Wondering what kind of input I can get on this powder?

Accurate bills it as usefull in large capacity handgun cartridges & low pressure rifle cartridges.

Currently I am thinking about a low to moderate velocity hard cast (Cast Performance 255?) load for my 4" 629. I have been working w/ Hrndy 240JHP-XTP's, but have not seen consistent accuracy at lower velocities.

I am also wondering how it would work for 45-70 off hand practice loads in my #1?

Input appreciated / Thanks in advance!

Accurate 5744 is billed by some as being nearly a magical powder for reduced loads in rifle loads especially the large capacity low pressure rounds like 45-70.

It works but I certainly did not find anything magical about it. In 45-70's I found 24-26 grs. would duplicate blackpowder ballistics pretty well with 400+ gr. bullets. It did not burn very cleanly though and pretty much always left unburned powder granuals in the barrel.

I found that it really didn't do anything that H-4227 (a similiar burn rate) wouldn't do cleaner without using a filler with either. I got cleaner burn and as good or better (in most cases) accuracy in my 45-70 loads with H-4198.
Even with 400+ gr bullets down to 1200, H-4198 was very accurate. If you want loads slower than that then H-4227 is better.

In handguns I did not like 5744 at all. It was very dirty and inconsistant. If you are after accuracy in your 44 at medium levels (1000-1200) then either 2400, IMR-4227, or H-4227 are where its at. Especially H-4227. If you mean accurate loads under 1000 FPS then you need Unique, Universal, 231, or Tightgroup. For full snort 44 loads go to H-110/W-296 or Lil'Gun.

Hope this helps,
Mark in GA

Mostly it is used in the big Nitro Express cases with a filler and lead bullets for reduced loads, but I have never used it in the 45-70...

quote:

Originally posted by Mark in GA:
Accurate 5744 is billed by some as being nearly a magical powder....

...I got cleaner burn and as good or better (in most cases) accuracy in my 45-70 loads with H-4198. Even with 400+ gr bullets down to 1200, H-4198 was very accurate. If you want loads slower than that then H-4227 is better.

In handguns I did not like 5744 at all. It was very dirty and inconsistant. If you are after accuracy in your 44 at medium levels (1000-1200) then either 2400, IMR-4227, or H-4227 are where its at. Especially H-4227.

For full snort 44 loads go to H-110/W-296 or Lil'Gun.

Hope this helps,
Mark in GA

"Billed as Magical" hits the nail on the head all right.

For the 45-70 I'm looking for accuracy at around 1400 - 1500 w/ 300JHP for extended practice sessions. Been looking at IMR 4198 - do you feel that the Hodgedon version is better?

W/ the .44 mag I've been on an accuracy quest with the preferred velocity being 1100 - 1200. Currently using the 240XTP, but have been thinking about something in hard cast.

Do you feel that the 4227 will work well w/ non-jacketed bullets?

Thanks for your input.

Ray, use of 5744 does not require a filler.

My 500 NE load: 45 grains of XMP5744 behind a 500 grain cast lead bullet

my 470 NE load: 45 grains of XMP5744 behind a 500 grain cast lead bullet

Either the Hodgdon or IMR version of 4198 will be perfect for your application. I like the Hodgdon version myself simply because it uses their Extreme technology and is therefore significantly less temp sensitive. I would
tend towards not using a case filler on top of the powder.

Here are some examples fired in my 26" barreled Marlin 1895 Cowboy:

RCBS 45-300-FN (324 grains w/ gas check)
H-4198
CCI 200
Rem Brass
Chg. Vel.
28.0 1277
30.0 1322
32.0 1517
34.0 1602
36.0 1709
38.0 1803

RCBS 45-405-FN (425 grains w/ gas check)
H-4198
CCI 200
Rem Brass
Chg. Vel.
26.0 1178
28.0 1245
30.0 1351
32.0 1459
34.0 1522
36.0 1661


In your 44, any of H-4227, IMR-4227, or 2400 will be perfect with either cast or jackets. I would lean more towards H-4227 or 2400.

Good Luck and Be Careful!
Mark in GA

I use 5744 with cast bullets in a variety of rifle calibers, but only once in my revolver, a .357mag. where it performed poorly: Unique, B. Dot or AA #9, H 110 or WC 820 work much better there. The rifle results, on the other hand, are outstanding: Excellent accuracy, clean-burning, low extreme spreads in everything from the .243Win. up to the .45-70, which is what the powder is designed to do. I.e., it is supposed to burn consistently when using reduced loads in large capacity cases sans fillers. Btw, 27grs. 5744 works well in my .45-70 with 400gr. cast bullets, but so does the same amount of IMR 4198 or 13grs. of Unique. Two things prevent me from using it exclusively, namely availability and price. Hope this helps, ...Maven

I've been using it in my 375 H&H, with 220 grain Hornadies as a close range deer load and with 300 gr bulk FMJ's as a plinker. It's been surprigly accurate (several sub moa loads) with a little bit of powder (42 to 46 grains)sloshing around in the big case. bob

Can't go wrong listening to Paul. 27-28 grains of 5744 under a 405 cast is as good a .45-70 recipe as there is.

I ain't gonna claim that 5744 is any better than 4198, but it's worth a try anywhere you might use 4198.

I've burned up about 20 pounds in stuff like the .25-20, .357 Max, 7.62x39, and the .45-70. My four jug case case cost me about what a single pound costs now, and I wish I had bought another or not sold the two jugs I did sell.

5744 has no coating and a high nitro content with low bulk density...hence it ignites very easily. At low pressures it will leave residue of unburned powder in the bore, but velocity is consistent. If you take pressure up to where you get a complete burn, you will run 200 to 300 fps slower than you will with the best powder you can find for ANY caliber...everything right up to the 300 RUM. Charge weights run 30 to 50% less than the powder giving max velocity, and more often than not accuracy is improved.

As my esteemed coleagues and mentors have indicated above, this powder shines with hard cast, gas checked bullets at about 1,900-2,100 fps out of large capacity cases. It allows me to stay proficient with my 416 Rem Mag and 416 Rigby. I have a great jack rabbit load using 255 grain lead bullets out of my 375 H&H at 2,000 fps.

Consult your AA loading manual.

dart

I bought a lb. of this powder a few years back and tried it. I bought another pound when that ran out to see if I disliked the second as much as I did the first. I was right. It stinks.