Back to the IMR powders again

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Peter M. Eick

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I was reloading rifle again yesterday and I used up my Retumbo (25-06) and and finished off the Varget (7-08) finally. After a fair number of tests and experiments it seems like I keep coming back to the IMR series of powders over and over again. I try every new wonder powder that comes along but for rifle I just keep ending up back at the IMR's. I tend to use:

IMR 4227 - 357 Max
IMR 3031 - 30/30
IMR 4895, 4064 7-08 and 308
IMR 4831, 4350 and 7828 25-06

Any one else keep looping back to the IMR's over time?
 
We always used 4064 for all our rifles 30-30, 30-06, .243 and .300 savage with good results. Recently I happened on to some 4895 and it works great in the 30-06 and .243 so far. In fact I am very impressed with the results I am getting with my .243, may have to make it my go to powder.
 
My next big powder purchase will be a keg of 4895 and 4064. I have not decided if I want a keg of 4350 or 4831 yet. Probably 4350 right now.

IMR powders just seem to behave themselves for me.
 
Nothing seems to work better for my 7-08 than 4064 and my 30'06 adores 4350. Anything else is wishful experimentation.
 
I use IMR 3031 in my Marlin 35 Rem and IMR 4064 in my 03-A3. Both work just great. The only other centerfire that I reload at this time is my .223...in which I use Benchmark.
 
IMR 4895 and 4064; about the best darn powders for medium case cartridges.

Its back to the future.
 
80% of my powder on hand is IMR.

Plenty of 4895, 4831, and 4064.

Conceivably, I could load for all of my rifles except the 375H&H using 4895. The stuff is just so versatile. Works in bolt guns, autoloaders, compound bows, and slingshots. :D
 
For .30-06 I use IMR-4350.
For .243 I use -4064.
For .22-250 I use -4320.
For .223 I have used -4320 but AA-2460 seems to work best.

If I could have only one powder for all my long guns, I'd probably pick IMR-4320. Not "THE BEST" but good enough. I try new powders but seem to come back to these.
 
I wish I couod get as good results with IMR powders that I get with Hodgdon powders. IMR powder is easier to find.

My 25-06 and 7mm RM love Retumbo with a variety of differnt bullets, I don't get near the same accuracy using IMR 7828 in either gun.

When I had my 243 nothing was better than H4831 SC.

And, H4895 is superb in both my 223 using Sierra 63 grain bullets and 45-70 using Hornady 350 grain RN bullets.

I think I will try IMR 4895 in the 223 and 45-70 since the local guy always has it in stock.
 
I just looked at my stock of powder, I can't remember the last time I used any of the IMR powders. My recent loading has been with either Hodgdon or Alliant powders. Then there's the surplus powders I use for non-hunting blasting ammo. I also use some Winchester powder for pistol,(w-231), and HS-6 and 7.

Hodgdon keeps coming out with new powders for specific needs, like retumbo, varget, benchmark, and longshot. They also make the claim that their powders are temperature stable. Some day, I will do experiments to verify that.

Alliant has also come out with load specific powders, STEEL being the absolute best for loading high speed steel shot loads.
 
Powder is not the most important ingredient in the mix. The proper selection of the primer will make or break the accuracy of the load. I would highly recommend that a selection of primers be stocked in the reloading room. Federal, Remington, Winchester, RWS, etc. should be on the shelf to properly ascertain the accuracy of a load. RWS primers always proved to be the ultimate when it came to accuracy for my use. I shot them in my .308 course gun and also in my 300 Win. Mag Long Range Gun with excellent results. I won many state championships using RWS primers with both guns. Of course, this wasn't a fluke as I put a lot of hours into testing across my Oehler chronograph (single digit SD's). I'll bet that if you purchased another pound of Varget and you got your hands on a pack of RWS primers you would be amazed at the results. They are expensive but they are also the pinnacle in quality and that is what I thrive on!
 
yes, i am a big IMR powder fan myself. 3031,4198, SR4759, 4831. but i dont use it in my pistols. maybe they need to make "IMP" series of powder! LOL!
 
280 gets 4350,,
8mm gets 4320
30 herret gets 4227
221 gets 4198
they all shoot great groups.
 
i tried 700x&800x & did`nt meter to well so i powder graphited my measure, helped.
loading up some 44s with800x & it wanted to bridge on me (iuse a measure then trickle top pressure loads) so i took a pinch of graphite & put it in the whole pound & shook it in problem solved !!
i had a few rounds left & thought i`d chronograph to see any difference none found!!
just wanted to add that IMR 700x&800x are not my go to powders for the mentioned problem , but that may changewith the (fix) i`ve stumbled on to . my guns do like em though.

GP100man
 
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IMR powders work pretty well for me. The only reason I haven't got the 5lb IMR 4350 yet is that I want to try Reloder 17 out first. Does that stuff even exist? I check Sportsman's Warehouse every week for it.


55 gr. 22-250: IMR 4064
165 gr. 30-06: IMR 4350
180 gr. 300 WSM: IMR 4350
 
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