IMR4064 for 223 was bad choice!!! Please help!

[wingin37]

Just started reloading some 223 Remington and decided to try some IMR4064 because the IMR literature was talking about how great it was. I'm loading a Hornady 55gr SP W/C and was looking for some load data. Couldn't find anything on the Hornady bullet but a comparable bullet showed 23.0 - 25.7 gr of IMR4064. After fighting the long grain IMR I found that 24.0 gr pretty well filled up the 223 case to the neck. I don't think the case will hold 25.7 gr. After reading up a little more I realize I probably would have been better off with N133. Any ideas?

 

[boltgunluvr]

Well....actually....IMR 4064 is outstanding for 223 Rem with 50-55gr bullets even though it doesn't meter well. I use 25.4-25.5gr. It gives me the best groups and I use Sierra 55gr SPT & 53gr SMK. It's an oldie, but a goodie! Dont get fooled by all the latest greatest bs. Lets see what you & I can do since you have it on hand. Give me a little more info. Rifle, barrel length and twist, what kind of crown, etc???

 

[ShootDots]

IF you don't "hot-rod" it to the max, one of the best powders for 50-55gr bullets in the .223 is Winchester 748. It is NOT an extreme powder and as a ball powder will be somewhat sensitive to temp extremes, so don't run it up to max. depending on where you live. I live in Houston and we can see large temp fluctuations during any given day. I used to use it with the old 52gr Berger FlatBase M.E.F. bullet and with the "then new" 50gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. If memory serves me correctly, I BELIEVE (can't remember exactly that long ago) it was somewhere in the vicinity of 28grs with Rem 7 1/2 BR primers. I remember it was fabulously accurate and was LETHAL on prairie dogs out to >>.well let's just say a LONG way out there..

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Thats what I have loaded for the last 20 years for a old 340 savage and it shoots fine. 25 grs. with a 55 Sierra bt.


Kermit

 

[jonbearman]

lets not forget benchmark,322,h335,blc-2 are great powders for .223.

 

[gsg5pk]

I would suggest give a try with IMR 3031

 

[wingin37]

Thanks for the info guys. Boltgunluvr I'm shooting an AR15 with a 16" free-floating barrel with 1/9" twist. I've got another AR that I'm building and it will have a 20" free-floating barrel (twist undetermined at this time). I've got a lot of brass with multiple head stamps so I've started with PMC because that's what I have the most of. I've got CCI and Winchester small rifle primers in my cabinet to choose from. I was wondering is it OK to compress the powder with the bullet? I'm pretty sure that if I go above 24.0gr that's what will happen.
ShootDots I live in Oklahoma and I'm looking for accuracy, not so much speed. Thanks again guys.

 

[ShootDots]

Wing, one of the nice things about Win 748 is it's availability. Because it is not an "extreme" powder, it is not as sought after. If you can find a steady diet of Benchmark, you will LOVE that powder in the .223.. The reason I said Win 748 is because it is VERY, VERY accurate and will show some GREAT velocity>>>BUT mostly because you can find it right now! If you work up a load in the winter, you WILL need to work up a load also in the summer>>>but it may very well be worth the effort. Win. 748 was, for a LONG TIME, the "go to powder" for BOTH the .223 and .308! Now that we have A LOT of other choices (once this madness settles down) there are better powders ONLY because of the temp sensitivity issue>>>>Keep it away from max and you will not believe what it is capable of!

 

[bheadboy]

Mike Walker, repeatedly said his favorite for all the 222/222m, 223 was 4895, and 4064 second.

bob

 

[243winxb]

Accuracy Load RE-7 21.5 2900 1027
Hunting Load H335 25.7 3000 1099

Listed under Sierra load data for 55 gr auto rifles. http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/ I used IMR 4198 in M16 & bolt guns with 50 to 69 gr bullets, because i have to much of it. IMR not the best choice of powders for using in a measure. Have tried IMR 3031, 4895, 4064 also. The 55 gr Nosler was the most accurate with IMR 4198. The 68gr Hornady likes IMR 3031. 1-9 twist Savage bolt action.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Wingin....a 1 in 9 will do better with a heavier pill. I had success with 60-63gr and I was able to fit it in the magazine. A 55gr is great with a 1 in 12. You may try a lighter powder charge to slow your 55gr. You can compress but it may be a pain. And like you've already discovered, 4064 does NOT meter well. Mine were trickled.

Are you using any boattail bullets? There are rifles that hate BTs and I've found smaller cal can be very picky about this. All my 223s love flat base...bolts and ARs. I use flat base when developing loads.

 

[wingin37]

Thanks for the info ShootDots. I can get Benchmark where I buy my reloading supplies. Not sure about the 748 but I'll look next time I'm in there. Boltgunluvr I considered a heavier bullet with that twist but the 55gr was the only thing I could find at the time. We don't shoot as far here in the mountains of southeast Oklahoma as they do in the flat lands of western Oklahoma. I'm looking more for a heavier bullet out to say 200-yds. I was going to start working loads with these and work from there. I don't have any boat tails to load yet but that's on my list of things to do. I load a massive amount of pistol ammo but I'm just getting into the rifle cartridges so I'm just looking for some starting point. And I'm trickle charging all my loads too. Thanks again guys.

 

[KUZU]

h335,blc-2,benchmark in that order from 50 to 73 s. good shooting

 

[bigwoodsman]

my .223 Wylde shoots in the 3s at 100yds 24.0 Grs IMR-4064 69SMK never tried lighter bullets



Jeff

 

[areaone]

I think I have tried it all in 223, but Ramshot Xtreme is my choice above all, clean, fast and accurate to say nothing about meters like water. I use it in a 222 also and ask those Wyoming PD how it works.
My favorite in that 222 and 223 class and super in the 6 br with 55 and 58 gr bullets.