IMR 3031 and .30-06 are made for each other. Just how "light" you can expect depends on what you mean by "light." I mostly use Speer Hot Cor 150's with IMR 3031 in the mid-44/45gr range and it's a good field-grade load. I'd say it's at least as rockin' as Remington green box hunting loads in that weight range. BTW: I'm typically loading for a Remington 30S or a 721 so my loads are NOT going to be what you want for anything lighter, like one of the modern synthetic-stocked slim actions. I think the lightest I'd go with IMR 3031 and a 150gr. bullet - jacketed, lubed and gc'd, Hi-Tek'd and gas-checked, anything in that class - is in the 40-41gr range. Lower than that and your velocities will probably show some spread.Not having a lot of luck finding H4895 for reduced loads with 30-06. LGS has IMR-3031 and with 150 gr jacketed, and especially lead bullets, this looks promising. Anyone tried it? How was the recoil?
Worth a try. I typically use Unique, 2400 or IMR 4227 for light cast loads in .30-06 so I don't know how IMR 3031 will react but if Lyman has a tested load, give it a spin and let us know how it goes. At under 14Kpsi you won't need a gas-check unless your rifle's bore is over .309" Even then I'm not sure how much one would help.The Lyman Cast Bullet manual shows 151gr flat-nose bullets (#311440) with IMR-3031 starting load at 31gr, 1775fps and 13,600 CUP so I was thinking that might be reduced recoil. I don’t cast, but ACME has 155gr HiTek coated bullets for a very reasonable price. Was thinking I wouldn’t need gas checks at that speed. But… that’s why I’m asking .
The Lyman Cast Bullet manual shows 151gr flat-nose bullets (#311440) with IMR-3031 starting load at 31gr, 1775fps and 13,600 CUP so I was thinking that might be reduced recoil. I don’t cast, but ACME has 155gr HiTek coated bullets for a very reasonable price. Was thinking I wouldn’t need gas checks at that speed. But… that’s why I’m asking .
Well… IMR-4227 shows starting load of 23gr, 1776fps and pressure of 16,500 cup with that bullet, so they should be pretty close recoil-wise, huh? 3031 is about same speed but lower pressure than 4227 by about 3000 cup.Worth a try. I typically use Unique, 2400 or IMR 4227 for light cast loads in .30-06 so I don't know how IMR 3031 will react but if Lyman has a tested load, give it a spin and let us know how it goes. At under 14Kpsi you won't need a gas-check unless your rifle's bore is over .309" Even then I'm not sure how much one would help.
I'm actually running a Quality Cast Hi-Tek coated 155gr. sized to .310" with 22.2gr. of IMR-4227 in my Remington 30S and it's got some thump but nothing bothersome. That's an okay load, at best, really. The 173gr. FN-GC with the same powder and load is much better. Recoil is tame but a little sharp - quick smack as opposed to a hard punch. That's also a heavy rifle compared to most modern rifles. I don't know what you're shooting so the only advice I can give is, try it and let us know. You're on the right track, IMO. Don't worry too much IMR 3031 - or IMR 4227, for that matter - about going a grain or two below start. That just means when the testing lab did their workup loads below start were not "optimal" in their testing platform. Probably a universal receiver and unvented barrel with very tight chamber and bore to replicate a fouled bore. In my rifle, 22.2gr. is magic; in yours it might be waa-waa. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯We’ll… IMR-4227 shows starting load of 23gr, 1776fps and pressure of 16,500 cup with at that bullet, so they should be pretty close recoil-wise, huh?
I’m shooting a Colt Coltsman bolt action. I would call it fairly light. The Lyman manual shows the #311440 with IMR-3031 as potentially most accurate. We’ll see, assuming they still have the powder when I get there. I’ve got some of the same bullets you’re using.I'm actually running a Quality Cast Hi-Tek coated 155gr. sized to .310" with 22.2gr. of IMR-4227 in my Remington 30S and it's got some thump but nothing bothersome. That's an okay load, at best, really. The 173gr. FN-GC with the same powder and load is much better. Recoil is tame but a little sharp - quick smack as opposed to a hard punch. That's also a heavy rifle compared to most modern rifles. I don't know what you're shooting so the only advice I can give is, try it and let us know. You're on the right track, IMO. Don't worry too much IMR 3031 - or IMR 4227, for that matter - about going a grain or two below start. That just means when the testing lab did their workup loads below start were not "optimal" in their testing platform. Probably a universal receiver and unvented barrel with very tight chamber and bore to replicate a fouled bore. In my rifle, 22.2gr. is magic; in yours it might be waa-waa. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯