Anyone use Imr-4064 for .223 rem?

223 Rem - IMR 4064 -68gr Hornady

IMR4064 did ok, but not great, with Hornady 68gr bullets for me. 24.5gr is as high as i went, a compressed load. Nothing wrong with a compressed load, just may take more time to load it. IMR 3031 was more accurate with this bullet. Bolt action rife.

I've not used IMR4064 in many years but it is a fairly versatile powder if you can get the long granules to drop consistently. Not the best powder for the small 223 case, but will work fairly well, and that's a plus if you have a bunch of it.
I personally do not like using powders that require a compressed load, but people have been doing it safely for many years, and if you use a start load and work up, you may be pleasantly surprised at it's potential.


NCsmitty

I have used 4064 (both IMR and Accurate) in the .223 with 55 gr bullets. Accuracy was good, and velocity was adequate, around 3200 fps IIRC. Not my first choice for the .223, but I would be happy to use it if I had a bunch. IMR-4064 is a very versatile useful powder from .223 Rem up through 30-06.

I'll tell you... I'd just about kill for a few pounds of 4064. It is non-existent in this part of the country. I've never used it in .223 or 5.56, but I use it in almost all of my large rifle loads. I'm down to one pound left! I'll be glad when it comes back...

Imr4064

IMR4064 works fine in 5.56 but I stopped at 25.0 gr. which fills the LC case. I weigh every charge and drop through a funnel with a 4" extension tube. Occasionally the long grains of 4064 will bridge in the tube and need tapping to fully drop the charge into the case. That is really no problem once you figure it out and check for it. Accuracy is fine.

RainDodger said:

I'll tell you... I'd just about kill for a few pounds of 4064. It is non-existent in this part of the country. I've never used it in .223 or 5.56, but I use it in almost all of my large rifle loads. I'm down to one pound left! I'll be glad when it comes back...

Click to expand...

3rd generation shooting supply has 570 pounds of 4064 in stock. If you don't mind mail order. It's 21.50/lb. They are in El reno OK. I have had great service from them. I am not affiliated with them, just a customer.
http://store.thirdgenerationshootingsupply.com/browse.cfm/2,3669.html

jb, 9/23/13

I live in a remote part of the country where UPS and Fedex don't deliver so I am restricted to the few powders the LGS has in stock. I had an eight pound keg of 4064 and started experimenting.

I used a 65 grain Sierra spitzer point boat tail bullet and worked up a load of 20-25 grains. Twenty-five grain velocity was about 2600 ft/second and functioned well in my LMT 1:7" twist AR. I used a Dillon 650 and had to use a slower cadence when dropping the powder to give it time to slowly fill the case.

Then when the hoarding began about ten months ago I couldn't get any type of AR bullet. I resorted to lead casting 72 grain bullets which I heat treated and which worked well. The maximum speed I could get and retain accuracy was only about 2,000 ft/second. I had to put in a Wolf reduced power buffer spring to get the action to fully cycle with the reduced velocity loads but have had no problem with 600 rounds so far. No leading in chamber, barrel or bolt/carrier and accuracy is 2.4 MOA. It was a way to keep shooting when no bullets were available.

So in summary you can get 4064 to move .223 reloads as long as you give a couple of seconds for the powder to drop into the case. I've also used a RCBS Rockchucker and powder measure to do them in a single stage press as well with no problems. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow

If IMR4064 is what you have then that's what you load. (as long as the powder/cartridge combination is safe) Since Varget and IMR4064 are similar in burn rates and Varget is praised in the .223 I see no reason a good .223 load can't be found using IMR4064.

If you go about developing your .223 load as you would any other I'm sure you will find something that will make you happy. Since IMR4064 is on the slow side for loading the .223 I doubt you can get enough in the case to cause an overpressure problem so you are at least safe on that front.

I really like 4064 in the other NATO cartridge but like I said above, if that's what you have that's what you load. Don't forget the range report...

royesses... Thank you, thank you thank you. I cannot say it enough. I have been hoarding my very last pound of 4064 and simply not shooting those rifles I use it in as much as I'd like to. You made my day... I just ordered from your link.

You're welcome. That's how I felt when I found the 4064.

I have, it worked great for me with the mini 14

I have used it in the past.

But I prefer ball powder (W-748) in the small case, as it flows through a powder measure & small case neck like water.

No worry's about powder bridging in the measure and over-charges.

rc

I have used a lot of IMR 4895 in my 223.IMR 4064 is very close in burning rate to IMR 4895 but I have stayed away from it because the long grains and my RCBS powder measure don't get along.I would weigh every charge and would throw them light and use a trickler to touch up the weight.Weighing each charge would be OK for just a few boxes for hunting but for me would get very old for a higher volume.AA 2230 is my choice for higher volume loading

I hope you guys bought an 8lb jug of 4064 since they also have those!