Is anyone using AAC 5744?

MikeN

Member
I just called a fellow in response to a post on Alaskaslist regarding some new AAC 5744 he has for sale. He has 14 1# unopened containers that he wants $200.00 for (less that $15 per #). He didn't seem to want to parcel it out. The Lyman cast bullet #4 lists 5744 repeatably for virtually every caliber. I tried to do a search for user satisfaction and the results were mixed. Seems like you want to keep the pressure up to get it to burn clean. Some reporting it rendering the gun inoperable without cleaning after a few rounds if used down pressure. The burning rate seems to be in the 4227 range. Mike Venturino talks quite positive of the stuff.
It sounds like a great deal, just not sure I need this much of something I might not like. Anyone use this much? Like, no-like. I want to use it with cast in my 45-70 guide gun, 7x57, 30-06, .338 WM, .375 HH. I don't need heavier loads in the guide gun to make it burn clean as it beats me up pretty good as it is. Maybe 40 or 50 years ago.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Seems like you want to keep the pressure up to get it to burn clean.

THIS. I borrowed a pound from a friend and gave it back after using up a couple ounces in different things.

Reloder 7 is a far better choice for anything you'd run XMP 5744 through. But, for $15/lb I bet I could come up with some uses for it.
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
5744 does a better job than most smokeless powders, of simulating black powder pressure curves. Even though 5744 yields pretty consistent results, I've chosen to use more 4198 in straight-walled black powder era cartridges.
The issue I ran into when loading 5744 to attempt to reproduce black powder pressure curves was, the pressure is insufficient to produce a clean and complete burn. An abundance of unburned kernals are the result.

I still have some 5744 and would like to read input from others who use it for higher pressure cartridges.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I worked up a load for it in 338 W Mag. in relatively warm temperatures. When I tried that load, at colder hunting temps, it didn't act the same. BTW, I didn't/don't use any fillers...............YMMV. Settled on SR 4759 instead, which wasn't as temperature sensitive.

Also tried it in my AR-10 (308W)...........the lower charges, that gave the best accuracy, failed to cycle the action. SR4759 behaved the same.

I have little over a pound left and doubt that I will purchase anymore.
 
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462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
I've not found it to be any better than other powders that require smaller amounts to do the same thing.

Even at that price, I'd pass.
 

Bill

Active Member
If I ever run out of 4759 it's where I'll be heading, it seem to work great in 45-70,38-55, and 30-30

Bill
 

Maven

Well-Known Member
After using several pounds of AA 5744 as a replacement for IMR 4198 for all my CB loading, I happened to compare my chronograph data for the two. Across the board, 5744 gave lower extreme velocity spreads and standard deviations and a tad better accuracy to boot. The downside? Availability and cost/lb. Mike, I'd jump at a chance to get it at a mere $15/lb.
 

dannyd93140

New Member
That's a great price. I have used it and like it. If you have access to Handloader Loaddata site they show over 406 different loads for everything from 357 magnum to 50-90 Sharps.
 

Bill

Active Member
It will leave a few powder zombies at low press loadings, but the accuracy and chrono readings still seem ok, they will leave small dents in the cases.

Bill
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
At that price I would buy it. At the current market price, hell no!
 

JSH

Active Member
Yes excellent price.
I had used 5744,2400 and 4198 for a while. I used some SR4759 and stuck with it. 5744 isn't my first choice, but it is in the top five.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
I still have around 14 pounds of SR4759. If I ever run out of that RX7 would be my next pick.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
It all depends upon what vintage of 5744 it is. There are at least three and maybe more. The original MP5744 made by IMI in Israel is great. (Made to replace SR 4759 when the US Government bought all the SR 4759 they could make during the Viet Nam war.) Everything since then is down hill. Mike (The Duke) Venturino is still using the original stuff he got in the 1980's. You will have to work up new data for every lot you buy. If cheap, get it and use it, but you will not get low speed results with it. FWIW, Ric
 

MikeN

Member
Really appreciate the comments. If I interpreted this correctly it seems some would just pass, some would buy it because it was cheep, which was where I was and would probably still be if I didn't have to get the entire 14#s. If I only had the foresight to have stocked up to the gills on SR4759 back when it was being made. A few years ago when powder was just starting to become available I found a lone # of 4759 and that is the only one I have. In my .45-70 guide gun I have been using some IMR4227, 3031, and 4198, and with light bullets, Trail Boss. RL-7 has been a little hard to find here, but is starting to show up and I agree that is probably a great way to go. Thanks Ric for the info on 5744. I knew that there was at least 3 different names on the stuff (the powder that I was looking at was the later, just 5744 made in Canada). Some times I get all caught up in "cheep" and get a little of course. No doubt a great powder for some applications but probably not for me in the .45-70, but might be fine in the bottlenecks.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
The original 5744 was some great stuff. As I understood it, it was surplus IMI sold by the original Accurate Powder company. The next lot after the surplus ran out was from Canada labeled MP or some such and wasn't, to me, worth squat. I think I still have most of the original one pound can I bought back then.

One of my brighter moves was buying 4759 when I could. I had about 3 pounds left in an 8 pound jug and Powder Valley had a sale so I bought another 8 pounder. Not too long after that I started hearing rumors that it was once again being discontinued, Powder Valley had it in stock so twp more 8pounders came mu way. Still have over 20 pounds. Every once in a while ya get lucky and do something right. :)
 

Bass Ackward

Active Member
Interesting opinions, & I must admit I have chosen alternatives myself at times for what I shoot. But whether powder or bullet molds, if they are still being sold, somebody’s buyin. So the assumption on my part is they must be working for somebody or they’d be changed or cancelled.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
To some extent Bass but across the board, excluding forums such as this one, the biggest criteria is that it goes bang. If it does all is good cause that's what the book or an internet page or the friend of someone's third cousin said was good stuff. Most couldn't tell ya why or even if there are alternatives. In forums like this one the majority are handloaders and not novice reloaders trying to save a buck so we most likely get a different perspective.
 

Bass Ackward

Active Member
Not pickin on you Rick. I could make an argument that anything in the burn rates between Blue Dot & RL7 has limitations for wide ranging use. No other powder range has so many issues. Call it the “veteran reloader” zone. Yet they all work under certain conditions. Some can't be down loaded safely, are vulnerable in cold weather, or have erratic burn rate curves like Lil’gun. Slower than H110/296 with light bullets in 44 Mag. Faster than those with 300 gr on up. Even 4759 gets spiky quick in sholdered case designs. Ever wonder why 2400 was developed with the highest nitro content of any powder? Or why everything else isn’t? XMR 5744 was originally high in nitro. (15%) Is it now? That’s probably how it has changed, but I’m guessing from the post above about unburnt powder. Be interesting to know & I’m hoping somebody can educate me. But name one powder, other than 2400 in that range without a proviso. Coarse there are new powders I know nothing about.
 
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Spindrift

Well-Known Member
I haven’t tried a5744, but Lovex 060- which is a czech powder from the explosia plant, one of several powders that has been called «5744». It has been a disappointment; unclean burn, unburnt kernels, mediocre accuracy (.223, .30-06, .308). Below a few photos from the web, documenting the relationship d060/a5744D8C960AA-DC02-49FC-9FEF-ECDA46040550.jpegCD87A1FF-AF0A-4088-A3B4-C970F9A97121.jpeg