Accurate 5744 vs Buffalo Rifle

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John Carlson posted this 4 weeks ago

Have used Buffalo Rifle in 30-06 with identical results using 5744 load data. If I could find a reliable and reasonable supply it would be my go-to powder.

John Carlson. CBA Director of Military Competition.

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Wm Cook posted this 4 weeks ago

Like 5744 Shooters World describes it as a short extruded powder.

The surface of this propellant holds no deterrent or burn rate modifier. Therefore, it ignites quite consistently with low loading densities in standard rifle loads. This same ignition characteristic aids accuracy when used with cast lead bullets and long throated chambers.

Despite Buffalo Rifle being an extruded propellant, we have found good flow characteristics through a volumetric powder dump. The grain is narrow, and cut short.

I noticed that about half of the shooters in the military Nationals shot either 5744 or Buffalo Rifle. All were 30-06 except for a couple 7.5x55 & one 7.62x54. Bill C.

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Aaron posted this 4 weeks ago

Buffalo Rifle is the exact same propellant as 5744. They are not like each other, they are each other. The company that makes Shooters World propellant also makes Accurate propellant. Two years ago I emailed Shooters World and got an email from their engineer who confirmed that the two propellants are IDENTICAL as are their other powders. I use Buff Rfl in my large case cartridges as a replacement for 5744. Charge for charge of course.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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linoww posted this 4 weeks ago

I use both interchangeably in my 50-90. The original lots of 5744 were a bit different but still darn close enough for the low pressure loads I use.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

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Wm Cook posted this 4 weeks ago

I called Hodgdon last year asking about 5744. I was told then that it’s manufactured in only one location and that was in Canada. Does that sound right to you Aaron?

I’ve used a lot of 5744 in a .308 (maybe ~3lbs) and it shoots pretty good. With bullets over 200 grains the velocity topped out about 1670 before the groups opened up. If I remember right, depending on the day, 20.0 or 20.2gr shot best.

The last time I saw it available was in 23. Bill C.

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Aaron posted this 4 weeks ago

Bill, Accurate powders were originally made in Israel, then Czechoslovakia. I am not at home to look through my stash of Accurate powder so I don't know factually what country they are made in now. I don't think it is the USA. I have started replacing the Accurate stock with Shooters World since it is the same powder sold under a different brand name and a lower price point.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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tomme boy posted this 4 weeks ago

Lovex DOES NOT make 5744. They make Buffalo rifle. The company that makes it for Alliant powder just happens to be the 3rd company that made it. So don't mix the actual powders. The data will be the same but the chemistry will be a little different.

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Wm Cook posted this 4 weeks ago

This is from my last 5744. Dark gray/slate color and measures ~ .058 x .038. Could anyone share dimensions & a picture of Buffalo R?

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RicinYakima posted this 4 weeks ago

Early Buffalo from maybe 10 years ago. Uniformly 0.027" and various lengths.

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Wm Cook posted this 4 weeks ago

Thanks Rick. I see multiple references to 5744 being double based tubular extruded. Double based meaning the addition of nitroglycerin. Handloader called it out as having 20% nitroglycerin.

So far all I can find on Buffalo is that it appears to be single based with no deterrents. And I can’t find any references to it being tubular. Powder can’t be 100% nitrocellulose (wood or cotton) so it has to have something to control the burn rate. Right?

I wonder what the odds are of finding a book dedicated to smokeless propellant properties. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

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RicinYakima posted this 4 weeks ago

The only one is Propellent Profiles , fifth edition, by Wolfe publishing ending in 2008. They new owners no longer support print books, only video so not going to be anything in the future.

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Eddie Southgate posted this 4 weeks ago

As Aron has already said they are the same , made by the same company . I use them both interchangeably in my Marlin in .45-70 . It is manufactured by a German company called Explosia and sold under the Lovex brand in Europe as Lovex D060 . It is actually made in their Pardubice-Semtin Czech Republic factory .

Grumpy Old Man With A Gun......Do Not Touch .

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Spindrift posted this 4 weeks ago

Remember, Accurate is not a manufacturer of powder, but a distributor. They have sourced powder from many different, and changing, manufacturers.

The original "5744" was a surplus powder from the development work that culiminated in the 5.56 Nato. It might be identical to the non-canister DuPont imr-4475 (drop the "imr" and reverse the numbers).

Since then, "5744" has been made in Israel, the Czech Republic, possibility South Africa and Belgium- and lastly, Canada.

The "5744" from the Czech era is identical to Lovex D060.

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trapdoor4570 posted this 4 weeks ago

Around 25 years ago I picked up a jug of 5744 at the Lakeland show and got hooked on it. It was labeled by Accurate as “MAGNUM MP – 5744“ made in the USA. The made in the USA I question, they were known for not listing the country of origin or miss labeling it. I think they got into some trouble for that.

From what I have read or heard the powder was used for the extra packs of propellant used on mortar rounds. I have also heard it may have also been used as the powder in the high pressure chamber of the 40mm grenade. However, I don't know the truth of these.

The powder was good but was a bit strange if you smelled the case when ejected it smelled just like the old paper shotgun shells and there was a quantity of unburned granules left after each shot but all of that has since changed. If you saved the unburned powder and ignited it would burn but not like an equivalent quantity of unburned powder. All the goodness had been burned out of it. If it was used for mortar rounds that may be why we can’t find it right now, it may be going to Ukraine. 95 % of my rifle loads are either 5744 or 4227.

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Wm Cook posted this 4 weeks ago

Does Buffalo Rife have the same propellant ingredients as 5744 or do they both load, perform the same. The latter can be accurate even if the former isn’t true.

I can’t find any references to Buffalo being double based and I know 5744 is. And Ric’s picture of his old (~2015) Buffalo doesn’t look or measure up to my lot of 5744 (2023).

Does anyone have a more recent picture of Buffalo?

Just to clarify, I’m just trying to find out if it comes from the same manufacturer in Canada. At least my 5744 is labeled as being made in Canada. Thanks again, Bill C.

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linoww posted this 4 weeks ago

Looking into my powder stash I was excited to find an 8 pound jug of MP5744. This was the original surplus lot IIRC.Notice the holes in kernels.

Also here is my Buffalo Rifle.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

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Wm Cook posted this 4 weeks ago

Hey George, thanks a lot for finding that jug of 5744 that I lost a few years back. Off line we can discuss how you can get it back to me. Just kidding. From what I read the surplus had a nitro content of 10%. Later variants had 20%. I think the surplus powder dropped out of production in the early 80's.

Your 5744 looks like mine, more consistent in length than the 10 year old Buffalo Ric has or the 4 year old Buffalo you have. Maybe its just lot to lot difference? Who knows for sure. I'll see if Shooters World will tell me what country their Buffalo Rifle comes from. Thanks for the pictures.

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linoww posted this 4 weeks ago

I'd pushed the jug around a few times thinking it was some of that slow ball powder I shouldn't have bought.Glad I turned it arround to see the lable.

I'll pour the powder into a couple of McCormick's jugs marked" black pepper " and send it your way.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

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Wm Cook posted this 4 weeks ago

And they say hero's are hard to find.

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dkmenefee posted this 4 weeks ago

Buffalo Rifle is Lovex D060. Lovex made Accurate 5744 until Western Powder bought Accurate. Western moved the production to the General Dynamics run plant in Canada. Then Shooters World began rebottling D060 as Buffalo Rifle.

It is all moot. I wrote to Lovex and their response was they have no intention of restarting production of D060, aka Buffalo Rifle. No intention of producing it again.

Fans will have to pay the Hodgdon monopoly tax if they want 5744, if or when GD starts making it again.