Unburned AA 5744 Powder

[Ramar]

Experimenting with AA 5744 (a slower than usual powder for me) in a Ruger Old Model Blackhawk, 45 Colt, I'm showered with unburned powder. Subsequent shots can be difficult to load because of powder granules left in the cylinder. Searching online, I found others having the same issue with 5744. Proposed solutions included tighter crimps, heavier loads, magnum primers. Tried all three to no effect. Primers appear solidly hit. These 14,000 PSI loads were from Western Powder's Handloading Guide.
www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WPHandloading-Guide-7.0-Web-REV.pdf

Loaded 290 grain GT and 300 grain Acme bullets. Same result with starting to max (again, 14,000 PSI). Accuracy seems equal to other loads tried with this gun, in my hands. Probably won’t use 5744 again but it's an interesting dilemma.
Have you experienced this? If so, have you discovered a fix?

[shorty500]

In my experience 5744 doesn’t burn very clean until you are near 50-60Kpsi which is a touch too much for your Blackhawk.
I’d swap to h4227 or a more traditional “fast t9 medium” pistol powder if 14000psi loads are your goal

[wildcatter]

I would caution against looking for 1400 fps in a factory 6 shot old model with over 300 grain bullets, especially jackets. But 5744 is way to slow and bulky to good pressure in the Colt Case. I have been told and read many times, as strong as the Old Models are, they are not as good a candidate for the newer models which use better heat treating and metallurgy than 50 years ago. H-110 is probably your best bet for top safe ballistics in that gun.

[bradshaw]

Mar 29, 2020 18:29:40 GMT -5 Ramar said:

Experimenting with AA 5744 (a slower than usual powder for me) in a Ruger Old Model Blackhawk, 45 Colt, I'm showered with unburned powder. Subsequent shots can be difficult to load because of powder granules left in the cylinder. Searching online, I found others having the same issue with 5744. Proposed solutions included tighter crimps, heavier loads, magnum primers. Tried all three to no effect. Primers appear solidly hit. These 14,000 PSI loads were from Western Powder's Handloading Guide.
www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WPHandloading-Guide-7.0-Web-REV.pdf

Loaded 290 grain GT and 300 grain Acme bullets. Same result with starting to max (again, 14,000 PSI). Accuracy seems equal to other loads tried with this gun, in my hands. Probably won’t use 5744 again but it's an interesting dilemma.
Have you experienced this? If so, have you discovered a fix?

*****

Accurate Arms 5744 is too slow for the .45 Colt, it cannot find efficiency. Takes a long POWDER COLUMN, as in .444 Marlin or .45-70 Springfield, to put 5744 to work. Lee Martin records good velocity in .357 Maximum with AA 5744 under the cast Bradshaw-Martin 194 SWC GC. I loaded 5744 during development of the .357 Maximum, but switched primarily to Winchester 680 and IMR/H4227 with 180 to 200 grain bullets.
David Bradshaw

[Ramar]

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate your allowing me to tap your experience. Since 5744 isn't optimal for 45 Colt, I'll save it for a more appropriate cartridge.

[bigmuddy]

Best smokeless powder I’ve found for 45-70. Been hard to find around here lately. I recently fired a 5 shot string in my 95 Marlin with an extreme spread of TWO FPS.

I did just order some from Powder Valley.

Tried it quite a while ago in 45 Colt and had same results as Ramar.

Dan

[Ramar]

Thanks for that info, Dan. Somehow, I've collected a couple shell holders and bullets for 45-70. And now, powder! Maybe there's a 45-70 firearm out there...

[wildcatter]

We all learn like you Ramar, I to tried it for my Colt with 340's a few years back and found it a poor choice, I intend to try it with the same 340's in my 460 Katahdin brl. in my Encore, but again, after 65 years, it will be another learning experience. I don't know if this means we get better as we expand, or if it means it takes some if us longer to learn,,, but I enjoy it either way!