IMR 4759

by AaronB, Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 11:37 (92 days ago)

Hey all.

I recently acquired some IMR 4759 powder. A quick look online seems to indicate that this stuff is a preferred powder for use with cast bullets in rifle calibers.

I have never used it before, but I'm (obviously) willing to give it a try.

What are your experiences with it?

-AaronB

IMR 4759 - good stuff.

by JohnKDM, Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 11:59 (92 days ago) @ AaronB

IIRC, it was originally made (as SR4759) for military reduced loads to mimic long range performance at short range for testing purposes. I have a jug that I purchased from GI Brass years ago.

There was a lot written about using it for cast bullets and then they quit making it - but it still works well if you have a supply.

It is also great used as the kicker under a charge of BP - one of those improperly maligned duplex loads. When used in that manner, the overall fouling is reduced and easier to manage. One grain of 4759 is roughly equivalent to four grains of BP and this can be quite important when you can't get enough modern BP in the case to allow a BP double to regulate. Currently using 8grs of 4759 under 120grs of Swiss 2fg (152gr equivalent) in my 500bpe double. Gives a 340gr paper patch bullet 1925fps... yet the two barrels are still shooting about 2" apart at 50yds. Still working on it.

Duplexing isn't allowed in a lot of competitions, so there's that.

I haven't used it a lot for cast loads in rifles as I usually use WC872 for that.

IMR 4759 - good stuff.

by Bob Hatfield @, Saturday, August 24, 2024, 07:30 (89 days ago) @ JohnKDM

I use 4 grains of IMR 4759 under 55 grains of 2f, all under a 405-grain hollow base bullet in my 45-70 Henry single shot. Shoots much cleaner than regular black powder and still smokes to high heaven. Since it is a single shot, I just seat the bullet deeper to contact the powder so no need for wads.

Bob

That's been my experience also across several BP cartridges.

by JohnKDM, Saturday, August 24, 2024, 13:29 (89 days ago) @ Bob Hatfield

Using a smokeless kicker isn't 'proper' to some (and I am usually big on 'proper'), but the lessened fouling makes up for that in many ways - hunting, especially, and regulating a double.

The target guys will wipe between shots just like they did back in the late 1800s so fouling isn't a big issue; to those people, the best accuracy obtainable is the goal.

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