Is IMR 4064 forgotten?

A

armednfree

New member
I looking at all these sights at 22-250 data. All these different powders, rarely is IMR 4064 mentioned.

That was always the top powder for 22-250. It seems that if I drop 35.8 grains behind a 55 grain bullet it shoots great, in everything. Now granted another powder might shave .1 or 2 off a group but in the field that makes no real difference ( I don't shoot prairie dogs).

It seems these new powders are running the tried and true out. I'm ok though, I have 14 pounds of IMR 4064. 80's vintage stuff.
 
"...14 pounds of IMR 4064. 80's vintage stuff..." How has it been stored for 30 plus years? That's the only thing that matters.
"...it shoots great..." That's all that matters too. And no, IMR4064 hasn't been forgotten. It's one of the 'go to' .30 cal match load powders.
"...don't shoot prairie dogs..." They don't live everywhere.
 
Almost all i use. 3006, 308, 22-250, 223, 35 rem. May not always produce the highest velocities or the tightest groups but exceptional across the board superb powder. I get very tight groups with these cartridges.
 
IMR 4064 is my go to for .308 rifles. seems to be very prevalent in my area. Cabela's, Gander mountain , fleet & farm, LGS... good stuff. Ive noticed it is not in some of the loading books as much any more, plenty at the store.
 
I use in in my bolt .308 loads, and I can sub it in on about 4 other rifle cartridges I load for... .348, .45-70, 6.5CM, and .30-30. With the exception of the 6.5CM, I normally load low velocity cast bullets in the other 3 cartridges, but when I load jacketed, I reach for IMR4064.

Oddly enough, my dependency on IMR4895 has waned a bit... split between IMRs 3031 and 4064, believe it or not. If it wasn't for the M1 Garand, I probably wouldn't have IMR4895 on the bench.
 
I use a fair amount of it in my 308 when I'm looking solely for best accuracy. I prefer Varget or RL15 for hunting loads. It can be used in 30-06, but there are better options.

Between the 3 I get virtually the same speeds and a smidge better accuracy with 4064. But not enough to matter in a hunting situation. The difference is temperature stability. You can see 150-200 fps difference between +20* and +90* with 4064. With Varget or some of the other temperature resistant powders you'd see around 20-25 fps difference. I think that is the primary reason it is used less than in the past.
 
Oh hell no !!!. IMR 4064 is my go to powder in all my rifles, I've used one powder after another for for 45 years and setteled on IMR4064. It mayby not the very best in.223, .243, .270, 30-30, .308 and 30-06 but its at or near the top in velosity in my guns. It's also the most versible powder out there. hdbiker
 
I came in from work and read my post. Lord, I sound like my father. Then I look at all your responses and see "Senior Member".
 
4064 is a tried and true powder. The only downside is it's a stubborn stick powder. When I say "stubborn" I'm speaking strictly in reguards to metering through a drum powder dispenser. 4064 is like chopping matchsticks. There are many outstanding substitutes such as Varget, 4895, and 748 that meter so much better . However 4064 does serve as the go to powder for my 1903A4 with the 168 Nosler CC. For dumping 4064 I only use my RCBS chargemaster 1500 , and no annoying "chopping matchsticks" with the 1500 !
 
I use it in my Mosin Nagants and my 8MMs where it really shines for me. It is "like chopping matchsticks" through a RCBS Uniflow, but not in my Lee powder measure. The Lee outfit runs smooth and consistent with IMR sticks.
 
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