CptCurl wrote on Dec 8^th, 2018 at 12:29pm:


Depending on bullet etc, around 14/SR4759 makes for accuracy.

If you use SR4759 consider the strength of your rifle. I found 5 to 10 unburned grains of the stuff left in thr bore after each shot with my starting loads. I started blowing or pushing the zombies out with a cleaning rod and my groups improved. Tiring of that activity I started increasing my loads. By increasing the loads about 10% in both 40-65 and 45-70s the unburned grains disappeared and accuracy was stellar without wiping between shots.

I dispense SR4759 with an AMT Autoscale. It does not have any trouble with the large grains.

I see this thread has bounced to the top again.

I appreciate very much all the replies.  I also thank those who have suggested other powders.  Probably in my original post I should have broadened my inquiry beyond SR4759.

My rifle is a Stevens 44-1/2 with its original .32-40 barrel.  The rifle has seen little use.  Its original barrel appears like new - mint, no blemishes at all.  Its crown is good.

I am shooting the rifle with a Lyman #2A aperture with a globe aperture front sight made by Lee Shaver.  Off of the bench I am capable of shooting sub-moa groups with this type of setup and regularly do so with another Stevens 44-1/2 chambered in .25-20SS (and various other rifles).

In my .32-40 I have tried IMR4227 and IMR4198.  The loads with IMR4198 showed me that powder is too slow, as I experienced a lot of unburnt powder kernels.  

I am not particularly happy with my IMR4227 results either.  My chronograph (Oehler 35P) tells me I am getting a lot more velocity spread than I should, and I see that in want of accuracy.

There are a thousand variables.  I thought I might try another powder; and thus, my original inquiry about SR4759.

I'm not a novice loader (52 years experience), nor a novice bullet caster (about the same length of experience).

My cases are re-formed Starline .38-40 2.125" brass, trimmed to proper length and annealed.

My primers are WLR.

My bullet the Lyman #319247 165 grain flat point.  I'm casting these from wheel weights and lubing with SPG.  They are sized to .321" in a Lyman 450.

My dies are a RCBS three-die set ("cowboy").  I can't complain about the quality of these dies.

I measure powder with a Lyman 55 and have found it to be excellent.  I have two of these, and I've used one for over 50 years.

As mentioned, I'm shooting fixed.  I have tried various seating depths from just kissing the leade to a bit further back.

I know the rifle will perform, so I'm looking to improve my ammunition.  I don't doubt that breach seating is preferred.  It's not what I want to do right now, and I'm willing to sacrifice some accuracy to using fixed ammunition.

I haven't tried any SR4759 loads yet.  When I do, I will keep in mind its difficulty through a powder measure and make sure I get accurate charge weights.

Further comments, advice, suggestions, etc. are welcome and encouraged.

I thought I had weighed in on this earlier.  I shot a bunch of breech seated 32-40s in a couple of high walls using anything from 165 to 185 to 200 grain bullets over 13.6 grains of 4759.  I used the same charge for fixed ammo, mostly with the 165 grain (original type) and 200 grain bullets.  I really liked the 200s in my original high wall to shoot the Ram Bash at Fairfax R&G Club in NOVA.   

BTW, the best powder measure I ever found for this powder was the old Ideal #5 Micrometer.  Nothing else was as consistent with those sticks and twigs of powder.

Froggie

BTW, I can’t remember ever using primers with 4759 other than Winchester LR, but I may have used Federal way back when. Anyway, I never had any ignition problems with the Winchester’s. YMMV!

Froggie

I shot F150's, exclusively, in the 80's and 90's, with 4227 and 296 BUT, I found Rem 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 (30 Amer) had noticeably better accuracy with 4759, straight and in duplex loads.

4759 is a uncoated powder and doesn't need a strong primer. You need to match primers with powder, to get the right ignition characteristics.

Frank

To your original question: have tried sr4759 and it works, are there better powders- yes. I have a good supply of the sr4759 as well. 
Bob