IMR3031 and Garand cast loads

[M1fuzz]

I know there is a thread here where a member was posting some results using IMR3031 and cast boolits in his Garand. Any more info about that? Anyone have any luck w/ it? I have always had better luck in one particular Garand w/ IMR3031 vs. H4895 w/ the J word.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Peregrine]

I did just that for the first time a couple weeks ago. Good results. Just getting into cast through the Garand myself. Mind you my Garand is a 308 but that shouldn't really matter too much.

Lots of data for cast 30-06 (and 308) in Lyman Cast 4th as well as Lyman 50th. If you have a particular bullet weight in mind I can transcribe the data for you.

Speaking extremely broadly, same as with H4895 around 32gr should be where you'll get reliable cycling, +- a couple gr.

190gr cast bullet with a 2.5CC (32.8gr) lee scoop of 3031 worked perfectly. Function 100%, good accuracy. Haven't choreographed any yet, according to the book they're probably going 1900fps or so and that's the point I'd expect to get some leading and accuracy to fall off, but all is well in the couple dozen I shot so far, mainly just tested for function though.

Compared to an equal volume of 4895 the 3031 loads seemed to kick noticibly less, 3031 being faster could be expected to reduce gas port pressure and be gentler on the shoulder as a result. The H4895 loads don't kick much less than M80's do.

Last week I loaded up ~120 more cast rounds for the Garand I'll be shooting soon but those happened to use H4895. I'm just going to burn them up plinking offhand, no particular reason I used that instead of 3031, both are working for me but my testing is just starting.

[fastdadio]

I load H4895 in my Garand for no other reason than I more of it on hand. I stopped load development at 39 grs using the Lee 170gr as that is where the vertical stringing became nil.
Service rifle loads:
https://www.bearblain.com/Service%20Rifle%20Loadings.html

[M1fuzz]

Thank you. I appreciate the offer for load data from Lyman but, I do have my own Lyman book. I tried 311299 sized to .311 w/ H4895 for the last two years. It started off well then went off the rails accuracy wise. I am going to try the same bullets w/ IMR3031 and I also going to try 314299 sized to .313 w/ both powders and see if that makes a difference. I am thinking big throat/bore and I am getting leading.

When I was shooting a lot of J word bullets w/ this particular Garand I had very good results w/ IMR3031, pretty good results w/ IMR4064, and always so-so w/ H4895.

[charlie b]

I've used it in my Garand with 210gn bullets. Right about 2000fps and it functions well. I size to .310 but I use powder coated bullets.

[Sig556r]

I use it for both my 308 & 30-06 M1s behind 311299 & 311413 GC CBs with good results

[M1fuzz]

Alright. Wish me luck. I loaded a test run of boolits. IMR3031 starting at 30 grains and going up by .5 grains to 32.5 grains using CCI #34 primers. I am shooting NOE 314299’s sized to .313. I think this particular Garand has a big bore and throat and I seem to think I was getting leading using NOE 311299’s sized to .311. Hopefully it has enough poop to cycle the action.

[fgd135]

I use a cast M1 load recommended in an American Rifleman article, Volume 101 No. 6, June 1953, pp 20-24:
Lyman 311291
31 grains 3031.

https://archive.org/details/sim_american-rifleman_1953-06_101_6/page/20/mode/2up?view=theater

[jimb16]

I use a cast M1 load recommended in an American Rifleman article, Volume 101 No. 6, June 1953, pp 20-24:
Lyman 311291
31 grains 3031.

https://archive.org/details/sim_american-rifleman_1953-06_101_6/page/20/mode/2up?view=theater

I tried that load with my first M1 and had very poor results. It all depends on your particular rifle. Mine did not like it.

[Larry Gibson]

I found with the 311291 (cast of old COWWs and WQ'd) in several M1s I tried it in they also did not "like" it. However, 28 or 29 gr of 3031 when used with a dacron filler was
liked" by all of them.

[jimb16]

I'll have to give that a try. Still have the Garands and the 311291 mold as well as some 3031.

[M1fuzz]

Well, I could only fire a few 314299’s. Most didn’t even chamber. I think the nose is too fat for this particular M1. The ones that I did get to shoot did pretty good. I had some left over 31299’s over H4895 that did well. Now I have to try the 311299’s w/ IMR3031 is this Garand. Experimenting is a fun part of this hobby!!!

[M1fuzz]

Ok. I think I may have found a recipe. 311299 sized to .311. Federal Gold Medal Match brass. CCI #34 primers. 28.5 grains of IMR3031. Got some good accuracy/groups and it gently and reliably cycles the action.