5744 in 32-20 rifle

[omgb]

A while back I asked the fellows over at Accurate Arms in Miles City about using AA5744/XMP5744 in the 32-20 with the Lyman 115 grain GC bullet. They wrote back and gave me a general parameter based on a heavier 120-125 grain bullet. I had asked that pressures not exceed 35,000 and explained that i wanted to shoot it in my BLR. They suggested a max of 9.5 grains at around 1300 fps. I intend to try this load in the next couple of weeks. Before I do, have any of you tried 5744 in the 32-20?

[9.3X62AL]

Not yet. That 9.5 grain load/1300 FPS looks like a "lawyer load", suitable for about any rifle so chambered--from Win 73 onward up the strength scale.

[Bent Ramrod]

omgb,

I tried 5744 in my Redman-rebored Low Wall:

Ideal 3118 9.0 gr 1200 ft/sec
10.0 1391
11.0 1504
12.0 1656

Ideal 311316 9.0 1288
10.0 1394
11.0 1547
12.0 1683

Averages of 5 shots over my Chrony. For me, 5744 wasn't as accurate in this rifle as 4759, and, unfortunately, I never tried it in my Savage 23C. Groups were 3-4" at 100 yards for the best loads.

[Bret4207]

Can I morph this a bit and also ask if anyone has had any luck with Lil' Gun in the 32WCF?

[pacyew]

Have had good luck in my 1928 Win. model 53 with 10.5 Lil' Gun and 118 grn. cast Plain Base from Hunter's Supply (ya, I know, cheatin').

Accurate & still easy on Starline Brass. [smilie=s:

[Ramsmacker]

OMGB,
In my 94 Marlin 32-20 Cowboy, using 115gr pbfn Win brass Rem71/2 primer and 8.0gr of SR4759 at 1,200fps I was getting 1in groups in hot weather at 50 yds. As the weather cooled down I started getting a little unburned powder. Going to try a hotter primer and a tighter crimp to see if all the powder will burn. Out of 7 powders 4759 has been the most accurate in this rifle.
Mick

[Harry O]

My luck with 5744 in the 32-20, 38-40, and 44-40 was poor. At the max. loads they list, the powder does not burn completely. Chunks of powder fell out of the gun and the case when I ejected them. I tried magnum primers and a heavy crimp and got a little improvement, but not enough to keep using it.

In a rifle with modern steel, you should be able to go higher and get it to burn completely. I have used it in a couple of larger rifle cartridges (30-40 and 9,5x57MS) at higher pressures and the powder does burn completely in them. One problem with that, though is that it seems to have a pressure curve similar to BP. By that, I mean that it recoils more than other powders at the same velocity. It does not seem to work as well with hollowbase bullets as BP does though.

All in all, I have not found a good reason for the 5744 powder, yet, but I still have about a half pound, so I will continue looking.