There is provided herein a shape memory alloy wire that includes an alloy composition of CuAlMnNi and excluding grain refiner elements. The alloy composition includes 20 at %-28 at % Al, 2 at %-4 at % Ni, 3 at %-5 at % Mn with Cu as a remaining balance of the alloy composition. The alloy composition is disposed as an elongated wire of at least about 1 meter in length, having a wire diameter of less than about 150 microns. At least about 50 vol % of said alloy composition along said wire length has an oligocrystalline microstructure as-disposed in the wire and without thermal treatment of the wire.