5744 Question

[PBSmith]

Is AA 5744 especially dirty burning?

I recently loaded and shot a few rounds in .50-70 rifle Three days and three cleanings later I'm still getting crude when I clean with Ed's Red.

[ACC]

Is AA 5744 especially dirty burning?

I recently loaded and shot a few rounds in .50-70 rifle Three days and three cleanings later I'm still getting crude when I clean with Ed's Red.

At least to me all the AA powders are kinda dirty, but No. 2 shoots so well in my 40 S&W that I just clean it better.

ACC

[NSB]

I shoot it a lot. In fact, I just bought another four pounds of it. It leaves kernels in the barrel but each subsequent shot takes as much out as it leaves. I haven’t found it to be “sooty” where extra cleaning is required. It is hands down the best powder I’ve found for my 357max rifles, often giving five shots less than 1moa off the bench. I’ve found 1680 almost as good, but not quite. It works well in my 45-70s also. I just use what gives me the best groups and this does it in some applications.

[pworley1]

Magnum primers helps to clean it up.

[huntinlever]

I find it really dirty in that it leaves a lot of unburned granules in the barrel, but I've not noticed any consequence in terms of shooting accuracy. I do take care to thoroughly clean the receiver and action after every range trip or before switching to another powder (I 4198, in my 1895 45-70).

[huntinlever]

Magnum primers helps to clean it up.

Tried CCI 250 with the 5744 (33.8 grains/Accurate 46-405VG) but actually found I lost some group precision, relative to the CCI 200/ regular LR. Probably worth another try.

[uscra112]

I used a LOT of 5744 in days gone by. Found it likes to be loaded to 20kpsi or more to get it to burn clean.

[BLAHUT]

I use 5744 in my 45/70, I use boreteck eliminator and hoppy's #9 for cleaning. Works good.

[PBSmith]

Unburned kernels are one thing. What I've been getting is lingering black crud on tight, solvent-soaked patches.

I'm hoping this 5744 isn't corrosive in the long haul because I'm going to stop using it in a hurry if boiling water is required to remove all traces of fouling.

[15meter]

I've shot a lot of it in a dozen plus big bore rifles where there is no load data available. It has always worked well for me with minimal cleaning required. It was the first and last powder i shot in my 50-70 Trapdoor.

I shot some this afternoon in a rolling block in .43 Spanish that I don't anticipate a major cleaning chore.

And I've never had a corrosion problem in 30+ years of loading 5744.

[405grain]

AA 5744, Lovex D060, and Shooters World Buffalo Rifle are so close in burning rate that they are practically the same powder. I've tried both AA5744 and SW Buffalo. In my 45-70 the AA5744 leaves a few kernels of powder in the bore, but these harm nothing. To get the pressure up to a point where the 5744 would burn cleaner would be punishing with my 405 grain loads. Buffalo rifle burns much cleaner, and until recently it was cheaper than 5744.

[Kraschenbirn]

Not a .50-70 but I just finished cleaning my M10 .308 after 60-some rounds of 26.5 gr SW Buffalo behind a PC'd 196 gr. boolit. Couple of passes with a bronze brush dipped in Hoppe's #9, 3 or 4 dry patches, finished with a tight, lightly oiled patch...which came out clean. Before switching to 4198, I shot both AA5744 and SW Buffalo in my .45-70s with the same result.

Bill

[Sgt H]

Just some further info for those who may be concerned with 5744 being dirty. I just returned from the Quigley where I fired about 300 rounds loaded with 5744 through my 1886 Browning 45-70 during practice and the match. Never cleaned the rifle while there other than wiping the Montana dust off. My last 2 targets on the 2nd day of the match I shot 7 of 8 and 8 of 8. Some unburned kernels but never caused any problems.

[beemer]

I found it left a lot of unburned kernels in a 45-70 also, gets in the chamber and action. By the time it burns clean I would be past where I like to shoot it. It works better in my 30-30 so I use it there.

[Rockindaddy]

I bought 5744 years ago for $3 a pound. Have been shooting 28grs in my 45-70 Shiloh long range 34" rifle. Shoots clover leafs! Don't have much left. I do have 50 or so pounds of IMR4759 that I use in both 45-70 and 50-70. Usually have a few grains of partially burned grains left in the bore but the accuracy is great. It too is a single base powder like 5744 but bulky. 5744, 4198, and 4759 are all a bit dirty but not the mess black powder makes!!! Frank Barnes who wrote Cartridges of the World makes the comment that IMR 4759 is one of the best propellants for old obsolete large cartridge black powder rounds with heavy bullets.

[huntinlever]

I bought 5744 years ago for $3 a pound. Have been shooting 28grs in my 45-70 Shiloh long range 34" rifle. Shoots clover leafs! Don't have much left. I do have 50 or so pounds of IMR4759 that I use in both 45-70 and 50-70. Usually have a few grains of partially burned grains left in the bore but the accuracy is great. It too is a single base powder like 5744 but bulky. 5744, 4198, and 4759 are all a bit dirty but not the mess black powder makes!!! Frank Barnes who wrote Cartridges of the World makes the comment that IMR 4759 is one of the best propellants for old obsolete large cartridge black powder rounds with heavy bullets.

I believe 5744 is a double base. I wish I could find some contentment in using it because I understand it's supposed to be awesome, especially at lower loads, in the 45-70. And I know I'm way too uptight about accuracy for a brush gun. But I just don't seem to get some love with the powder, relative to a near-max load of 4198. Not a glutton for punishment but tough still for me to swallow the groups I'm getting with the 5744.

[Dancing Bear]

I use it exclusively in my Savage 10ML muzzleloader. Not dirty but I always run a patch through every two shots to make reloading easier.

[huntinlever]

Not to bring it sideways, hope it's helpful. Accurate 46-405VG 94-3-3, 39.7 gr I 4198 10-shot string off a clean barrel. 2-foulers shot off target, 2 outliers are known (1 was just bad technique/trigger control, other was a definite flinch. Still getting used to my 45-70 again after some years away, and re-working breathing, shooting and relaxation fundamentals).

Today's:



Previous 39.7 gr:



On the other hand, same trip as this last pic with 4198, different levels of 5744 from 33.6-34.0, and 36.0. You'll see a couple outliers but question at the time on whether it was poor technique (flinching, early trigger/improper breath-relaxation-squeeze, etc.) or just a bad load with much larger MOA.

33.6:



33.8:



34.0



36.0



Anyway, between the pretty dirty nature and less than desirable groupings, for me, relative to hot 4198, in my gun and what I am looking for, unfortunately I think I'll be staying with 4198 and using up the 5744 for lighter practice at the range.

[Sgt H]

I have found 5744 capable of excellent accuracy in 45-70 anyway. A load of 27 grains under a Lyman 457125 produced a 5 shot group of 3.5" with 4 of those under 2" from my 1886 Browning at 300 yards. I would post a photo of the group but this forum does not accept the format used by IPhone. This is the load I shot at the Quigley.

[huntinlever]

I have found 5744 capable of excellent accuracy in 45-70 anyway. A load of 27 grains under a Lyman 457125 produced a 5 shot group of 3.5" with 4 of those under 2" from my 1886 Browning at 300 yards. I would post a photo of the group but this forum does not accept the format used by IPhone. This is the load I shot at the Quigley.

Respects. I'm sure most if not all can do much better with it than me, and that sounds like some truly impressive shooting. I don't think I shoot like I used to even a few years back, progressive neuro thing and I float around the bullseye much more than I used to. All good, you deal with what you have and my only want is to stay in the big woods (or mountains) as long as nature will give me.

edit: Can I ask how heavy your boolit is? I will say, in general, I think this guide gun liked the 46-425Q from Accurate, better than this one, but again that was then, this is now, so it could just be all me. Oddly, close to the same charge - 39.5 grain for the 425 below (50:50 Pb:COWW + solder for 2% tin) & 39.7 grain for this 405 (96-4-4). 425 grain w/ 39.5 I 4198: