nah have to dissagree
straight from Hodgdon/winchester load site
.410 shotgun load
11/16th oz lead
win209 primer
waa41 wad
13.5grn powder
velocity 1135fps
now the funny/strange bit
with 296 powder pressure is 10800
with H110 powder pressure is 10900
now these are the manufacturers figures for an identical load with the powder being the ONLY thing changed.

I could find you questionable data in many reloading manuals. The data you mention could very well be mistake. In Hodgdon's annual manuals I could give you MANY examples where the data for H110/Winchester 296 is IDENTICAL. This could never happen even if two sets of data were obtained from the same container of powder.

Also, this is not old news; I would say it has been known the 2 powders were identical since probably 2005. In fact, I sent an e-mail to Hodgdon inquiring about this years ago and received a reply that the twain were identical except for the brand.

According to my Lee manual, all pressure and velocity data published by Hodgdon is based upon an average of five shots. I would not be surprised to see a deviation of 100 between five shot string averages using the same powder from the same batch especially if the loads are not full case volumes. Also, the pressures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

I worked with a world expert in marine polution science who liked to say that,"Humans seek digital like perfection in an anolog world." Of course perfection wpuld be boring if reached. It's the variability that keeps things interesting.

With respect to IMR3031 I have started working on a table to test loads starting at 33.5 grains. Of course I had to buy a pound of IMR 4320 and Win748 when the local shop called me today. Looks like my range time is all booked up for awhile :-).

all good chaps.
when we stop thinking we are dead!!

I'm late on this post, but 3031 is my all time favorite powder. Working up a load for a new rifle, if I can find one using 3031, I figure that this will be my most accurate load, and it always is.
Also with the 3031, the recoil is more of a push, rather than a sharp punch.

Great powder.

Eric

For me my top five powders are IMR 4064,4350,4895,3031 and H414

welcome aboard JoeHill
grab a stump and sit awhile we are always keen for some new input into our discussions.

Welcome Joe. You sure are an IMR fan. What calibers do you reload? I load for .308, .223, 9mm Luger, 45 auto and 45 Colt. I am waiting for dies for .35 Remington. Have you used IMR 4320?

My favorite powders are H110, H414, Titegroup, H4895, H335 and the last is HP38 but only for wadcutters in 38 spl.
Lately I have been favoring reduced loads in my rifles using H4895 until my back get well enough to get back to higher velocity (more recoil) loads.

Welcome aboard Joe. Jump in with your experience mate...it is much appreciated and will give a different view, which we welcome with open arms.