powder substitution question

Huffmanite · February 18, 2006, 03:13 AM

Have a newbie question. Want to reload 43 Spanish ammo to shoot in a Remington rolling block that I once reloaded ammo for and shot over 40 years ago. I have a can of IMR 3031 powder I want to use, but cannot find a published load using it. Noticed that Alliant's Reloader 7 powder has a very similiar burn rate to IMR 3031, but Reloader 7 is slightly faster burning according to several burn rate charts I studied. Example, one burn rate chart listed Reloader 7 at number 93 and IMR 3031 at 94 of the 173 powders they listed and another chart listed Reloader 5 positions faster. I found Reloader 7 published load data for 43 Spanish with the grain bullet I'll be using. So, my question is this. If the published start load data for Reloader 7 is 40 grains of powder, would the start load data for IMR 3031 be about 40 grains too. Actually, I was thinking of starting with 36 grains of IMR 3031.

918v · February 18, 2006, 01:10 PM

Reloader-7 and 3031 are similar in the 45-70, but 43 Spanish is not a 45-70. I would look further.

Ruger4570 · February 18, 2006, 10:42 PM

There has to be published data for your caliber. I would not start playing with powders til you have considerable experience. I have a 35-284 I build and there was no data available, so I had no choice but to "experiment". I also had 45 years of reloading experience and a chrony to help. Keep looking is my best advice.

Huffmanite · February 19, 2006, 12:54 AM

To Ruger4570, I found in Cartridges of the world: 40 grains of IMR3031 for 370 gr cast bullet. To 918V, got my Lee 43 Sp dies today. Load data on chart Lee furnishes with dies said "these are modified 45-70 loads" and the Lee data showed 31.5 grains of Reloder 7 with 385 cast bullet, but nothing on IMR3031. Thank you both for your advice. Did a little reloading back in 60s with a friend experienced in reloading, who was always super careful and cautious in his reloading. With him the day he blew off the top of the chamber of his single barrel shotgun using a reload he had done. He wasn't hurt and I learned to be really careful. Interesting story, but too long to tell. But he actually had reloaded his shotgun shells correctly, using standard load and etc. Just cross checking info, before I do anything.

February 18, 2006, 03:13 AM	#1
Huffmanite Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2006 Location: Northeast of Houston, Tx Posts: 393	powder substitution question Have a newbie question. Want to reload 43 Spanish ammo to shoot in a Remington rolling block that I once reloaded ammo for and shot over 40 years ago. I have a can of IMR 3031 powder I want to use, but cannot find a published load using it. Noticed that Alliant's Reloader 7 powder has a very similiar burn rate to IMR 3031, but Reloader 7 is slightly faster burning according to several burn rate charts I studied. Example, one burn rate chart listed Reloader 7 at number 93 and IMR 3031 at 94 of the 173 powders they listed and another chart listed Reloader 5 positions faster. I found Reloader 7 published load data for 43 Spanish with the grain bullet I'll be using. So, my question is this. If the published start load data for Reloader 7 is 40 grains of powder, would the start load data for IMR 3031 be about 40 grains too. Actually, I was thinking of starting with 36 grains of IMR 3031.

February 18, 2006, 01:10 PM	#2
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	Reloader-7 and 3031 are similar in the 45-70, but 43 Spanish is not a 45-70. I would look further.

February 18, 2006, 10:42 PM	#3
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	There has to be published data for your caliber. I would not start playing with powders til you have considerable experience. I have a 35-284 I build and there was no data available, so I had no choice but to "experiment". I also had 45 years of reloading experience and a chrony to help. Keep looking is my best advice.

February 19, 2006, 12:54 AM	#4
Huffmanite Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2006 Location: Northeast of Houston, Tx Posts: 393	To Ruger4570, I found in Cartridges of the world: 40 grains of IMR3031 for 370 gr cast bullet. To 918V, got my Lee 43 Sp dies today. Load data on chart Lee furnishes with dies said "these are modified 45-70 loads" and the Lee data showed 31.5 grains of Reloder 7 with 385 cast bullet, but nothing on IMR3031. Thank you both for your advice. Did a little reloading back in 60s with a friend experienced in reloading, who was always super careful and cautious in his reloading. With him the day he blew off the top of the chamber of his single barrel shotgun using a reload he had done. He wasn't hurt and I learned to be really careful. Interesting story, but too long to tell. But he actually had reloaded his shotgun shells correctly, using standard load and etc. Just cross checking info, before I do anything.