Dipping Powder

I sat down at the bench today and found what was left of an old can of IMR 3031.  I had a box of Hornady 150 grain bullets #3035, round nose for the .30-30, so I decided to load what was left of that can of powder.  For years I had a mantra for loading the .30-30.  Quoted simply, it is: Thirty grains of 3031 for the .30-30.

I didn't want to set up my powder measure for such a small quantity of powder, so I decided to get out the dippers.  Lee's been selling dippers for as long as I've been reloading, and I've got a full set, so I got the chart out and got the scale out, and in just a few minutes I learned that the 2.2 cc dipper would throw 29.2 grains of my 3031.  Dipping powder is an easy way to measure it and with just a little practice it's easy to dip charges that are very consistent.  In just a few minutes I had dipped 20 charges and found that I was out of powder for that old can.  It's done and I have to buy some more 3031.

I don't remember when I bought that particular can, but I think that IMR quit putting powder in cans several years ago.  However, the Hodgdon still lists my load as acceptable in terms of their criteria.  We'll see how they fly, and I'll have to pick up another can of 3031.

Now, I need to find a dipper load for the .30-30 using IMR 4805 powder. I've got a good dipper load for cast bullets, but I've never tried that powder and jacketed bullets.  We'll see.