IMR 4064 or IMR 4166

[Carel_The_RSA]

Hi all. Quick question.

For those who have been reloading with .308 win, what is the difference between 4064 and 4166. Here in South Africa we have both, but they are a bit on the pricey side.

I would like to know what your experiences are.

I plan on using the powder with 168-178Gr Hornady bullets.
My setup: Sako .308 24" 1-11" twist.
Scope: Lynx LX3 2.5-15x50 Tactical

Any help would be appreciated.

Also, how is your experience with Varget ??

 

[Prose]

John Barsness (AKA Mule Deer) over on 24 hour campfire has some posts about 4064 and 4166, and also in his book under the section "Powders that work." If you search the campfire with those keywords you may be able to get some good bits of his work.

Varget works with everything, especially the 308. Any load manual will have good info on that one.

 

[SSL]

Go to Hodgdon's loading site and compare IMR 4064 and IMR 4166 loads. Both appear to do the same thing (within a few fps), but IMR 4166 looks to run higher pressures.
Many shooters swear by Varget. I have never had any luck getting the best from cartridges for which I load, but as many people that praise it, you might want to try a little to see for yourself in your firearm.

 

[cw308]

I use IMR 4064 only with a 168 gr Sierra MK , what I hear from others who use it it's less sensitive to temperature changes . It doesn't meter that well it's a stick powder, each grain is .02 ( IMR 4064 ) I don't know what your use is , hunting or benchrest or distance your shooting ? I only shoot benchrest 200 yards using a Remington 700 set up for benchrest only . My groups are 1/2" at 200 yards using 40.8 gr. very light load . My twist is 11.27 with a 21" Rock Creek M24 5R barrel. I have used Hornady A Max 168's shot just as good as the Sierra's . When I first started load development , I started with 3 different powders , IMR 4064 , RL15 , and Varget , for some reason my rifle didn't like Varget , IMR and RL was a close second bur 4064 shot best . Hope I Helped in some way .

Chris

 

[biggun2869]

4064, I'm an old guy but I don't see the difference. I tried Varget when it first came out and didn't do that great w/it. My major gunsmith (Jimmy Craig if some of you guys that hunt recognize the name) He gave me a load back in the early "70s of 35 gr of 4064 w/a 50 or 55 gr bullet in a 22-250. I can't get any of this other stuff to outshoot it. I have really tried to outdo the 4064 load and they just never did measure up for me. Again I'll say 4064.

 

[JFrank]

You may even give H4895 a look

 

[Doom]

I played with Varget and 4064 in 308, predominately with 168 SMKs. Settled on 4064. Haven’t seen any reason to change. If I were doing this today l would try 4064 and 4166 and see which performs better.

I shoot in 20 to 95 degrees F and 4064 is stable enough for that range of temperatures.

 

[BW64]

Tried Varget in my Rem .308 it was good but not as good as 4064. 1 hole with 175 or 195 SMKT @100. MOA @ 1000.

BW

 

[chromatica]

I started out using 4064 because of its versatility and because it is readily available. I use it for .223 .260, and .308. I am having success with it in my 260 Rem LPR reloads. After load development I was able to get some good groups. IMR 4166 was released a few years ago as a temperature insensitive powder that is expected to replace 4064. I tried 4166 and my groups opened up. I have heard the same criticism from other forum members. It may be that if I did more load development I could close the gap. Has anyone left switched from 4064 to 4166 without losing accuracy?

 

[msinc]

I have had the best luck with 4064 accuracy wise. Like SSL I have to say don't dismiss Varget if you can get it. I have never had any luck at all with it, but the rest of the shooting world raves about it, so it must just be me.
I have used 4166 quite a bit and while it is certainly acceptable accuracy wise, it definitely does not do what is supposed to be one of the biggest advantages to using it and that is reduce copper fouling. It honestly seems like it makes it worse to me. Now, maybe I was running it in some bad to foul barrels...but it sure is strange coincidence that the fouling just happened to stop when I switched powder.

 

[mikeinct]

Life long fan of IMR 4064 started my reloading metallic rifle cases with it. 22-250, 243win. 308win. 35 rem. First 8 lb keg of rifle powder I ever bought.

 

[muleman69]

Tried Varget in my Rem .308 it was good but not as good as 4064. 1 hole with 175 or 195 SMKT @100. MOA @ 1000.

BW

What twist and how many grains?

 

[BW64]

1:10 43.5 with 175s. 41.3with 195s.

BW

 

[nso123]

Like others have mentioned, I like 4064 in my .308, but have not had luck with Varget in .308 even though many others have. I have had great luck with Varget in 6.5CM.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

42.0 of 4064 with a 168 SMK or a 175 SMK. were Match loads for M-14's and M1A's. 45.0 of RL-15 with Molyed 175'S in 40X bolt gun.

 

[dttheliman]

Like a lot of guys - had mixed results with Varget , my best results are with Reloder 15 and 4064 with everything from 150gr through 178gr , in my Sako TRG 22 24" l

 

[Bbear]

Tried IMR 4064 and Varget in my 308 hunting rifle. Both had good groups but recoil was a touch more with the varget. 4064 works in a couple of other rifles I have so, I stocked up on it.
In short, I have 19 lbs of IMR 4064 to use up and a little less than a pound of 4166.

Probably should have put that last sentence first.

 

[STOMP442]

4064 is a great powder and very versatile. 42.0gr of IMR4064 and a 175gr Sierra go together like peas and carrots. Just about every .308 I have tried that load in has loved it. Like a lot of these other guys are saying Varget and I don't really get along. I have tried it in numerous rifles and calibers and the results have always been lack luster.

 

[Bulletbob]

4064 is a great powder and very versatile. 42.0gr of IMR4064 and a 175gr Sierra go together like peas and carrots. Just about every .308 I have tried that load in has loved it. Like a lot of these other guys are saying Varget and I don't really get along. I have tried it in numerous rifles and calibers and the results have always been lack luster.

I have had good experience with IMR 4064 in a 308, I now shoot a 6.5x47, has anyone used the 4064 in this case, and if so, would share alittle info. Powder volume, velocity SD, accuracy. Thanks

 

[Ned Ludd]

Does anyone have an accurate single kernel (avg) weight for each of these powders?

Thanks!