?
never use imr with cast
thanks

[RickinTN]

IMR powders are fine with cast. No different than any other brand as far as I know. I like and use all three of the numbers you mention in different applications of course. I like 3031 better than 4895 as a reduced load powder. The reason IMR suggest 4895 and their 60% suggestion is because it is the powder they have tested. Even 3031 will best be used for quite "peppy" loads. I use quite a bit of IMR4227 for my reduced loads in 30-30, 308, and 30-06. It serves quite well in these chamberings. I also use Red Dot, Unique, Bullseye, International Clays and others in more calm cat loads. One of my best 308 Winchester loads is with International Clays. The numbers you mention are good depending on what your application is.
Good Luck to you,
Rick

[Pereira]

I've used a good amount of 3031 in the 30-30 and 35 Rem and cast and also 4198 in those and a 25-20 and 38-55.

RP

[Winger Ed.]

I'm a big fan of IMR 3031 and 4198 for cast in a few medium size cases, like .30-30 and .308, .30-06, even .45-70.
I run on the heavy side of boolits, and at about the middle of published data in the Lyman book.

2" groups at 100 yards are quite do-able with a scope shooting off sand bags without my glasses.
Somewhat better if the stars come together.

[nueces5]

Thank you for your answers
We only have 3031, 4064 and 4350 available
The one that is really tempting me is 4350 for the 765x54 and 314299

[Larry Gibson]

Of the three powders mentioned I would prefer the IMR 3031 for use with the 314299 because I use that combination in my own M91s and m1909. Suggest you try 25 - 29 gr with a dacron filler under that bullet in your 7.65. Of the other two powders, given the 10" twist of the 7.65 milsurp barrels the second choice would be IMR 4064.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

my 2¢
4350 is kind of a slow burning powder for 765x54 or 308, unless you are working up to jacketed speeds.
3031 is a much better powder for typical cast boolit speeds (Lyman data) in rifles.

[nueces5]

I'll try 3031!

[405grain]

Late to the party, but I'll second the opinion on IMR-3031. In both 308 Winchester and 7x57 Mauser cast loads 3031 is what gives me the best accuracy. I use a 1 grain tuft of polyester stuffing (poly-fil) to hold the powder column inside the case. Don't compact this - it needs to be fluffy in between the base of the bullet and the top of the powder. With weight sorted bullets and neck sized brass I can get 1 MOA or better performance at 100 yards with 3031. (disclaimer; when I get larger groups than this it's because of me, not the load)

In the 7x57 the best load (in my rifle) is 29.0 grains of IMR-3031 with the RCBS 7-168-Sp, for a muzzle velocity of around 1900 fps. In the 308 Winchester my best load is 30.0 grains of IMR-3031 with the Lyman #311299 at around 1850 fps. Both loads use a poly filler.