IMR 4895 & IMR 4064

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Years ago I learned that IMR 4895 and 30 caliber go together like bread & butter. I stopped jumping around from powder to powder and centered my efforts on IMR 4895. I never looked back and I'm confident that was a good choice.
For 6mm & 7mm projectiles, IMR 4064 is my go-to powder.

When it comes to the availability of reloading supplies, we ride a never ending series of crests and troughs. Currently we are in a trough. For those of us that have been around a while, this is nothing new. Like most that have weathered more than a few shortages, I ride them out and I don't get too excited.

Finding myself with more 4895 than 4064 on hand, I'm looking at using 4895 in more applications.
Obviously the two powders are different and not directly interchangeable but, I'm wondering if suitable loads using 4895 will deliver good results in cartridges such as 243 Win and 7mm-08 ? The burn rates between 4895 & 4064 are close.

I am ALWAYS looking to simplify my logistics.

Any input?
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have depends upon what you want to accomplish.
In a 243 the 4895 will give up some velocity to a powder like 4350. 4064 will be in between.
That said the 4895 is not the velocity king in a 30-06 either.

For general purpose, all around rifle powders, it is hard to beat 4895. It might not always be the best but it won’t ever be the worst.
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
My 30 cal. is a 308W. I tried 4895 and 4064 and had much better luck with 4064, better accuracy at higher velocities. (mostly jacketed 150 gr.). I finally settled on WW748 for my 308W.
My only 6mm is the 6mm Remington and find I have better results with slower powders. I load 95-105gr. bullets in the 6mm. No help simplifying things here......except to say I use H4831 in the 6mm Rem and 7mm Rem. Mag.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I bet your 7-08 and 243 do just fine with the 4895.
I'm not one of those this or that powder speed has to go here types.
I use whatever I want and quite often find myself using two very different powder burn rates in two different rifles of the same cartridge designation.
I use I-4895 in the wife's 0-6 and I use 4064 in my 0-6 except when I use RL-22.
in the 7x57's I bet I have jacketed rounds loaded with 4064,h-450,rl-19,4831,and 4895 on hand right now.
 

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
I have been using 4895 since it was available only as a surplus powder. I have loaded and fired many .243 Win, 308 Win, 30-06, 45-70, 30-30, 25 Rem, 25-35 and 222 Rem with it to my complete satisfaction.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I shoot so few jacketed bullets, that I pretty much use 4895 for everything, except 4831 in 7X57 and 175 grains, and Norma 200 in 7.62X39.
 

Matt

Active Member
I’m not familiar with the 7mm 08 but I’ve loaded and shot thousands of .243 rounds in 4 different rifles. It definitely has not seemed to be “versatile” like its parent the .308. For medium to heavy weight bullets (85 to 105 grain) I always return to IMR 4350
for accuracy and velocity. It’s been the best for a pre-64 Winchester, 788 Remington, Mark X Mauser, and a Remington M700. With the ultra light bullets ( 55 gr!) I could see 4895/4064 working well. Otherwise I’m guessing the velocity in .243 would be 200+FPS less than using a slower powder.

This post has made me determined to open my brand new RCBS .243 mold and cast some bullets for .243 Winchester. I know I picked up some .243 cast checks 20+ years ago after I bought the mold cheap. I thought I might need them some day.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
My 30 cal. is a 308W. I tried 4895 and 4064 and had much better luck with 4064, better accuracy at higher velocities. (mostly jacketed 150 gr.). I finally settled on WW748 for my 308W.
My only 6mm is the 6mm Remington and find I have better results with slower powders. I load 95-105gr. bullets in the 6mm. No help simplifying things here......except to say I use H4831 in the 6mm Rem and 7mm Rem. Mag.
Thank You.
I tried 748 in 308 Winchester and never could get the same accuracy as with 4895. That's doesn't mean 748 is bad, it just means I couldn't get it to work in my rifles.
I'm generally working with bullets lighter than 95 grains and smaller cases when I'm in the 6mm territory, so that's probably not apples to apples there.

I have had some excellent results with 4064, which is why I try to keep some on hand but with times being what they are, I'm exploring possibilities.
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
4895 is my go to powder for the Garand & M1A.
3031 is for .250-3000, 257Robt's, 7X57, .30-30, .35Rem & .45-70
Between the 2, they serve about 90% of all Rifle loads with Jacketed Bullets. So I never found the need for 4064 of 4320, even though I did extensive testing when I was younger.

4350 or 4831 for Full Power Loads in .25-06, .270Win, .270WbyMag, .30-06

Don't have belted mags these days, used W785 in those days. It was a very good consistent powder.

Don't get me started on Handgun & Shotgun powders.

New Powders seem to be introduced all the time. The old ones are discontinued because folks buy the new ones to try. So sales drop off and they are dropped.
When a new powder doesn't perform up to expectations. The Handloader goes back to the old powder. Only to find it's not to not to be found.
 
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RBHarter

West Central AR
Still working out the 4th powder . Unfortunately I have to find a replacement for 4756 in 12ga steel loads . I'm still trying to find something between H322 and 4198 . 10x it did what I needed but ...... you know how sometimes something just doesn't feel right and I don't know if I just didn't see any or it isn't used in 45-70 .

Fortunately Unique and 4350 take care of everything save 222 , 223 , 6.8 , and the 45-70 for full power/jacketed .
 

Ian

Notorious member
I'm still trying to find something between H322 and 4198 . 10x it did what I needed but ...... you know how sometimes something just doesn't feel right and I don't know if I just didn't see any or it isn't used in 45-70 .

Reloder 7 is what you're looking for. 10x I tried once in my 35 Remington looking for top end performance because it modeled extremely well but it acted really strange as I pushed it hard and was giving me erratic velocity numbers. I was suspecting S.E.E. near the muzzle so I shelved it for a rainy day.
 
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