8mm Mauser and AA5744

[Westwindmike]

Does anyone here have a recipe for a load with the 8mm Mauser, 165 gr cast boolit(no gas check) and Accurate's 5744 powder? Just looking for a good plinking load that won't beat me up.
Thanks,
Mike

[Shiloh]

My Lyman guide lists a start load of 19 gr for a 1504 fps. with that powder. It lists a max load of 34 gr. for 2375.

You'll have to find the sweet spot, but I don't think something around 1800 or 1900 fps would be all that brutal.

This is the next caliber that I plan to load for. I have brass, I have dies. No mold. It does mean another gas check size though. My .30 gas checks are good for several rifles.
8mm will be strictly for a surplus mauser. AA 5744 will be one of my choices.

Shiloh

[shotman]

Dont know the 8mm but I load 338-06 with a Lee 220 cast GC 30 gr is a good load 28 was light . I am not one of the guys that does the kapoc case stuffing but the 5744 seems to be a little on the case sensive side. It works great in the savage 110 ML

[GrizzLeeBear]

Without a GC you are going to have to stay below about 1200 fps. I think you will have better luck with a fast powder like Bullseye, Red Dot, Clays, Trail Boss, etc.

[Westwindmike]

Shiloh,
Thanks for that info. My Lyman manual has nothing about 5744 in it. While at the Reloaders Bench yesterday, we got brass and boolits. When we got home, no load data anywhere.
Thanks for the recipes.
Mike

[Larry Gibson]

Westwindmike

AA5744 is not a good powder for bullets lighter than 180 gr as it really won't burn efficiently until you get into the higher velocity range, my experience withit in the 8x57 anyway.

For a decent "plinking" load try "the load" which is considered to be 13 gr of Red Dot. I prefer Unique for such loads with my 160 gr cast bullet. Try 15 -17 gr in 1/2 gr increments. Your velocity will be 1500 - 1850 fps depending on the load. You should find a very decent and accurate plinking load in there.

Shiloh

As mentioned you will need another size of GCs (.32s) as .30s won't do.

Larry Gibson

[Westwindmike]

Thanks Larry. I'll give it a try.

[sundog]

5744 has a high nitro content - I think 20 percent. It's burn characteristics are affected by that.

Burn rate with cast seems to be roughly in the 4227 range. As a comparison, I have had good results in a 12 twist heavy barrel .308 with 25.0/5744 and WQ RCBS 30-180-SP, for what that's worth.

[doubs43]

Try 18.0 - 22.0 grains of AA-1680. I've had good luck with it in .303 Brit, 6.5 Swede and 7x57 using bullets in the 165 grain range. It meters very well too which is a plus.

[Westwindmike]

Thanks, doubs. The main reason my friend wanted to use 5744 was that he had some. He's out of work and can't afford to go buy any more powder right now.

[jonk]

It's gonna be a hard one to get 5744 to shoot well without a gas check unless you have some really hard alloy.

I get pretty good results with 23 gr of it and a gas checked bullet out of my 98k. 175 gr Lee.

It isn't my favorite load but pretty good.

My favorite is probably SR4759- about 20 gr; or Alliant 2400, about 21 gr. out of that particular gun with that bullet. But any of the above will hold 3" at 100 on a day when my cruddy eyes can SEE.

I'd say you're fine, just get some gas checks.

[Maven]

"Does anyone here have a recipe for a load with the 8mm Mauser, 165 gr cast boolit (NO GAS CHECK) and Accurate's 5744 powder?"

WWM, I agree with the above advice re 5744. It's an excellent reduced load powder, but not in this application (no gas checks and lower velocity). C.E. Harris' "universal load" of 13 grs. Red Dot, assumes a gas checked .30cal. bullet (and rifle) and is likely to be too fast for your purposes, meaning you'll get an appreciable amount of bore leading and decreasing accuracy as well. Although you and your friend have a lot of 5744 on hand, may I suggest purchasing 1 lb. of either Alliant Bullseye, Unique, or Blue Dot and experimenting with them? Here are some suggested loads:

Bullseye, 6.0 - 7.5 grs. (max.!)

Unique, 7.0 - 8.5 grs. You may be able to go to 9.0 grs.

Blue Dot: 9.5 - 10.5 grs.

Hope this helps!