Mike Venturino and AA5744
- Thread starter jethunter
- Start date
I've been loading cast bullets in military rifles for 40yrs. Have had my best success with 4198 and 2400. I have tried 5744 in 3006, 303Br, 8x57 and a couple others. My issue was unburned powder left in barrel and chamber. My 03A3 was so dirty unburned powder was causing chambering problems and dented cases. Still have a couple lbs may give it another try this summer. Lot of casting and loading time before spring.
I've been loading cast lead rifle ammo for about 20 years now, .32-40, .38-55, 6.5x55, .30 Carbine, etc using 4200 & IMR4227, since we can no longer get SR4759. Its funny but I have never seen AA5744 in any of the stores that I go to in Southern Alberta.
AA5744 seems like a good replacement for SR4759. I've had good performance from either. Both are cast bullet friendly. 4198, Reloader 7, 2400, 4227 are all candidates for cast in and around that 1600 to 1800 fps loading. 3031 gets the nod as velocity goes up. In the 7x57 and a 287405 I'm partial to SR4759. I still have several pounds, left over from a keg. I sold about 1/2 of it before I realized how well it works. The older Speer manuals listed many reduced loads for rifle, most were with SR4759.
BTW, the article you alluded to, or an associated one was in Handloader 319, April - May 2019, https://www.handloadermagazine.com/cast-bullets-and-battle-rifles.
It's been my experience that if Mike lists a load, it usually works. I particularly like his article "Handloads that work", Handloader 231.
ASSRA forum is a very valuable source of info on shooting cartridges like 32-40 and 38-55, just make sure you know if a load is for a breech seated bullet or a cartridge in there. I've used SR4759 and AA9 in breech seated apps, and in some other cartridge loads for cast, I think, IIRC, it is IMR4166 seems to be in vogue in things like 32RKS in breech seated loads lately, but, I'd research that one carefully. Accurate is listing more loads with 5744 in a lot of cartridges these days, it's useful stuff.
Rebooting...
I've read accounts of an official AA procedure for reduced 5744 loads:
I haven't seen this procedure in any AA publication, only references to it in magazine articles and forums. So it's a use-at-your-own-risk thing and not for everyone. That said, I' played with it in a 458win, and 6.5x55 and it went bang quite nicely and launched cast bullets satisfactorily with sooty necks indicating low pressure. No chronograph data yet but show possible accuracy potential at 100 yds.
Is anyone else using this reduced load formula with 5744 powders?
I've read accounts of an official AA procedure for reduced 5744 loads:
I haven't seen this procedure in any AA publication, only references to it in magazine articles and forums. So it's a use-at-your-own-risk thing and not for everyone. That said, I' played with it in a 458win, and 6.5x55 and it went bang quite nicely and launched cast bullets satisfactorily with sooty necks indicating low pressure. No chronograph data yet but show possible accuracy potential at 100 yds.
Is anyone else using this reduced load formula with 5744 powders?
