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Anyone using IMR4064?

2ndamendfan

2ndamendfan

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 10, 2010
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UT
I found a place that has a few pounds of this and was wondering if it is any good? looks like it is recommended for 223 but is it worth it or should I hold out for more stock of better powder? This lack of in stock reloading components is starting to make me think of doing stupid stuff. I like to avoid that is possible.

Any input is appreciated.
 
I've used IMR4064 with good results in both .223 and .308 (both are ARs). With 77gr SMKs and 62gr Nosler FBHPs, my 1:7 16" mid-length gas PSA barrel got me groups at ~1" or better at 100yds.

I decided to give it a try after I saw a report from NSWC recommending the powder for use in the MK316 Mod 0 ammo due it's temperature stability and ignition consistency, along with some other traits I can't remember at the moment. I can't comment on any of the science-y stuff, as I haven't tested it in more than 100 rounds over 2 or 3 summer days.

After testing some out, I snagged 4 bottles from a small shop in TN, and a few more from Gander Mountain when it showed up. Once I run out of my last few jars of Varget, I'll be switching over to the IMR4064.
 
A hide member detailed his analysis of FGMM powder and concluded it was IMR 4064. 42.5 grains
 
Thanks guys, I was going to use it for some plinking ammo with 55gr fmj. But I do run 77smk in one AR that I use out to 700 yards. So I will go pick some up. If anyone in Northern Utah would like to know where PM me. They had 18 1lb cans yesterday. It was kind of hidden, have to be over 6ft tall to just barley get a glimpse of it.
 
I wouldn't hesitate. IMR4064 is a standard all purpose powder and if you have no application now, it could be ideal in your next acquisition. Or, as trade goods with someone that has what you need. If you have some spare cash, it's probably a good investment. BB
 
I used it for a while for my 77 grn loads because i wanted to use one powder for both calibers. It gave great accuracy with 77 grn bullets but the speed was lacking from my SPR which has a fast barrel. IIRC I was getting around 2550 fps from the 18 inch barrel. I switched over to AA2520 for my 77 grn loads and have not looked back. I still get the same one ragged hole but the velocity is where it should be, 2785. I have went higher with out signs of pressure and accuracy did not suffer but there was no need to speed it up IMHO.
 
I use it in both my 260's. 123gr bullets at 3000fps. Accuracy is 1/2moa. Picked up another 8lbs at Tulsa couple wks back.
 
I keep 16 pounds on hand, great powder for my M1a and recently the bolt 308's. KRW what is your load for the 260, am just developing loads for my new group buy 260.

krw said:
I use it in both my 260's. 123gr bullets at 3000fps. Accuracy is 1/2moa. Picked up another 8lbs at Tulsa couple wks back.
Click to expand...
 
I keep 16 pounds on hand, great powder for my M1a and recently the bolt 308's. KRW what is your load for the 260, am just developing loads for my new group buy 260.

krw said:
I use it in both my 260's. 123gr bullets at 3000fps. Accuracy is 1/2moa. Picked up another 8lbs at Tulsa couple wks back.
Click to expand...
 
hessian said:
A hide member detailed his analysis of FGMM powder and concluded it was IMR 4064. 42.5 grains
Click to expand...

I've been very happy with IMR 4064 in my savage FCP-K 308, and so far 42.5 grains has been my best load.
 
How about 6.5 Creedmoor with 120-130 class bullets? Don't see it mentioned often when H4350 seems to dominate most results.
 
Its a great powder for several different calibers.Its not the cleanest burning and it meters like logs but it shoots good.I've always said if you got a 308 and it won't shoot this powder then theres something wrong with your gun.
 
Brux said:
Its a great powder for several different calibers.Its not the cleanest burning and it meters like logs but it shoots good.I've always said if you got a 308 and it won't shoot this powder then theres something wrong with your gun.
Click to expand...

I'll second this. I once ran out of 4064 and tried Varget. Varget was very consistent on ES and SD, but wouldn't group as well as 4064 did out of my 20" tube. I seem to think that Varget in 308 might be better off in 24" or longer barrels since it is a little slower burning than IMR-4064. Varget also produced a noticeable foggy grayish cloud of muzzle blast that I never have witnessed with my 4064. I recently found some 4064 and I got my groups back.

I trickle every charge I load anyway, so the large grain size of 4064 doesn't bother me.

Another powder that does intrigue me along the same burn rate or faster than 4064 is Alliant's AR Comp. I haven't seen any in stock anywhere for the past couple of months, though. AR Comp is supposedly the shiz-nit for pushing the heavier projectiles out of .223s and .308s. It is more temperature stable than Varget and has a smaller grain size for easier metering.
 
I've pretty much gone away from Varget for my .308 since I started loading IMR-4064. First, Varget is almost impossible to get with IMR-4064 showing up more and more on the shelves. I just got a shipment of 10#.

Yesterday I shot some in my .308 with a lapua 170 Gr Lockbase bullet. 3/8" Center to center at 100 yards and 3/4" at 200 yards. 43.5 gr of 4064 @2.815".

Even better with 175 gr SMK's. 42.3 gr @2.825" OAL yielded 1/4" C-C at 100 yards and less than 1/2" at 200 yards.

Don't know why I ran off and chased "Varget" so much when this time tested powder was available all along. Since it's made in Canada and Varget in Australia, maybe we'll see a better supply of the 4064, shorter supply route you know.
 
42.5gr under a 175gr SMK (Bolt Gun)
42.3gr under a 180gr SMK (Bolt Gun)
41.5gr under a 168gr SMK (M1A)
 
BCP said:
308 yes, 223 no, the kernels are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too large for that small case and metering sucks. Find some ball powder or small grain stick powder.
Click to expand...

I agree. IMR 4064 is a great powder for the larger cases cartridges, I've burned a lot of it up, but for the .223 Remington, it's loading density with the lighter weight bullets along with the large, tubular granules, it is a pain to load. It can be done, just not optimal.
 
IMR-4064 is my absolute favorite powder in 308. Works great in .30-06 and 8MM Mauser as well. It isn't regarded as a top choice for 223 which is why I never tried it with that. Most guys I know who choose to use a single powder for 223 and 308 use AA2520, CFE-223, with a few hold outs still using BLC2.
 
Ddawg said:
I've been very happy with IMR 4064 in my savage FCP-K 308, and so far 42.5 grains has been my best load.
Click to expand...

Same load I use. 168 gn on 42.5 Varget was what my rifle liked and when I couldn't find Varget I tried 4064. Turns out 42.5 is where the butter zone is with this powder also. Love it.
 
My two go to powders for my bolt guns (308 and 30-06) is IMR4064 and Reloder15. Varget is pretty much relegated to my M1 Garand match loads now. And I'm still experimenting with Varget for my AR15's
 
The FGMM 168 ammo has 42.8 grains of 4064, and the 175 SMK load has 41.8 grains of 4064. This is recent lots... and it's not to say there aren't variations out there somewhere.

The Mk 316 Mod 0 load also has the 41.8 (spec is 41.75 grains) of IMR 4064 in the FC brass. So it's the same load as the factory FGMM it looks like.

Dan
 
Dan Newberry said:
The FGMM 168 ammo has 42.8 grains of 4064, and the 175 SMK load has 41.8 grains of 4064. This is recent lots... and it's not to say there aren't variations out there somewhere.

The Mk 316 Mod 0 load also has the 41.8 (spec is 41.75 grains) of IMR 4064 in the FC brass. So it's the same load as the factory FGMM it looks like.

Dan
Click to expand...

Dan

Thanks for the info.

Do you know how 308 Lapua brass compares with the Federal when it comes to these 2 loads?
I only use Lapua and don't really want to mix brands or change if I don't have to.
 
175g SMK
42.3 IMR 4064
Win Brass
210m/210 primer
Oal - 2.820
2650 fps
24" LW barrel

Very tight little groups.
 
lrgrendel said:
Dan

Thanks for the info.

Do you know how 308 Lapua brass compares with the Federal when it comes to these 2 loads?
I only use Lapua and don't really want to mix brands or change if I don't have to.
Click to expand...

The Lapua will need a tiny bit more powder as it's going to be just a little roomier than the FC cases. Try using 41.9 or 42.0 grains and that should put you on the same node as the factory load.
 
Dan Newberry said:
The Lapua will need a tiny bit more powder as it's going to be just a little roomier than the FC cases. Try using 41.9 or 42.0 grains and that should put you on the same node as the factory load.
Click to expand...

In reading on the MK316 Mod 0 development ATK claims the case is a specially designed case based on the GMM case. Is it possible that it is along the lines of a NATO 7.62X51 case with a noticeably reduced internal capacity? I know that in order to duplicate the published performance for the MK316 Mod 0 I have to use 42.3 gr when loading 175 SMK's in Lapua brass. Not just accuracy but chronographed speeds as well.

When I measure the FGMM cases for water capacity they run almost exactly the same as Lapua brass (Blue Plastic Box production). Lapua Brass I have runs from 55,1 gr to 56 gr H20 and the FGMM cases 55.5 gr to 56 gr. ( I measured a lot more Lapua than FGMM which would probably account for the lower volume extreme) I only had a dozed FC's on hand and several hundred Lapua's).

Just wondering if anyone's layed their hands on some MK 316 Mod 0 and had a chance to check the case volume to see if it's as they say, a "special case" or just the same as the FGMM.
 
damoncali said:
The trouble is that the grains are like 3 inches long, so it meters like crap.
Click to expand...

Ever loaded Varget? H-4895? Can't use "Ball" for everything. :)

Definitely not for those that like to "throw n go" but not even an issue if you "drop n trickle" or just use a Chargemaster.


Just had a thought. Maybe the powder mfr's will come out with a powder that has sticks so large you just cut them off like you do with lead wire when swaging bullets? Kind of like the pyrodex pellets.
 
Last edited:
I have been reading some good things about this powder and I am going to try it in my 30 06. I think I will try loading for the 178 AMAX.
 
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