Accurate 5744 powder for cast bullets

[quilbilly]

It is my favorite powder for my 338 WM, 30/30, and plain base loads in my 444.

[GabbyM]

Have used it all last summer in a thousand 222 Rem loads with Lyman #225646. Standard 223 Wolf primers and no crimp. A tad less than .002" neck tension with either new Lapua brass or annealed converted LC brass. No unburned powder in the 222 but it's running fairly high pressure for a cast boolit load. I may try a slower powder. Have also shot it a little in my 30-06. Never noticed un burned kernels but then I wasn't looking for them. Higher price of 5744 gets evened out a bit by the low charge weights required. In my 222 it fills the case enough I don't have to worry about a double charge. Which is a great asset and worth a buck or two.

[lotech]

5744 is an excellent cast bullet powder. With accuracy my primary concern, it's easy overlook minimal dirty burning, if any. I've found 5744 will often equal or slightly exceed accuracy results obtained using Reloder7, IMR4759, and IMR4198.

[Camba]

Do you have some loads for the 7-08 with AA5744? I have not seen anywhere a load so I can try for this combination. Appreciate the info. Thanks.
Camba

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have used this stuff a lot in all my Cast Boolit rifles. I have good enough results to continue it's use since I have about 8 lbs left to burn up.

As far as unburned powder granules. So ? they don't seem to harm anything.

I got a story from Venturino at the SHOT Show a few years ago.

It seems this powder was originally called 4475 and was developed for the .223-5.56. However the problem was, it didn't meter very well in automated machinery (something I found out real quick) as the granules were too big to flow freely thru the small cartridge mouth. I got numerous powder bridges and so I stopped using it for .223's.

It was sold to some Russian guy who changed the name to 5744 and sold it back to us.

I have had good luck using it for all my .30 cal cast boolit rounds as well as the .45-70. It seems to work more consistently the larger the bullet diameter and with 300 to 400 gr boolits you can't really do anything wrong with it. I have ran from 25 to 35 gr with a 300 gr boolit and the accuracy is the same pretty much across the board. 25 gr with a 400 gr boolit is the same as the 300 gr ones except for the elevation change.

I am still trying to get it to perform in my .303 Enfield with Lyman 314299. I know it will work, I just have to find the magic combination. I have got it to run pretty good at 50 yards but not at 100 yet. .30-06, and .308 were no problem at all and the first loads tried worked just right. 25 and 21 gr respectively. This is with NOE 311299.

I plan on going directly to it for the .35-303 as soon as I complete that gun. There will be a 250 gr Cast load with 5744 for practice shooting and 250 gr Jacketed load for hunting, probably with IMR4895 which is my other go to 30 cal powder.

Randy

[groovy mike]

Anyone use 5744 in vintage 50-70 rifles?

[flint45]

I use it in .45-70,.40-65,.50-70 good accuracy and yes some unburned powder also.

[quilbilly]

My 444, 30/30, and 338 WM all love 5744 with CB's. When it was the same price as other powders, I used it all the time but the price rise cause me to look for alternatives like RE-7 but I still have some extra cans. I still use it in my 338 WM.

[bigowl]

I'm loading my 1885 405 win with 33 gr. A 5744 under a 430 gr pure lead pp. Ave. vel. 1750 fps. Very clean burning and accurate.

[gareth96]

Just saw a pound in Vance's Columbus for $45... Glad I have a good supply... Pretty much only use it for my muzzleloader (Savage ML10-II smokeless muzzleloader).

[Kraschenbirn]

I've tried 5744 with cast in several calibers and it's become my 'preferred' for the 30-30 but only obtained 'so-so' results in .45-70, .30-40, and .32-20 while in .38-55, it was a dead waste of time and effort.

Bill

[Wolfer]

It is the best powder I’ve shot to date in my 7x57 with the rcbs 168 gr. Boolit actually weighs 180 gr. That’s the only gun I have that it has been satisfactory in. Every thing else I get lots of unburned powder and poor accuracy.
Never tried but always suspect it would be great for reduced jacketed loads. Say turning your 30-06 into a 300 savage for the kids to hunt with. Or anyone who’s recoil sensitive.
For cast in most of my guns it seems to need more pressure than I’m willing to give it.

[ShooterAZ]

5744 works great in the 300 Win Mag with the Lee C309-170FP.

[whisler]

There is an article in the latest issue of Handloader about cast bullets in 30 caliber battle rifles and all that was used was 5744.

[Shuz]

Is it me...or did the price of 5744 skyrocket when 4759 went off the market?

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I've used it in 300 Savage and 308 - Savage 99's - 185 grain .310 bullets,18-20grs A5744 very good accuracy at 200 yards 2 to 3 inch vertical, 3-6" horizontal depending on wind, 15 inch drop from 100 yard zero. Marlin 336SC 32 Special 16 grains, 200 grain .323 flatpoint, usually 2 inches at 200 yards, though the wind can screw that up too. All lever actions with 4-16x or 6-24x scopes for fun. Not sure if it is better than Reloder 7, I did get 8lb of Buffalo Rifle to try.

[Drifty4]

Got a bunch of 44 mag loaded with 5744. waiting for good range weather.

[Streetwalker]

I like 5744 for my 6.5 Swede and cast boolits but it is really expensive when found in the western Nevada, northern California area. It burns relatively clean but then I crimp most of my rifle cast boolit loads to help facilitate a cleaner burn. However, I have not found 5744 to be the best powder for accuracy in any of the military calibers I load for but it is a good choice to try out IF you are well heeled and want to pay through the nose for it!

[LAH]

I was given several pounds of this & liked it enough to purchase an 8 pound jug. It works just fine in my 45-70. I use 25 grains & the NEI 460-405-FN which comes in at 420 grains. Load on right.

[Krag1902]

I use it with 210-220 gr. bullets in five Krags. it turns up exceptional accuracy. Meters a lot better than 4759, too.