IMR 4166 in .308

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IALoder

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Hey guys, been doing a little horse trading lately and ended up with 2lbs IMR 4166 in one of the trades. Data I have been able to find is minimal other than Hodgdon's website. I've been playing with 150 and 165 gr .308 loads for hunting in my slightly picky LR-308. It looks right next to 4064 on the burn rate chart, and 4064 is one of the 2 powders it seems to shoot well with. Anyone have much experience with 4166? Which would be a better bullet weight to try first?

TIA!
 
If it's the Enduron companion to IMR4064, then you would probably have better luck with the 165grn bullets.

Generically speaking, the Enduron powders give up a little velocity to the standard powders.
 
I was thinking 165's first as well. A little velocity is no big deal, most shots are inside 200, definitely inside 300. Thinking of starting around 41-41.5 gr and working up. There sure isn't much info on it out! Must be because it's a newer powder?
 
I would email Hodgdon with it and the bullet weights you want to try if there is no published data. They often have data there they can provide you that's not published.
 
IALoder said:
I was thinking 165's first as well. A little velocity is no big deal, most shots are inside 200, definitely inside 300. Thinking of starting around 41-41.5 gr and working up. There sure isn't much info on it out! Must be because it's a newer powder?
Click to expand...

The Sierra book, Edition 6, has the load data for IMR 4166 Enduron. For .308 Win, 150 gr. (page 659) they start the load at 40.2 grains and top out at 43.0. For 165 gr. bullets (page 660), they start at 38.1 and top out at 42.4 grains.

I would start at a lower load, myself. (Yeah, I'm new around these parts)
 
It will do anything in 308 that you could do with Varget, RL-15, or 4064. It's advantage over 4064 is that it is resistant to temperature swings much like Varget.

I use Varget as my go-to hunting powder and use a lot of 4064 for target loads. Both are equally accurate and I can get the same speeds with either. Varget gets the nod for hunting due to temperature resistance. I use the 4064 for target loads simply to save the Varget for hunting.

When I was unable to find either Varget or 4064 a few months back I bought a cannister of 4166 just to experiment with and to have on hand if I run out of the others. I use the data on Hodgdons website and wouldn't have any issues with anything 150-180 gr. I got the same accuracy and very close to the same speeds with it compared to my preferred powders.
 
Zahn said:
The Sierra book, Edition 6, has the load data for IMR 4166 Enduron. For .308 Win, 150 gr. (page 659) they start the load at 40.2 grains and top out at 43.0. For 165 gr. bullets (page 660), they start at 38.1 and top out at 42.4 grains.

I would start at a lower load, myself. (Yeah, I'm new around these parts)
Click to expand...

Hodgdon's website is giving me 40.2gr start, 44.9 max with 165's and 43.0 start, 48.0 max with 150's. I may just start down around 40gr to be on the safe side then! I have the sierra 5th, and my best accuracy with this rifle has been around Sierra's max load for the powder/ bullet combo. No 4166 in it though! Thanks for the data!


jmr40 said:
It will do anything in 308 that you could do with Varget, RL-15, or 4064. It's advantage over 4064 is that it is resistant to temperature swings much like Varget.

I use Varget as my go-to hunting powder and use a lot of 4064 for target loads. Both are equally accurate and I can get the same speeds with either. Varget gets the nod for hunting due to temperature resistance. I use the 4064 for target loads simply to save the Varget for hunting.

When I was unable to find either Varget or 4064 a few months back I bought a cannister of 4166 just to experiment with and to have on hand if I run out of the others. I use the data on Hodgdons website and wouldn't have any issues with anything 150-180 gr. I got the same accuracy and very close to the same speeds with it compared to my preferred powders.
Click to expand...

I think I have one of the "weird" .308's. It shot okay at best with Varget, IMR4895, AA2495, and RL-15, shoots great with 4064, and H4895(I'm out of H4895). If 4166 works out well I'm definitely wanting to use it as my hunt load powder, because of the temp resistance. I really haven't noticed much for temp related accuracy difference with 4064 between 35° and 85° though.
 
It's not weird. My Savage 10T in .308 just doesn't like powders faster than IMR4064. I loaded up some test loads... a 168grn Nosler CC over both IMR4895 and IMR4064. At 700yds I was getting 3' misses with IMR4895, but IMR4064 never strayed. It also really, really doesn't like 150grn bullets or lighter. Who am I to argue?
 
H 4895 is a faster burning powder than 4064 or 4166
I have a burn chart however it won’t open up so you’ll have to trust me on this one.
 
Last edited:
Charlie98 said:
It's not weird. My Savage 10T in .308 just doesn't like powders faster than IMR4064. I loaded up some test loads... a 168grn Nosler CC over both IMR4895 and IMR4064. At 700yds I was getting 3' misses with IMR4895, but IMR4064 never strayed. It also really, really doesn't like 150grn bullets or lighter. Who am I to argue?
Click to expand...

4064 with 165's/168's is a constant performer in this rifle. So well it's hard to crack open a new type of powder to try. It only seems to shoot 150's well if they're a flat base bullet.


South Prairie Jim said:
H 4895 is a faster burning powder than 4064 or 4166
I have a burn chart however it won’t open up so you’ll have to trust me on this one.
Click to expand...

H4895 did great with flat base 150's, okay with 165/168's. Probably due to it being a little faster burning. If I could find some I'd be set for 150 gr hunting loads.
 
South Prairie Jim said:
H 4895 is a faster burning powder than 4064 or 4166
I have a burn chart however it won’t open up so you’ll have to trust me on this one.
Click to expand...

I've found H4895 a wee bit slower than IMR4895, but both are certainly faster than IMR4064.

I'm on the fence with the Enduron powders... IMR4064 works so well where it's appropriate, it would be hard to change, particularly for what would be a lateral move (same essential burn rate.)
 
Yeah I hear ya, especially with the supplies not being readily.
I save the H4895 for the 6 BRA and the Varget for the straight six and the 308 will eat whatever I feed it.
 
I was thinking about just leaving the 4166 unopened and going with my 4064 load, but now I'm overly curious. I'm thinking 41.0-43.0 in .5 increments with the 165's and 4166 is going to happen. Hopefully I find another powder that's good in my .308
 
IALoder said:
I was thinking about just leaving the 4166 unopened and going with my 4064 load, but now I'm overly curious. I'm thinking 41.0-43.0 in .5 increments with the 165's and 4166 is going to happen. Hopefully I find another powder that's good in my .308
Click to expand...
Soooo
4166&4064 are side by side on the burn chart, you may be closer to 43.6-44.4 depending on freebore
 
IALoder said:
I was thinking about just leaving the 4166 unopened and going with my 4064 load, but now I'm overly curious.
Click to expand...

Luck favors the prepared. I'm working with, of all things... H335, right now as an alternate to other powders in both my M1a and my M1, just to see. I'm not looking for supreme accuracy, I find it unlikely with H335, but a workable load. I already have IMR4895 worked up as well, even if it's not the best choice. These days of limited product availability, it pays to have an alternate.

When I started loading for 6.5CM, none of the 4350's were available, so I just picked IMR4451 instead... the Enduron equivalent to IMR4350. It works well enough, and I don't have to fight for 4350.

Let us know how it turns out!
 
I prepped/sized the brass and got bullets out for a ladder test with 4166 last night. Decided to go with my original 41.5-43.5 ladder with 165's. Hopefully I can get it loaded up before Sunday. It looks like an okay day to shoot!

I had the same thing happen looking for 4350's for my .243&6.5CM. Ended up getting some RL-16, and it works great!
 
I've used both H4895 and IMR4895, as well. Subtle differences as you mentioned. I used IMR4895 this year with a Hornady 150 grain sp (flat base) bullet for whitetail hunting and had great success with accuracy and a quick kill. I bought some 165 grain sp that got good reviews. So you guys are saying the IMR4064 will work better with the 165 bullets. I have that unopened. I also have Varget. I'm shooting a Savage Model 12 with a stock 26" heavy barrel. I hadn't considered the 4166 until right now. Thanks.
 
WillyG said:
I've used both H4895 and IMR4895, as well. Subtle differences as you mentioned. I used IMR4895 this year with a Hornady 150 grain sp (flat base) bullet for whitetail hunting and had great success with accuracy and a quick kill. I bought some 165 grain sp that got good reviews. So you guys are saying the IMR4064 will work better with the 165 bullets. I have that unopened. I also have Varget. I'm shooting a Savage Model 12 with a stock 26" heavy barrel. I hadn't considered the 4166 until right now. Thanks.
Click to expand...

4895, 4064, and Varget are all solid choices for 165gr in .308. I'd honestly try Varget first for the temp stability. I'd love to give Varget another try, but I don't have any, can't find any!
 
I have used 4166 with good results but found it had a narrow accuracy window for me I never bought any more
but in todays times with the component shortage I would use it again I had good results with 168 gr amax and 41gr
but a few tenths of a grain the groups opened way up this is only my experience
 
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