Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Opinions on IMR 4064 for 243 & 223(222 Rem Mag)?

My local gunshop is very limited in powder choices right now and say they are having trouble ordering powder, bullets, primers etc...same as everywhere else around the country.

Last week they had several pounds of H335, Varget, H380 etc; this week , none.

I'm not new to reloading by any means but have never tried IMR 4064 and don't know anybody who uses it. The shelf was full of this powder so I did some comparisons in an older Sierra reloading manual(the only one they had) at the gunshop. From the loads in the manual 4064 looked almost like a twin to Varget in burn rate and load density for use in 223 and 243 respectively.

Decided to buy a pound and after I got home I did a little more research in my Nosler manual. I also found an IMR manual(freebie paperback type)for comparison in my stack of stuff in the cupboard. Both manual's information pretty much echoed Sierra's. IMR describes 4064 as "the most versatile" of their powders.

Anybody have good experience, bad experience, or any experience with this powder in the 222 Rem Mag(or 223 Rem), and 243 Win?

The only problem I can see with the 222 mag. 223 would be the fact that 4064 is pretty a pretty bulky powder and may fill these small cases full before the desired charge is reached. It will work very well in the 243 with the lighter bullets, not the best choice with the heavier bullets but when your back is against the wall it will do. Very versatile powder works well in many different cartridges, I used a lot of it for many years mainly in the 220 swift. Switched to RL15 as a replacment for it mainly because RL15 meters better through my powder measure.

Agree. As a minimum, you're going to have to "swirl" it in through a funnel to get enough of those little logs into a .223 case - and at worst you may have to hold each one against a rechargeable toothbrush. It's at the raggedy end of slow for that round, just as Varget is.

Good point.. yeah, the stick powders can be a pain - even in the .264WM where I use IMR 4350.. I have to dump the measure slowly so as not to get a 'bridge' of powder in the drop tube..

Not trying to steal your thread, but if the 4064 doesn't work out for you IMR 4895 might be another powder that's more available than some of the more popular 223 powders. Doesn't get their velocity, about 3100 fps with 50 & 55 grain bullets, but I've gotten good to real good accuracy and it meters ok. H4895 probably works as well.

4064 is bulky for a 223 neck.. and will fill up the case with about 25 grains.. and won't give max velocity, but it will give fair velocity and good accuracy...

H 380 is also a not commonly used powder in a 223, but is also very accurate...with velocity right around 3000 fps, regardless of bullet weight.. it is very low pressure with bullets whose weights are lighter than 60 grains..

4064 is one of my main "go to" powders for ANY 308 sized case, including the 243...
The others being IMR 4895, Varget, and RL 15, W 748....in similar burn rates...
This is with any sized bullets...

If I could only stock one powder for 22.250 and up, 4064, IMR 4895, RL 15, Varget or W 748 would be one of the picks...

I gotta pretty much agree here.

Along these lines, Varget, RL-15 and 4064 have very similar burn rates and will do about the same in the 222 Mag case.

4064 should be harder to compact, so a drop tube or trickling should be used. Varget and RL-15 is fairly easy without too much fuss. I use Rl-15 and Varget for bullets 60-77 grs. in that cartridge, where they work well (haven't used 4064).

Hornady Fourth Edition lists loads fo a 26" Rem. 788:

50gr. 26.4 grs. 4064 3,400 fps.

55gr. 26.2 grs. 4064 3,300 fps

If I had the powder I would make it work, surely it does, even if not ideal.