Which IMR Powder?

[Southwind]

LGS has IMR 4198, 4320 and 3031 in stock. I am loading for a Savage 12 .223 1-9 twist. My pet load is 26gr of IMR 4064 with a 50gr V Max in Lake City or Win brass. 4064 is no where to be found and I don't want to tap into my reserves until I can get my hands on some more.

I bought 1k Midway Dogtown 50gr soft point bullets for plinking this summer and to get my wife into rifle shooting. Out of the 3 powders I mentioned in the first line, is there one that would be better for this bullet/cartridge? I have not used any of them so far, but the IMR site said they should all be decent for .223 and other varmint calibers.

thx, Steve

 

[rduckwor]

On my burn rate chart, IMR 4198 is the fastest, considerably faster than your fav 4064. Then comes 3031, still faster by a good margin.

Then comes your 4064, and finally IMR 4320 which is immediately below Varget on the burn rate chart.

Good luck.

 

[rick biskynis]

In the same boat...

On my burn rate chart, IMR 4198 is the fastest, considerably faster than your fav 4064. Then comes 3031, still faster by a good margin.

Then comes your 4064, and finally IMR 4320 which is immediately below Varget on the burn rate chart.

Good luck.

In the same boat, were has all the 4064 gone.I`m sitting on 10-11 pounds but allready i`m looking for some kind of substitute.
We must be creative in this goofy times.

 

[turbo54]

In my opinion 4064 is slow for a ~50gr 223 load.

4895 would be optimal.

Honestly, 4198, 3031 and 4032 will all do the trick just fine. Do you weigh each charge? 3031 is shit through a powder measure. If you weigh, I'd go with the 3031. It was an old standby back in the day, but does work well. Otherwise I'd choose 4032 if you are trying to maximize velocity and 4198 if you're just plinking. 4198 meters the best of the bunch.

If we were closer, I'd set you up with 4064, I've got a decent stash of it, as well as Scot Brigadier 4065.

 

[Southwind]

I am probably going to try the 4320 first. I love the 4895. I use it for .243 and .308 so I don't really want to use up a bunch of it as it has been as hard to find as 4064. Gamaliel in KY just got in 300lbs of 4895 2 days ago. They sold 230lbs of it the first day. I managed to snag a couple lbs of it before they sold out day 2. I hand measure everything so I won't have to worry about those issues.

thx for all the help.

 

[Pinecone]

Hmm, local Bass Pro had 4064 last weekend.

 

[81Z4ME]

IMR4198 gave me my best groups with my Rem. varmint special and lighter bullets. I still use it today with 55 grain bullets in my faster twist AR15's. It doesn't meter as well as the ball powders (H335, AA#2200 - the only ball powders I've tried in my own rifles). I tried a lot of other powders in my Remington and my ARs and with on exception the IMR4198 gives me the best groups with the lighter bullets.

 

[lawman29]

I have a savage 12bvss. For precision shooting, 69 gr SMK & 70 gr Burger with 25.4 varget very accurate (under inch at 200) was using Remington 71/2 primers.
Did try some 55 gr Nosler bt that shot good with H335 @ 25 grs. Also, an old standby for .223 is 27 grs Win 748 in a 50 grain bullet...should shoot under an inch.