IMR 4064

[billycurl]

Im new at this reloading and just getting my feet wet so bear with me .Im interested in reloading 308 with 168 barnes tsx. My question is powder IMR 4064 to be exact. what kind of result have any of you had with this combo? Im using nosler brass and cci large primer. rifle is a rem 700 vs had a 26 in barrel cut and recrowned to 24 with muzzle brake and timney trigger.

[Marco Califo]

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

BULLET WEIGHT
168 GR. BAR TTSX BT
Starting Loads Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR IMR 4064 .308" 2.800" 43.0 2,539 47,400 PSI 45.0C 2,743 58,900 PSI

[billycurl]

thanks great info but was just wondering what others found they liked or disliked about this powder bullet combo.

[Okcafe86]

I use varget and 4064 for 150 gr pills in my .308 with good results. If I were to use say a 180 gr pill I would probably try 4831. At least that's what I use for heavy pills in my 30-06.

[Mobuck]

4064 is about ideal burning rate for mid-weight bullets in .308
downside is, it doesn't meter as well as ball powder and may end up with compressed loads with some data

[jmr40]

What are you going to do with it?

168's are probably borderline too heavy to use as a hunting bullet in a 308. The Barnes bullets need lots of speed to work right, around 2000-2200 fps at impact or you get little or no expansion. The 168's are going to drop below that speed at fairly short range. Generally if you can't get them to leave the muzzle at 3000 fps, drop down in weight till you can. I shoot 130's in my 308 @ 3050 fps, 150's in my 30-06 at 3025 fps. I'd use the heavier bullets at magnum speeds.

Would probably make decent target bullet, but I think there are other, better target bullets out there.

I haven't tried 4064 with Barnes bullets, but it works very well with other 308 loads I've tried in the past. You could probably do a lot worse. The good news is that 308's seem to shoot well with at least 5-6 different powders. I see 4064 listed as the most accurate powder with 150's for my 300 WSM. I plan to experiment with that load real soon. Should be able to get around 3300 fps.

[billycurl]

Thanks for the info.a hunting load is what im after out to 300 yards Max .used 168 in factory load but have no clue on their speed.with the Max for this load i think without looking at it is round 2700 and min being 2400. May try something different.

[Bart B.]

.308's with 180-gr. hunting bullets have dropped more than a few elk, so I don't think any bullet in the 160's is too heavy at all. They've got more gusto than the old .30-30 and .30-40 heavy bullets that also have dropped a bunch of elk. Yes, you gotta be within 300 yards, be a good marksman and all that stuff.

IMR4064 was "the" powder in the .308's heyday for high power match rifle competition and still's excellent these days. 41 to 42 grains for reduced loads with 165 to 168 grain bullets and 43 to 44 grains for maximum loads. They'll leave 24 inch barrels between 2600 and 2700 fps with normal, maximum safe peak pressures.

[Okcafe86]

The longer barrel will def help with upping velocity.

[oldscot3]

IMO Imr 4064 isn't a bad choice but there are several ball powders I prefer for 308 loads. In mauser cases though... especially my 8mm w/ 175 and 7.65 Argentine... it's nearly always my first choice.

With today's challenges about what's in stock, if that's what you have... use it. The 308 is easy to load for, you'll probably find loads that work for you.

[Sam06]

IMR 4064 is a very good powder for the 308 with that weight bullet. 4064 and 4895 have been the goto powders for the 308 for years and are still popular.

My observation using it is this;

1. Its a stick powder so it will not meter as well as a ball powder. You may need to use a trickler to get the weight just right. With hunting ammo and ammo produced for accuracy that is not a big deal.

2. My most accurate loads in 308 are well down from max velocity with 4064 and 4895. From what I have experienced 2525fps-2650fps is the sweet spot for these powders.

3. What was said about the TSX bullet needing velocity to work right is true. I would look at a Sierra Game king type bullet that will open at a lower velocity if you are planning on taking long shots with moderate loads.

4. For my Bolt gun(Rem 700 PSS 26" bbl) with 168gr bullets 43.2gr is the sweet spot. I use a RCBS charge Master to throw powder and it works great and is very accurate. This load with LC Brass and CCI LBR primers has SD of 15fps a velocity of 2600 fps and shoot sub MOA out to 600 meters.

5. IMR 4064 is a little more temperature sensitive than Varget and the other Extreme powders Hogdon puts out. If you are hunting this will not be a problem unless you leave your ammo in the sun and its gets real hot(Not good to do with any ammo).

Another good powder for the 308 is Reloader 15, you may want to give it a try if you can find it. The Military uses it in the M118 round and like 4064 it can be used in either 308 or 223. In my rifles RL 15, 4064 and 4895 are much more consistent, shot to shot and pound to pound than Varget. Varget is a good powder that does a lot of things good but none of them great In my experience YMMV.

[Bart B.]

Metered, not weighed, charges of most stick powders to a 3/10ths grain spread will produce 1/4 MOA accuracy through 300 yards if the rifle, its cases, primers, bullets and its holder are up to it. Sierra Bullets charges their .308 Win test cases checking accuracy of their 30 caliber bullets 180 grains and less doing that (they don't prep their cases, either). Good lots of their match bullets go into 1/2 inch in their test range; that's 1/4 MOA.

[coldbeer]

I get sub moa accuracy with 168's using IMR 4064 or 3031 in my 18" Savage 308. I've tried a lot of powders with this rifle and those two are as good as any. 42-43 grains of 4064 and 40-41 grains of 3031 with the 168's are the sweet spot for my rifle. There are newer sexier powders these days like Varget, Re15 and pp2000mr but if they're better I haven't noticed it although they may be less temperature sensitive. I'll give them that.

[emcon5]

IMR4064 is by far my favorite powder for .308 sized cases (.308 and .243 in particular).

[603Country]

4064 is probably my all around favorite powder. Works well in so many calibers.

[green_MTman]

I'm working with 4064 right now but never used it in a .308 though.varget was what I used in my old 308 and varget the more accurate powder for the .308 win.

4064 is best suites for the in between .308 and 30-06 type rounds like 7-57 Mauser or 6.5-55

Many people like 4064 in 30-06 but I would tell anyone to use 7828 or retumbo with mag. Primers for 25-06 and up
The IMR 4064 is not a great powder but is very versetile and should work well for you but try varget with federal 210 match primers in your .308 if you have the opportunity some day

[1stmar]

Since the shortage it's all I use.
308
3006 (2 different rifles)
22-250
223 (2 different rifles)
35 rem

Very satisfies with the results in all guns.

[GeauxTide]

4064 goes in my 30-06. 26fps extreme spread and 5/8" groups with 150 Hornady or Sierra.

Had better luck in the 308 with Varget.

[BOOMST1CK]

4064 and Reloader-15 is what I use for my 150 grain pills, Reloader-19 for heavier.

[hdbiker]

My go to load for my Rem.742 carbine in .308 Win is 45 grains of IMR 4064 under a 165 grain round nose for the heavy Wisconsin woods.I've used this load for over 40 years on whitetails and it knocks them right over. hdbiker

[green_MTman]

One little gripe I have with 4064 or at least in my 6.5-55 is the powder seems dense and does not fill up the case real good.a lot of space between the powder and neck of the case.

When I used to load varget, max loads loads were compressed and starting loads were close to the neck.